Ink Review #1194: Diamine Quartz Black

Let’s take a look at an older ink today, Diamine Quartz Black. I purchased my bottle of ink from Cult Pens a few years ago.

The color:

Quartz Black is a medium, slightly unsaturated black.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has a bit of shading.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 15 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: low shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering but no bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Quartz Black is closest to Jacques Herbin Noir Abyssal. Click here to see the Diamine inks together, and click here to see the black inks together.

Longer writing:

I started with a my new Platinum Curidas with a medium nib, but the nib was so messed up I quickly switched to an Esterbrook Estie Lilac with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook (I’ve sent the Curidas off to be fixed). The ink had an average flow.

Overall, it’s a nice basic ink, but not one that stands out from all of the black inks out there.

Disclaimer: I purchased this ink myself, and all photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.