It’s the Platinum Classic Maki-e with Bush Warbler decoration, and an 18 karat gold nib in broad. I get to use it for a bit, and I’ll review it, and then I’ll give it away on the blog.
For now, I’ve inked the Platinum Classic Maki-e with Pilot-Iroshizuku Momiji, and I’ve been enjoying how it writes. It’s a gold nib, similar in width to a Western medium, as you’d expect, with a soft touch and a generous flow. Truly a pleasure to use.
But the pen isn’t all, because Ron at Pen Chalet also sent the new J. Herbin 1670 Caroube de Chypre ink for review, and I’ll also give that one away.
This ink’s really nice. I think this may be loveliest 1670 bottle. The wax on the cap and on the 1670 medallion is a rich chocolate brown, which is very attractive with the gold cord.
And yes, if I tear myself away from the bottle, I can see some ink in there. Caroube de Chypre ink is a reddish brown, with gold particles.
The name of the ink references carob pods and chypre, a type of perfume traditionally based on oakmoss and warm, woody, and sometimes animalic scents.
1670 Caroube de Chypre’s box does carry a warning label that cautions the user that it’s a highly saturated ink with staining potential that shouldn’t be left in a fountain pen reservoir. My bottle arrived only yesterday, but so far I think this particular 1670 ink probably doesn’t require that much caution.
I’ve used all the 1670s except the Bleu Ocean with silver, and I’ve found only the Rouge Hematite to be extremely high maintenance (especially in its current version). Emerald of Chivor required a little extra time cleaning — I consider it a medium maintenance ink — but I thought it was well worth it and bought a bottle. Stormy Grey I thought was the lowest maintenance shimmer ink I’ve ever used — I found it as easy to clean as Waterman Serenity Blue.
And I suspect Caroube de Chypre may end up being similar to Stormy Grey. It’s a delicate brown color, lovely and subdued. The gold particles impart warmth, and an effect I’d describe as lightness, to the ink, rather than glitter. I actually find it difficult to perceive the gold particles except when holding the paper at an angle. The color is a delicate copper, or a soft cocoa. It’s really soft and lovely, and seems like an ink you can use normally.
I’ll add writing sample photos to the blog as I get to use the ink and start to know it better. Right now, I have Caroube de Chypre in a Kaweco Classic Sport with broad nib. Because I love seeing the gold.
Fountain Pen Follies 
That pen is gorgeous. I bet it is a great little writer. I have Emerald of Chivor and adore it, especially on Tomoe River paper. I bet the Caroube de Chypre is another winner too. What a great combo. When I saw you were having these in a giveaway, my eyes nearly jumped out of my head. LOL. (that’s a GOOD THING)
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I love Japanese craftsmanship looking forward to reading your review
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That pen is a little piece of art! I can’t stop to adore the Maki-e pens, though I don’t have one (yet?). I’ll certainly get one, some day.
While I’ve been curious about the glittery inks, I haven’t yet dared to use them. I got mostly piston fillers, and cleaning them from the residues might get messy. So as of now, I’m resisting 🙂
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I’ve used the shimmer inks in my Pelikans, and that’s worked well, because you can unscrew the nib. Some of the golden are harder to clean, than others, of course, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s based on the color of the underlying ink, not the particles.
The two I think I find hardest to clean are J. Herbin 1670 Rouge Hematite — which is fierce — and the purple Diamine Shimmer ink.
I really do like the pen! Great nib.
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I love the emerald of Chivor. Really tempted by the caroube, but worry that I could end up with all shimmering inks!
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Nice!
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