Perle Noir is one of the most recommended and well reviewed black inks out there. When I bought this ink a few years ago, I was disappointed. It is not the blackest, not the smoothest, not the fastest drying ink, not an archival ink, not the cheapest. I decided to give it a second chance so I eyedropped a Preppy with it and filled a Lamy All-star. Over the past few days I have written many pages of work notes with the ink. Perle Noir is a well behaving black ink that is sold at a reasonable price, but it doesn't excel in anything. Below some writing samples, followed by drying times and test in water resistance. Drying times are about average to slow, 45 secs with a broad nib on Tomoe River 52g paper. The ink is certainly not water resistant, but it can handle an accidental drop. The full characteristics: Feathering none Shading hardly any Show through negligible ...
Maybe the summer is the time for bright, vibrant colors... but recently I am more drawn to dark brown colors like yama-guri. This interest also made me buy Macassar. And this color has not disappointed me. A very dark brown, leaning towards black. A pleasant color to take work notes, easy to read. But, definitely suitable for personal correspondence and writing as well. As always, depending on the subject and mood of course.
Diamine inks are smooth, a bit wet and well-behaved. Macassar is no exception. No feathering, a nice shading and negligible show-through. Water resistance is low (and turns the remaining brown into orange) and drying times are a bit above average, 40 seconds on Rhodia paper. Personally I prefer wetter, broader nibs for these colors. But that is personal taste, the ink behaves equally well in fine and extra fine nibs.
Compared to yama-guri the color is quite similar. Yama-guri is even darker. Cacao du Brésil (Herbin) and even more so Caroube the Chypre (Herbin 1670) are significantly lighter.
