Tag: KWZ Ink

Looking at the Five KWZ Azure Inks

Laura2 Comments

KWZ Azure #1, #2, #3, #4 and #5 ink swabs

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.

Pen of the Day: Kaweco Classic Sport Clear

Laura4 Comments

Kaweco Classic Sport clear with double broad nib KWZ Azure #4 ink

Kaweco Classic Sport Clear with double broad nib. I decided I wanted to see this next ink. So it was time to eyedropper a Kaweco Classic Sport. And I decided to bring out the monster truck of nibs, the double broad. My usual extra-fine and fine nibs quail before its majesty.

Kaweco Classic Sport clear with double broad nib KWZ Azure #4 ink

I left Azure #4 for last of the five KWZ Azure inks I’ve tested. Because it seemed to have a slight blue-green tint, and I am not a huge user of teal or turquoise blues. So I wasn’t quite as excited about this one.

Which lasted as long as it took me to ink up a pen. Look at what KWZ did here. Another awesome blue.

Kaweco Classic Sport clear with double broad nib KWZ Azure #4 ink

Pen of the Day: Lamy Al-Star Ocean Blue

Laura6 Comments

Lamy Al-Star Ocean Blue fountain pen

Lamy Al-Star Ocean Blue with extra-fine nib. Blue is my favorite color for fountain pens and ink. That’s not really a secret. Also not a secret is my love for Lamy pens. But I far prefer the ABS plastic Safari to the sleeker, more sophisticated aluminum Al-Star.

Except … sometimes. And this gorgeous deep blue Al-Star is one of the exceptions. I think the deep blue tone and the reflectivity of the aluminum makes the Ocean Blue Al-Star a stunner.

Lamy Al-Star Ocean Blue fountain pen

I am using it to review the ink, KWZ Azure #1. That’s because Lamy’s extra-fine nib is very different from the broad nib Aurora Optima that I’m also using with Azure #1.  Here is Azure #1 in an extra-fine.

KWZ Azure #1 ink writing sample

Ink Review: KWZ Brown-Pink

Laura6 Comments

KWZ Brown-Pink ink writing samples

KWZ Brown-Pink. KWZ Brown-Pink is a very cool ink color.  It’s an interesting brown — a pale sepia with pink undertones — but it also looks like an interesting purple — almost like a faded mulberry. In both guises, it’s creative and unique.

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Brownie Points: KWZ Brown-Pink

Laura2 Comments

KWZ Brown-Pink ink writing sample

Yes!  KWZ Brown-Pink is being all brown for me on Tomoe River paper. I am very excited.

Is that unreasonable?  I’ve basically been thinking of it as a purple ink, in disguise. So seeing the browner aspect is really cool.

I think inks may have broken my brain. Or, possibly, the fact that I ate only healthy food all day yesterday. Cold turkey has got me on the run?  But I don’t care. Just give me some truth. I’m loving the brown in Brown-Pink.