Ink Review #1834: Van Dieman's Azure Kingfisher

Van Dieman’s Azure Kingfisher was recently reformulated, but I finished this review before it was released so this is the original version. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Azure Kingfisher is a bright turquoise blue with gold shimmer.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has lots 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.

*For my writing samples I use:

• EF Pilot Vanishing Point

• F, M, B Pilot Ishime

• Vintage Mabie Todd Swan (flex nib)

• Rhodia Goalbook

• Taroko Enigma notebooks (68gsm TR)

• Leuchtturm A5

• Pen & Gear Paper from Walmart

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: Low

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low

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

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering and bleeding in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Azure is close to De Atramentis Cyan Blue Gold. Click here to see the blue inks together.

Longer writing:

I used an Edison Collier Blue Steel with a broad nib on a Taroko Breeze notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, there’s too much shimmer in this ink-it caused a few clogs. It also has a bit more bleeding and feathering than I prefer.

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