One Minute Ink Review: Pelikan Edelstein Smoky Quartz

Posted on by Laura

Pelikan Edelstein Smoky Quartz

Pelikan Edelstein Smoky Quartz. Pelikan’s 2017 Edelstein “Ink of the Year” is Smoky Quartz, an earthy brown that’s dark and legible. It strikes me as a darker version of J. Herbin Lie de Thé.

Like all Pelikan Edelstein inks I’ve used, Smoky Quartz has excellent lubrication and flow. I don’t get much shading, except on Tomoe River paper. The ink color looks different on different papers, which I usually like, but if you’ve ever changed a baby’s diapers, choose your paper wisely here.

Apparently the color was picked by internet voters to be the Ink of the Year. And apparently it’s popular.

Is this an everyday ink? If it’s your kind of color, then yes. Pelikan makes well-behaved and dependable inks, and Smoky Quartz is no exception.

12 thoughts on “One Minute Ink Review: Pelikan Edelstein Smoky Quartz”

  1. “Apparently”.

    That is like visitors to MoMA who look at a Rauschenberg and say it’s “interesting”. Which is to say: your review, while brief, makes its point.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Yeah, I don’t do writing sample photos for the one-minute ink reviews. It’s a question of time. Not just for the reader, but for me, because to put together accurate, color-balanced photos of writing samples takes a tremendous amount of time. So for these shorter pieces, I either just show the ink itself (like here) or a large swab.

      With this ink, I didn’t think my review would add much value: Smoky Quartz got a lot of publicity when it first came out, and I really have no strong reactions to it. In fact, I think the comments below from readers are more illuminating than what I wrote. 🙂 But if you are looking for more, Ana of the Well-Appointed Desk did a big post, and she always does a great job, so I heartily recommend that.

      Liked by 2 people

  3. I was considering getting this, but I’d prefer cartridges over a bottle since my few Pelikans are all C/C fill. Do you know if this is available in cartridges yet? It wasn’t the last time I looked, but that was a while ago. Thanks!

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks for the info. That is too bad. I know last year’s Aquamarine was sold in cartridges, because I have a pack of them, so I thought they normally did sell the annual colors in cartridges. If not, at least this year, it looks like my choices are to skip it (I prefer blues anyway), or get a sample or two from somewhere and refill empty cartridges I already own.

        Liked by 2 people

  4. Thanks for your mini-review!

    I like this particular shade of brown a lot. For me it is right in the middle of a perfect brown, not too boring, not too bright, not pinkish or leaning towards purple, not muddy, flow is good and waterresistance is okay; in case of calamity the writing remains legible. What could I want more?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. That’s so nice to hear. I wonder what my perfect brown would be? I think I have a few. 🙂

      The only thing I might wish were different is the price here in the US: Pelikan Edelstein inks are nicely affordable in most parts of the world, but here the price is $26-$30, depending on the store. This is not a complaint: it is what it is. But price does influence my purchase decision, my reaction, and probably my expectations. I bought this bottle blind. It’s very nice. But I don’t know that I would buy another at $28, with so many other options.

      I do know that when I finish all my Pelikan Brilliant Black, I will switch to Pelikan Edelstein Onyx.

      Liked by 2 people

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