Ink Review #1451: Van Dieman's Ruby Slippers

Van Dieman’s Ruby Slippers is from Van Dieman’s Hollywood collection. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Ruby Slippers is a bright cherry red with silver shimmer.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has an average amount of shimmer.

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: Medium

Feathering: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Medium

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Ruby Slippers is closest to De Atramentis Camelian Red Silver. Click here to see the Van Dieman’s inks together, and click here to see the red inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pelikan M205 Star Ruby with a fine nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, it’s a lovely color but does have a bit more feathering and bleeding than I prefer. It’s similar to De Atramentis Camelian Red Silver but it clogs less.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1450: Van Dieman's Blonde Bombshell

Van Dieman’s Blonde Bombshell is from Van Dieman’s Hollywood collection. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Blonde Bombshell is a medium honey gold with gold shimmer.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has plenty of gold shimmer.

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: Medium

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Blonde Bombshell is cooler-toned than Diamine Golden Sands and lighter than Robert Oster Heart of Gold. Click here to see the Van Dieman’s 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 Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this ink is lovely! It’s a great color, well-behaved and has plenty of shimmer. I don’t have another shimmer ink that’s too close to this one, so it’s somewhat unique.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1449: Van Dieman's Diamonds are a Girl's BFF

Van Dieman’s Diamonds are a Girl’s BFF is from Van Dieman’s Hollywood collection. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Diamonds is a medium magenta purple with silver shimmer.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has plenty of silver shimmer.

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: Medium

Feathering: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Medium

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Diamonds is closest to De Atramentis Magenta Red Silver. Click here to see the purple inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Sailor Pro Gear Sparkling Pink with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, the color is beautiful, but there is more feathering and bleeding than I prefer, so I would probably stick to medium/broad nibs with this one.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1448: Van Dieman's Elizabeth's Violet Eyes

Van Dieman’s Elizabeth’s Violet Eyes is from Van Dieman’s Hollywood collection. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Violet Eyes is a medium red violet.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks more like a true purple, but look at the ink drops below-so much feathering!

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: Medium

Feathering: Medium

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Medium

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Violet Eyes is less saturated than Sailor Ink Studio 950 and lighter than Rohrer and Klingner Aubergine. Click here to see the purple inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pelikan M600 Violet with a fine nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, I could take or leave this ink. It has more feathering and bleeding than I prefer, but it has a nice color, so…meh. I’m neutral on this one.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1447: Robert Oster Citrus

Robert Oster Citrus is a recent release from Robert Oster. I purchased my bottle of ink from Pen Chalet (aff. link).

The color:

Citrus is a bright lime green.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some nice 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: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Citrus is a little brighter than Kyo-no-oto Moegiiro. Click here to see the Robert Oster inks together, and click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Franklin-Christoph 45 Kelly Green with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a lovely medium green. It’s nice and bright for the summer and well behaved too!

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links but this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1446: Kaweco Highlighter Yellow

Kaweco Highlighter Yellow is from Kaweco’s standard lineup, but it’s only available in cartridges. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Highlighter Yellow is a fluorescent yellow.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks very bright.

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

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Highlighter Yellow is darker than Thornton’s Highlighter Yellow but lighter than Tono & Lims Charge. Click here to see the Kaweco inks together, and click here to see the black inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Franklin-Christoph 45 Kelly Green with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a wet flow.

Overall, I don’t like this ink. It’s way too bright, even for a highlighter. It also only comes in cartridges, which I don’t love. It’s just a no for me.

Disclaimer: 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 #1445: Kaweco Pearl Black

Kaweco Pearl Black is from Kaweco’s standard lineup. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Pen Chalet (aff. link) and Vanness Pens.

The color:

Pearl Black is a basic black with a little black sheen.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks more blue black than 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: Medium

Feathering: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Pearl Black is closest to Lamy Black. Click here to see the Kaweco inks together, and click here to see the black inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, it’s a nice basic black ink with a little bit of sheen. It’s affordable too!

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links but this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1444: Kaweco Midnight Blue

Kaweco Midnight Blue is from Kaweco’s standard lineup. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers like Vanness Pens.

The color:

Midnight Blue is a medium blue black.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some interesting 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: 10 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Midnight Blue is closest to Sailor Nano Souboku. Click here to see the Kaweco inks together, and click here to see the blue black inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Franklin-Christoph 46 in Diamondcast Blue with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a lovely blue-black ink with some shading and a tiny bit of sheen in large swabs. It’s a great color for the office.

Disclaimer: 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 #1443: Kaweco Royal Blue

Kaweco Royal Blue is from Kaweco’s standard lineup. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Pen Chalet (aff. link) and Vanness Pens.

The color:

Royal Blue is a classic royal blue, no surprises there.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some nice 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: Medium

Feathering: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low

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

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

Comparison Swabs:

Royal Blue is closest to Diamine Festive Cheer. Click here to see the Kaweco inks together, and click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Sailor Pro Gear Lighthouse with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, I really enjoyed this blue. It’s got medium shading with high sheen at a low price point.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links but this post is not sponsored in any way.