Ink Review #965: Kyo-iro #01 Stone Road of Gion

I received a sample of Kyo-iro #01 Stone Road of Gion in a sample swab a year ago, but never got around to playing with it, so let’s try it out. You can purchase this ink at Pen Chalet.

The color:

Stone Road is a cool-tone medium brown. I really enjoy this color, I find it a more appropriate color in the winter when I want all the cool tones.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink shows off some of its pretty shading. The more ink there is the cooler in tone it appears.

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: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering in all nib sizes but just a tiny bit of bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Stone Road is darker than Montblanc Swan Illusion but lighter than Monteverde Moonstone. All three have a similar cool-tone vibe to them. Click here to see the Kyoto inks together, and click here to see the brown inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Lamy Studio Terracotta with a medium nib on a Lochby A5 blank Refill-Tomoe River 68gsm. The ink had a dry flow. This nib and ink together created some beautiful shading.

Overall, I love the color of this ink, but it is very dry. It’s a good ink, but I would add a drop of White Lightning (ink additive) to make it flow better and then I think it would be a great ink.

Disclaimer: I received a sample of this ink from a sample swap. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links, but this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #964: Organics Studio Frog Green Shimmer

Lisa Vanness, owner of Vanness Pens occasionally hands me some random inks to try. When I saw her last at the Pelikan Hub one ink she gave me was Organics Studio Frog Green Shimmer.

The color:

Frog Green is a bright, vibrant green with gold shimmer.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink turns almost black where it pooled heavily, and shows off a lot of gold shimmer. It doesn’t have any sheen though.

Writing samples:

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

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: Low-this ink feathered on Rhodia, mostly in the flex nib.

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low-there was some bleeding in the flex nib on Rhodia and a little bit on Leuchtturm.

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

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering in all nib sizes and bleeding in the flex nib.

Comparison Swabs:

Frog Green is a little bit darker than Diamine Golden Oasis, but has a similar vibe-bright green with gold shimmer. Click here to see the Organics Studio inks together, and click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a TWSBI Eco Transparent Green with a medium nib on a Lochby A5 blank Refill-Tomoe River 68gsm. The ink had a dry flow, I think due to the shimmer making it seem drier than it would without. The shimmer seemed to stick to the sides of the ink chamber rather than completely mixing in with the ink. The ink only clogged once as I wrote this page.

Overall, it’s not the best shimmer ink I’ve tried, but it’s not the worst. I like it better than the Organics Studio Amino Acid shimmer inks I’ve tried, but don’t like it as much as the Robert Oster or Diamine shimmer inks. Diamine Golden Oasis is similar enough that I don’t think I need both.

Disclaimer: A sample of this ink was provided by Vanness Pens for the purpose of this review. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links, and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #963: Franklin-Christoph Dark Chocolate

I received a sample of Franklin-Christoph Dark Chocolate in a sample swap over a year ago and haven’t played with it much, so today’s the day. This ink doesn’t seem to be for sale at Franklin-Christoph anymore so I’m unsure where you can find it now.

The color:

Dark Chocolate is a dark brown with a slight purple tone. The ink looks warmer on the Col-o-ring paper than it does in writing.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks almost black.

Writing samples:

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

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Dark Chocolate is darker than Robert Oster Smokescreen. In writing it looks similar to Colorverse Space Laika. Click here to see the Franklin-Christoph inks together, and click here to see the brown inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Lamy Safari Petrol with a medium nib on a Lochby A5 blank Refill-Tomoe River 68gsm. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, I enjoyed this ink. I love the cool tone it has in writing. Since this ink doesn’t seem to be available anymore, Robert Oster Smokescreen or Colorverse Space Laika are good alternatives.

Disclaimer: I received this ink as part of a sample swap with a friend. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links, and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Private Reserve Fall Ink Set

I’ve had very limited experience with Private Reserve inks. The first PR ink I tried was a sample of Cosmic Cobalt, and I liked it fine. Then I tried Buttercup, a pale yellow that can be hard to see, but I love the color and used it often-until the bottle went moldy. I became very hesitant to try their inks, just based on my experience. Recently Private Reserve was purchased by a new owner in January 2018. She has done a lot of work in updating the brand and creating some new products including 7 new sample packs. I was still hesitant to try them until I spoke to a vendor at the San Francisco Pen Show who knew the new owner. He answered all my questions, so I went ahead and purchased one of the new sample sets. The Fall Sample Pack includes 4-15ml bottles, all with an autumn color theme: Chocolat, Copper Burst, Fiesta Red and Shoreline Gold. I wish I could remember the name of the vendor I spoke to, but unfortunately I don’t. You can find the sample pack online at Vanness Pens.

Swabs:

Left to right: Chocolat, Copper Burst, Fiesta Red and Shoreline Gold.

Writing samples:

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

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None in writing-just a little in the swab on Leuchtturm and Rhodia.

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

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was lots of feathering in every nib size as well as a little bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Chocolat is a bit darker than Diamine Bach.

Copper Burst is less saturated than Monteverde Pumpkin Cake.

Fiesta Red is less saturated than Birmingham Carnelian Silk.

Shoreline Gold is a little more yellow than Robert Oster Terracotta.

The full set inked up.

I used a Lochby Lined Blank A5 notebook (Tomoe River 68gsm). All of the inks had an average flow.

Overall, all four of these inks are well-behaved and even have a little bit of shading. I love the 15ml sample size, and that they come in a set. They are great basic inks, and I will absolutely try more of their inks in the future.

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

Ink Review #958: KWZ Honey

I got a sample of KWZ Honey about a year ago in a sample swap but never played with it much. When I actually spent some time with it I realized I would need to pick up a bottle ASAP, so I picked up a bottle from Vanness Pens at the San Francisco Pen Show.

The color:

Honey is just that-the color of golden honey. It’s a gorgeous color for fall.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper there is a range of brown and gold shades but no sheen.

Writing samples:

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

Dry time: 40 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Honey is closest to Colorverse String. Click here to see the KWZ inks together, and click here to see the yellow inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pelikan M400 White Tortoise with a medium nib on a Lochby A5 blank Refill-Tomoe River 68gsm. The ink had a wet flow. This pen/ink combo makes me so happy. This ink basically lives in this pen because I enjoy it so much.

Overall, I love this ink so much. It has a nice wet flow, gorgeous shading and amazing color. The dry time is a bit longer than normal, but it’s so well behaved otherwise that the dry time doesn’t bother me. When my bottle runs out I will be buying another.

Disclaimer: I purchased this product 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.

Ink Review #957: Diamine Hope Pink

We are going to tackle another reader request today, Diamine Hope Pink. This ink is available in 80ml and 30ml bottles. I purchased my bottle of ink from Cult Pens.

The color:

Hope Pink is a bright summery pink. I don’t know if this one is supposed to match the Breast Cancer Awareness pink (and thus the name of Hope Pink), but it seems there are 2 main pinks used, and this one matches the darker pink.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper there is just the barest hint of gold sheen.

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: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low-there’s a little bit of bleeding on Leuchtturm.

Other properties: low shading, tiny sheen, and no shimmer. The sheen is only visible in huge swabs on Tomoe River paper, but not in writing.

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

Comparison Swabs:

Hope Pink is just slightly cooler in tone than Diamine Cerise, and a little bit lighter than Sailor Ink Studio 431. Click here to see the Diamine inks together, and click here to see the pink inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Franklin-Christoph 45L in Italian Ice with a medium nib on a Lochby A5 blank Refill-Tomoe River 68gsm. The ink had a slightly dry flow.

Overall, it’s a good standard pink, especially for the price, but I prefer Diamine Cerise over Hope Pink. Both are similar but Hope Pink is just a little bit cooler toned.

Disclaimer: I purchased this product 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.

Ink Review #956: Diamine Tyrian Purple

I love getting emails from readers, especially when they contain ink requests. One recent request was Diamine Tyrian Purple, an ink that’s been in my desk for a while, just waiting for its own review. I purchased my bottle of ink from Cult Pens.

The color:

Tyrian Purple is a medium unsaturated magenta purple. I love this color for autumn and winter.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks more saturated and darker.

Writing samples:

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

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low-there’s a little bit of bleeding on Leuchtturm.

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Tyrian Purple is less red than Platinum Lavender Black and Monteverde Blueberry Muffin but more red than Robert Oster Berry d’Arche and KWZ Brown Pink. Click here to see the Diamine inks together, and click here to see the purple inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Platinum 3776 Nice with a broad architect nib on a Lochby A5 blank Refill-Tomoe River 68gsm. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, I love the color of this ink. I do wish it had a bit more shading, but it’s a great ink for autumn and super affordable too!

Disclaimer: I purchased this product 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.

Ink Review #955: Robert Oster Carolina Blue

When I attended the San Francisco Pen Show earlier this year, I got to meet Jonathon Brooks who owns Carolina Pen Company, and pick up a bottle of his exclusive Robert Oster ink, Carolina Blue.

The color:

Carolina Blue is a medium-dark blue with just a little bit of red sheen.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper there is just a little bit of sheen.

Writing samples:

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

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Carolina Blue is just a little bit lighter than Robert Oster Blue Sea, and a little bit darker than PenBBS #42 Yunnan Blue. Click here to see the Robert Oster inks together, and click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a TWSBI Eco Transparent Blue with a medium nib on a Lochby A5 blank Refill-Tomoe River 68gsm. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, I enjoyed this ink. Robert Oster does a great job on his blue inks, but this one is pretty similar to Robert Oster Blue Sea so if you can’t get your hands on this one, give Blue Sea a try.

Disclaimer: I purchased this product 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.

Ink Review #954: Diamine Christine

I get more requests for reviews of sheening inks than anything else, so today we are going to take a look at Diamine Christine. This ink is exclusive to Cult Pens’ Iridescink line. A local pen friend was very kind and provided a sample for this review. This ink is available in the large 80ml bottle as well as the smaller 30ml “Little Chris” bottle.

The color:

Christine is a dark teal with plenty of sheen.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper there is a ton of dark pink/red sheen.

Writing samples:

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

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low-there was just a bit of bleeding in the flex nib.

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

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was feathering in every nib size and just a little bit of bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Christine is less green than Diamine Smoke on the Water but more green than Blackstone Sydney Harbour Blue. Click here to see the Diamine inks together, and click here to see the teal inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pilot Custom 74 Teal with a broad nib on a Lochby A5 blank Refill-Tomoe River 68gsm. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, I enjoyed this ink. It’s a great color and has some interesting sheen, but like most other sheening inks it is prone to a little bit of smearing. Not the worst smearing, but not the best either.

Disclaimer: This ink was provided by a pen friend for the purpose of this review. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links, and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Diamine Cult Pens Deep Dark Inks

Cult Pens has their own exclusive Diamine ink collections including the Deep Dark collection: Deep Dark Brown, Deep Dark Red, Deep Dark Orange, Deep Dark Green, Deep Dark Blue and Deep Dark Purple. All six inks are available in both 80ml and 30ml bottles. I purchased the 30ml bottles from Cult Pens.

Swabs:

Left to right: Deep Dark Brown, Deep Dark Red, Deep Dark Orange, Deep Dark Green, Deep Dark Blue and Deep Dark Purple

Writing samples:

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

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: Low-there was a little bit of feathering in the flex nib.

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low-there is some bleeding in the flex nib.

Other properties: low shading, low sheen, and no shimmer. Deep Dark Blue is the only one out of the six that has medium sheen instead of low.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was lots of feathering in every nib size as well as bleeding, so I would not recommend these inks for cheap paper.

Comparison Swabs:

Deep Dark Brown is warmer and darker than Diamine Espresso.

Deep Dark Red is similar to Diamine Mozart from the music collection.

Deep Dark Orange is more vibrant than Sailor Ink Studio 973, but less vibrant than Diamine Blood Orange.

Deep Dark Green is a bit darker and less saturated than Monteverde Jade Noir.

Deep Dark Blue is more saturated than both Sailor Ink Studio 642 and Robert Oster Blue Night.

Deep Dark Purple is similar to Diamine Grape.

The full set inked up.

I used a Lochby Lined Blank A5 notebook (Tomoe River 68gsm). All of the inks had an average flow.

Overall, these inks are pretty standard Diamine inks-well behaved, great colors and affordable. Out of the six, Deep Dark Orange is the most unique, and my favorite from the collection. For $2.50/30ml, you can’t go wrong.

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