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
Syo-ro (dew on pine tree), by Iroshizuku. A beautiful teal colored ink that leans a lot more towards green than towards blue. A very versatile color. Suited for note taking in the office, for personal notes, for writing and for personal correspondence.
No feathering, beautiful shading, not too wet, writes smoothly. Drying time on Crown Mill was surprisingly fast with 23 seconds, as is its ability to withstand a few drops of water.
This ink, as almost all Iroshizuku inks, is a dream to write with, provided you use it on quality paper. Using Iroshizuku on lowest bidder paper is blasphemy and punishment will be severe and swift. Use it on it Rhodia, Crown Mill, Leuchtturm, Tomoe or the likes, and you will be reward equally.
Comparing the ink to others is not so easy. The differences between colors that I considered close cousins, are bigger than expected. Ku-jaku is a teal that leans far more to blue, moss green (Graf von Faber Castell) is darker and a lot greener and Emeraude de Chivor is more blue as well.
All in all, this is an excellent ink and highly recommended. It's one of the inks I come back to often.
