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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  ...

Vert Atlantide, Herbin 350

 


A new Herbin in the 350 series. Medium dark green with silver shimmer. Not an ink to use in the office, but certainly an ink to use in personal correspondence like postcards and brief notes. 

The ink behaves quite well, the shading is beautiful, but lubrication could be a little bit better. Especially for a Herbin ink it's quite dry. Drying time - even on Tomoe River 52g paper - was only 35 seconds. Don't let water come near to your writings, only the shimmer has some water resistance. 

The other characteristics:

Feathering None
Shading Moderate - high
Show through Negligible
Wetness Dry-Moderate
Lubrication Could be better
Shimmer/sheen Silver shimmer
Price/ml € 0,44

Vert Atlantide reminded me of Moss Green (Graf van Faber Castell) and Vert Empire (Herbin). Although the latter is a lot more light. Moss Green is a deeper, more saturated green. Aurora Borealis is more a teal and has significantly more blue.

All in all it's a nice, decent ink, but not a spectacular one.
Three stars out of a possible five.


Written on Tomoe River 52g paper

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