Meisterstuck Blue Hour comes in the same 30ml bottle as other Montblanc Limited Edition inks.

Ink Review: Montblanc Meisterstuck Blue Hour and Giveaway Courtesy of PenBoutique!

July 30, 2015

First of all, many thanks to Pen Boutique for sending me this bottle of Montblanc “Blue Hour” to review. I’ve been buying from Pen Boutique for a long time, and they are certainly one of my first “go to” sources for the Montblanc Limited/Special Edition inks. (I have them to thank for my healthy stock of Alfred Hitchcock Red.)

Montblanc describes the ink as a "Twilight Blue." It exhibits some nice shading in a stub nib.  Here, I used my Lamy 2000 with the .9mm Minuskin Stub Nib. — Montblanc describes the ink as a "Twilight Blue." It exhibits some nice shading in a stub nib. Here, I used my Lamy 2000 with the .9mm Minuskin Stub Nib.

On to the ink itself: Don’t get me wrong, this is an excellent ink, but after using it for a few days I’ve concluded that it’s not for me. Blue Hour, like all Montblanc inks, dries quickly and doesn’t bleed or feather on the vast majority of papers. It shades nicely, and as you can see from my writing sample, has some limited water (err, gin) resistance.

Color-wise, I’d place this ink in the blue-black family. There’s definitely a hint of teal when the ink dries. Many have compared it to Sailor Jentle Yama-Dori, but I would place it closer to classic Waterman Blue Black (or, as it’s now known, “Mysterious Blue”). Blue Hour doesn’t have the reddish sheen of Yama-Dori, and leans more gray. A more detailed color comparison is included at the bottom of this post.

Montblanc Meisterstuck Blue Hour Cap Ink Color

So why didn’t this one take? Probably because the color is too similar to the Waterman, which is NOT a negative comparison because it's one of my favorite inks of all time. As a limited edition, Blue Hour lands at a higher price point ($17 for 30ml at Pen Boutique) than the Waterman, and since I already have a "healthy" stockpile of that ink, then there isn’t a reason to stock up, especially if one is looking for a reason to limit the amount of ink you are hoarding. On the other hand, if you are a Montblanc L.E. completionist, or exclusively use Montblanc Inks, you will not be disappointed because Montblanc doesn’t have another ink like this on the market at the moment.

So, to thank my readers, and to stick with my goal of being "intentional" about what inks I stockpile, I'm giving this bottle away! The usual giveaway rules apply (leave a comment on this post or sign up for my e-mail alerts; if you're already on my e-mail list you're automatically entered). Unfortunately, I have to limit this to U.S./Canada only, since I'll have to eat postage on a bottle of liquid. If you simply can't wait to pick up this ink, head over to Pen Boutique now and order it while supplies last. And if you're the lucky winner and will be attending the D.C. Pen Show next month, I will be happy to personally deliver the ink to you there!

A full page writing sample and color comparison with my "waterproofing test" at bottom right.  Paper is French-ruled Clairefontaine. — A full page writing sample and color comparison with my "waterproofing test" at bottom right. Paper is French-ruled Clairefontaine.

Ink Review: Montblanc JFK Navy Blue

July 11, 2015

Another Montblanc Limited Edition Ink, and yet more money flows out of my pocket. I’ve done pretty well so far on my purchasing hiatus, which to me is even more impressive in light of how much I love this ink and how much I really want to stock up on it so I always have some available.

Montblanc issued JFK Navy Blue to accompany its JFK Limited Edition Fountain Pen, part of the “Great Characters” series. (If the pen strikes your fancy, Mr. Greer over at Pentime/Chatterly Luxuries has the pen listed at a really good price for these Montblanc Special Edition Pens.) The ink is a true “navy blue,” more vibrant than the other ink bearing this description, Noodler’s Navy. If I had to place this ink into a color group, I would call it a blue-black, but it definitely leans more to the blue end of the spectrum. The ink has good shading and, on some papers, I've seen a tiny bit of red sheen (not much, and it doesn’t photograph at all). Otherwise, the flow is excellent, and JFK Navy Blue shares the same properties of other Montblanc inks, including a lack of feathering and bleed-through, good dry time, and functionality on cheap paper.

The writing sample here is done with a Conid Bulkfiller Minimalistica (fine nib) on Nock Co. Dot-Dash notecards.

I ordered this ink from La Couronne du Compte in Tilburg, the Netherlands. As with other Montblanc/Pelikan inks, if you’re in the U.S. the exchange rate may now make it more economical to order from abroad, but unless you can get a promotion or discount on shipping the end result may be the same. Last I checked, the JFK ink was getting harder to find. Stateside, Fahrney’s Pens and Pen Boutique have this ink in stock, and it runs $19.00 per bottle.

I paid for this ink with my own funds, and was not compensated monetarily or otherwise for this review.

Ink Review: Montblanc Corn Poppy Red

July 4, 2015

As the dollar appreciated against the Euro earlier this year, it became economical to order some of the more expensive inks such as Montblanc and Pelikan Edelstein from Europe. I placed an order with La Couronne du Compte in Tilburg, the Netherlands, and the inks I picked up included Montblanc’s new addition to their “regular” line of inks, Corn Poppy Red.

One of the knocks on Montblanc’s ink stable is that until now, they did not have a “true red” in their lineup. In the late 1990s/early 2000s, Montblanc did offer a “Ruby Red,” which I’ve reviewed and did not care for. Ever since they’ve stuck with the burgundy/bordeaux wine themes for their red option, which is just fine with me as I typically prefer darker reds to use in my everyday writing. Once I saw this one, though, I jumped.

The ink looks somewhat orange when photographed, but when it dries on paper the color is what I would consider a "pure red."

Corn Poppy Red is definitely what I would consider a “true” red. There are no pink or orange undertones going on here, as sometimes happens with other inks labled “Poppy.” Because of their all-around excellent properties, Montblanc inks are among my favorites, and this one is no exception. Even though I loaded the Corn Poppy Red into a fairly wet Stipula stub nib, the ink worked well on all but the cheapest papers, and even then any feathering and bleed-through was minimal. There is some shading, but it’s not particularly pronounced, and I imagine that it will only come out with broader nibs on the right paper.

You get the full 60ml!  I've heard conflicting rumors about whether or not Corn Poppy Red is a limited edition or an addition to the regular lineup.  While some retailers list this ink as a LE, since it's offered in the larger 60… — You get the full 60ml! I've heard conflicting rumors about whether or not Corn Poppy Red is a limited edition or an addition to the regular lineup. While some retailers list this ink as a LE, since it's offered in the larger 60ml bottle my money is on Corn Poppy Red as a new regular. That said, there's a reason I don't gamble.

Because this ink is (presumably) an addition to Montblanc’s regular line, it comes in the 60ml “shoe” or squared bottle, as opposed to the smaller, 30ml “special edition” bottles. The pricing is standard (14.80 Euros or $19.00 US), making it a better value than the special edition inks that are similarly priced but give you half as much (14.30 Euros or $19.00).

As I mentioned, I purchased this ink from La Couronne du Compte, whom I highly recommend. If you prefer to purchase in the U.S., you can find this ink at most Montblanc retailers, including Anderson Pens and Penboutique.

Writing sample with some comparisons on Clairefontaine French-ruled (Seyes) paper.  The closest comparison is the Edelstein Garnet, which is a slightly darker color. — Writing sample with some comparisons on Clairefontaine French-ruled (Seyes) paper. The closest comparison is the Edelstein Garnet, which is a slightly darker color.

Disclaimer: I purchased this ink with my own funds, and was not compensated in any way for this review.

Ink Review: Callifolio Equinoxe 6

June 13, 2015

Another teal-black ink for me, courtesy of Vanness Pen Shop! I have been eyeing the Callifolio line of inks since I caught a story on FPN a few years ago about a line of inks that came shipped from France in foil pouches, and you could order the entire line of 35 inks for approximately $200 shipped. Ok, I never bit on that, but some people did, and I was jealous.

Callifolio inks are the product of a French company called L'Artisan Pastellier, formed by two gentlemen named Loic Rainouard and Didier Boinnard who sought to make a line of fountain pen inks with a wide range of colors that behaved well on all types of paper. From what I have seen so far, they've succeeded. The two inks that I have, Equinoxe 6 and Bourgogne, are exceptional, and I've had them loaded up ever since the Atlanta Pen Show.

The first ink that caught my eye was Equinoxe 6, a teal-black that is somewhat similar to Yama-Dori, an ink that I (and a lot of other people) generally love. I currently have this ink loaded into my Delta Fusion 82 with an architect's nib. The color is excellent, the ink dries quickly, and doesn't bleed, feather or smear. There is some shading, though my architect's nib isn't particularly broad on the cross-stroke, so shading can be hard to see. I may need to try this ink out in a stub nib!

Obligatory cap shot.  Note that the bottle is the same triangular bottle used by Diamine for their 150th Anniversary inks. — Obligatory cap shot. Note that the bottle is the same triangular bottle used by Diamine for their 150th Anniversary inks.

The two colors I have that are most comparable are Sailor Yama Dori and Waterman Blue-Black.  Equinoxe 6 falls somewhere in the middle:  Darker and more green than the Yama Dori, but less blue than the Waterman.  Another candidate for… — The two colors I have that are most comparable are Sailor Yama Dori and Waterman Blue-Black. Equinoxe 6 falls somewhere in the middle: Darker and more green than the Yama Dori, but less blue than the Waterman. Another candidate for comparison is Noodler's discontinued Pinstripe Homage, though the Callifolio is much better behaved (meaning that it dries quickly).

One interesting note: in the FPN thread that I link to above, Loic states that Callifolio makes lines of ink for French fountain pen shops. Does anyone out there know what shops he is referring to, and whether any of the inks are different from the standard Callifolio line? I have one candidate, Papier Plume in New Orleans, which carries its own line of inks and which apparently has told some customers that they are "made by a company in France." I'm fairly certain Herbin doesn't do private label, so that leaves L'Artisan Pastellier as a possible candidate.

In the U.S., you can purchase this ink from Vanness Pen Shop. Equinoxe 6 is currently out of stock in the larger-volume foil pouch, though they do have bottles. Vanness sells Callifolio inks for $11 for a 40ml bottle, or $8 for the 50ml foil pouch. The foil pouch is definitely the better value, as long as you have an empty bottle to hold the ink.

DISCLAIMER: I purchased this ink from Vanness with my own funds at the Atlanta Pen Show. I was not compensated monetarily for this review in any way.

Another Red Ink Review: Diamine Oxblood

June 6, 2015

Having the house to myself this past week means--what else--that I got around to inking up a dozen or so pens and writing up some ink reviews, including this review of Diamine Oxblood. I picked up the Oxblood at this year's Atlanta Pen Show from Vanness Pen Shop (where I bought all of my pen show ink purchases.)

Oxblood might be the best red ink I have used in a while. It's got incredible depth of color: a rich dark red with ever so slight brown undertones. If you're looking for a "blood red" ink, this might be your best bet. The ink dries quickly, doesn't bleed, and doesn't feather. Most important of all, it's a red ink that doesn't crust and gunk up the nib. (I'm talking to you, Visconti Bordeaux). My understanding is that this has something to do with the red and orange dyes used in certain inks. It doesn't bother many people, but it drives me nuts. Anyway, this one's going into the rotation. Especially when it looks great in a stub nib!