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 ...
After not having used it for a year or so, I decided to ink a pen with Graf von Faber Castell's Moss Green. A lush, dark green ink that fits the current spring weather well. I'm not a huge fan of green inks, but every now and then I like to write with them. Despite any prejudices people might have against green ink, I believe this ink can be used for note taking in the office, or for any personal communication and notes. The ink writes really well, the shading is high and beautiful. There is no feathering and despite the dark color, the show-through is negligible. Lubrication is good and wetness low to moderate. Despite that, the drying time is above average: 45 seconds. The ink doesn't like water very much. It might remain readable for a rewrite, but even after two days, a minimal amount of water ruins the ink. Compared to other dark green inks, this ink comes relatively close to KWZ's IG Green #3 . Vert Empire is a much...