Whenever a new Montblanc limited edition ink is issued, we tend to wonder if it will be close to any of the prior ones. I happen to have some of the recent Montblanc reds to compare to the new Shakespeare.
Because there is a method to my madness, here they are arranged from most burgundy to most red.
My Montblanc William Shakespeare Velvet Red ink just arrived, which makes for a happy Thursday at Fountain Pen Follies.
I could be all laid back and cool, and pretend I haven’t been checking the front porch since Monday for my order from the lovely people at Pen Boutique. But that would be a lie. And anyway, no one would believe me.
Here are some first impressions and some quick photos.
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At the end of a dreadful week in the news, I want to take refuge by delving into something utterly insignificant, but at least diverting. That would be ink. I’d like to talk about Jane Austen ink by De Atramentis.
I’ve always maintained that the least interesting aspect of any ink I review is how the color strikes me personally. Instead, I try to be more neutral. Everyone’s taste is individual, but there are certain objective qualities to note about an ink. Is it dry or wet? Does it shade? What does it look like on different papers?
But I’m going to step away from that model here. Because I knew the minute I inked up De Atramentis Jane Austen that I liked it, but didn’t love it. Further, what I like most about De Atramentis Jane Austen is that it’s named after one of my favorite authors. That presents something of a mild conundrum for me.
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I have used and reviewed all five of the KWZ dye-based Azure inks, and I like the whole family, but I think we could use a sort of cheat sheet.
Here are links to the full reviews:
Together the five Azure comprise a nice range of blue inks that are low-maintenance and nicely saturated. Azure #1 kicks things off as KWZ’s traditional or standard blue, and it is the lightest and least saturated of the five. Azure #2 is a darker blue but still in the standard range. With the next three Azures, we get more fun, offbeat and vibrant shades of blue.
My quick summary goes something like this:
Most standard: Azure #1.
Most serious: Azure #2.
Most lively: Azure #3 wins by a whisker. But Azure #4 and Azure #5 also have a great kick.
Most uncommon shade of blue: Azure #4.
Most like Parker Penman Sapphire: Azure #3. Not a clone, though. Azure #5 has something of the PPS feel, too.
Best on poor paper: Azure #2 and Azure #5.
Most dry: Azure #2 and Azure #3.
Most wet: Azure #4 and Azure #5.
Best shading: Azure #4.
Best sheen: Azure #4.
Easiest to clean: They all clean out wonderfully easily.
Most water resistant: Azure #2. With a big “but.” On normal paper they’ll all soak in sufficiently. On fountain-pen friendly paper, none is actually water-resistant, but Azure #2 seems to survive the best of the five.
Best for a Lamy Safari: Azure #4. This is a category of interest to exactly one person in the entire world. But that would be me.
Most swoon-worthy: Azure #3 (more dry) and Azure #5 (more wet).
I think they are all excellent. I received samples of Azure #2 and Azure #3 from KWZ to do those reviews.
I just finished making some comparisons between some inks from Montblanc, on the one hand, and Monteverde and Seitz-Kreuznach on the other.
Here are more comparisons, involving a few Stipula Calamo inks and one from Caran d’Ache.
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These Mystery Inks have long since been revealed to the actual participants. So I’m going to make it easier on blog readers by now saying that “Carli” is Pelikan Edelstein Topaz, and “Lloyd” is Diamine Blue Velvet.
I’ve been doing something on FPGeeks Forum called Mystery Ink, where people volunteer to try an ink they know nothing about and then report back on it. The idea is to elicit a pure reaction to an ink, uninfluenced by any expectations created by brand, price, photos or the ink’s online reputation. It’s been a blast and very educational for me.
The tenth installment of Mystery Ink, known as MI-10, is running on FPG now. You can find the thread here. To celebrate Mystery Ink reaching double digits, MI-10 for the first time comprises two inks, one labeled “Carli” and the other “Lloyd,” in honor of Carli Lloyd, who wears Number 10 for the US Women’s National Soccer Team.
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Fountain Pen Follies 