Skip to main content

Perle Noir, Herbin

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 
Post a Comment

Yonaga, Sailor Shikiori


My first experience with this brand, Sailor Shikiori. Shikiori meaning four seasons. I read the stories that these are simply the old Jentl inks, rebranded and a lot more expensive. I never used those either. The bottle is small (20ml) and beautiful. Yonaga means long autumn night. The color represents an autumn night without the moon. The naming of the inks definitely reminds of Iroshizuku's style of naming their inks.

 Yonaga is a very dark blue, with a slight hint of green. In very broad (oblique) nibs a bit of green sheen can be seen, but in normal pen sizes I didn't notice it. Being a dark blue, Yonaga can be used almost everywhere. Work notes, business correspondence, signing, personal notes, letters and writing. 

 The ink is very well behaved. Arguably the smoothest ink I have ever used. Quite wet, which makes drying time long (almost a minute) and there is some show-through even on quality paper. No feathering though and the shadowing is beautiful, clearly visible but never extreme or too much. Water resistance is low to moderate. Water will almost always require some rework of the page, but the text remains legible and won't be lost.

 The color comes close to Iroshizuku's Shin Kai (Yonaga is just a bit more green). Imperial blue by Diamin is a lot more bright and saturated. Blue nuit by Herbin doesn't even come close. 

 All in all this is a very nice, but seriously overpriced ink. 




Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Around the World in 80 Days, Montblanc

  Visiting Paris last month, I couldn't resist visiting the Montblanc flagship store and pick up a bottle of ink. Around the World in 80 Days is a limited edition ink, part of the recent collection about Jules Verne's description of Phileas Fogg's adventure. Nicely packed and in the well-known beautiful bottle. The ink is someone between blue and green, increasingly green in a wetter, broader nib. As such it is suitable for both the office as well as personal notes and correspondence. Personally, I like the ink best in finer nibs. It seems more dark and blue that way.  I have tried the ink on both Tomoe River and Rhodia paper. The ink behaved flawlessly and feels a little bit on the dry side. Drying time is neither slow nor fast, 40 secs on Tomoe River.  On Rhodia paper On Tomoe River (52g) The ink doesn't handle water very well, even after a few days the ink smears easily when some water drops are applied. Careful!  The full characteristics: F
Post a Comment
Read more

Writer's blood, Diamine

  Writer's Blood by Diamine. The latest addition and chosen by Reddit's r/fountainpen community after a long debate and many voting rounds. A dark red, heavily leaning towards brown and aubergine purple. A subtle color that works both in the office and for personal correspondence.   There is no feathering and some shading. The ink is very wet, even wetter than usual for Diamine. The ink is smooth. I was surprised to see it can handle a bit of water. At least your work will remain legible. Drying times are slow, 85 secs on Tomoe River paper. The characteristics: Feathering None Shading Some Show through Light Wetness High Lubrication Excellent Shimmer/sheen None Price/ml € 0,12 Writer's Blood reminded me most of Diamine Oxblood. In some n
Post a Comment
Read more

Orange!!

  It's Spring, we just had King's day and the European Championships football are being held next month. More than enough reasons to fill up some pens with orange inks. I was surprised to see I had gathered eight inks in the past few years that qualify as orange. Some true bright orange, some leaning more towards red or brown. Which one is your favorite? Written on Tomoe river, 52g
Post a Comment
Read more