So I really like the bottle for Caran d’Ache Chromatics ink.
I know I’ve talked about it before. And before that, too. Because it’s attractive, and because it’s thoughtfully designed for fountain pen users.
Also, it’s a hexagon, which is different. And awesome. And I think I figured out why.
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It occurred to me when I was writing about Tuesday’s pen of the day that I was talking about an ink brand I rarely hear mentioned, Caran d’Ache. Why is that?
Where wise men and women fear to tread, Fountain Pen Follies is always willing to rush in. So let’s talk about Caran d’Ache a little.
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Montblanc 146 with broad nib. Well, I am nothing if not consistent, because I just realized that the last time a 146 was Pen of the Day, it was this very pen.
That’s not my fault, though. It’s because Montblanc makes a great broad nib. Look at this thing.
The ink is Caran d’Ache Infra Red, a red so special it had to be named for something outside the human visible spectrum.
(Although, actually, it’s now been shown that humans can see infrared light under certain circumstances. And that it looks green. So thanks, science, for wrecking everything.)
But science schmience. Ink is my thing. Caran d’Ache Infra Red ink is very visible, very red and very awesome.
Pelikan M205 Transparent Blue with fine nib. This was pen of the day fairly recently, but I’m repeating it because it’s got a brand new bag — I mean, ink. This time I filled it with Caran d’Ache Idyllic Blue, another pure blue. I really like the combination.
I get the feeling that Caran d’Ache inks may not sell very well. They are so expensive in the US that I only buy them on sale, or from Europe. But it can’t just be price: other inks that are even more expensive get a lot of internet buzz. And Caran d’Ache inks fly under the radar.
Sample a few if you want to try something new. They are excellent inks. With great bottles.
Aurora Optima Sole with medium nib. This is just fountain pen sunshine, somewhere between yellow and orange in color.
And totally gorgeous.
And this is my favorite orange ink, Caran d’Ache Saffron.
Okay, we’re already into April, but just because March is in the rear view mirror, metaphorically, doesn’t mean we can’t pump the brakes and look back for a few seconds. Here were my fountain pen favorites for March.
1. KWZ Red #1. This is going to be a favorite for a long time.
2. Spring inks. The weather is warmer, and I’ve brought out the lighter, brighter inks once more. I love them. Especially Caran d’Ache Delicate Green. Also fun: Pink Week.
3. Pelikan M205 Transparent Blue. Faithful readers know how strong my resolve is and how firmly I resist temptation. So there’s absolutely no reason ever to think that I’d order this pen. But, hey, is that a cute kitten over there? We should all look at that cute kitten.
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Photo by Dafne Cholet, Flickr, used under Creative Commons license.
Omas Vintage Paragon Arco Verde with extra-fine nib. I would be the first person to tell you that green is not my favorite color. But some of my most beautiful pens are green, including this one.
This is not a vintage Omas: rather, Omas continued to produce this older body style in limited editions denominated “Vintage Paragon” after changing the Paragon to a larger pen with metal section.
Arco celluloid came in brown or green. It shimmers as it catches the light. There’s not much like it.
In celebration of the spring, I’m using the lovely Caran d’Ache Delicate Green. It’s light and bright, but legible even from an extra-fine nib.
Montblanc Agatha Christie with fine nib. This pen always provides a lift, and so does the ink. Two favorites.
I’m in a book group and this month is “the Golden Age of Mysteries,” so we’re reading an Agatha Christie. I’m pretty sure the butler didn’t do it.
I asked my friend Chris what inks she had purchased in 2015. I was tickled, and relieved, that not only did she buy the same number of inks as I did, but she enjoyed some of the same brands. Here is her report.
I decided I had plenty of ink when 2015 began. Enough ink to last me another two lifetimes. I made a resolution that I wouldn’t buy more ink until I emptied at least one bottle. That resolution was never going to work. I’ve never completely emptied a bottle of ink in forty years, so why would I think I might do that now?
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Kaweco Classic Sport with broad Architect’s nib. Today’s Pen of the Day is really a disguised Ink of the Day. This is one of my oft-used Kaweco Classic Sport demonstrator pens, now with an Architect’s nib.
The ink is Caran d’Ache Infra Red, courtesy of an early Black Friday sale. One of the blog’s readers turned me on to this ink. It’s a great color.
Fountain Pen Follies 