Following last week’s ink-sampling session with all the reds in my collection, I decided that I would go through the greens next. While I have roughly 2/3 the number of green inks as I do reds in my ink archive, it’s probably the second-most represented color. My collection generally revolves around dark greens, mostly green-blacks or what would qualify as “racing greens”. (No, I don’t have the coveted “Montblanc British Racing Green” that was so popular many years ago, but I did make a copy using Platinum Mix-Free inks and a formula someone posted to FPN, so I include that for reference.)
The top ink is the “racing green” imitation/approximation made using Platinum mix-free inks. I have a few other inks that get generally close to that shade, discussed further below.
Takeaways From the “Green Ink” Project
In addition to the Platinum Mix-Free combination, Sailor Jentle Epinard is a long-time favorite and probably the closest ink in my collection to a true “Racing Green.” I definitely need to use that ink more. Diamine Classic Green and Color Traveler Shodoshima Olive Green are similar, but lighter.
As with the reds, I have too many green inks and can absolutely part with some of these colors, including duplicate bottles and inks that lean heavily blue or teal. These will be added to the Patreon ink sale quickly and rotated to the public “Gently Used” page after a week.
I really was surprised at the number of inks that were grouped as “greens” but really should be blues. Waterman Green, Iroshizuku Syo-Ro, and Rohrer & Klingner Smaragdgrun are the three that jump out the most. Sailor Yama-Dori really is characterized more as a teal blue that I swabbed with the greens by mistake.
Overall, my favorite two brands for green inks at a reasonable price are Diamine and Colorverse. Diamine Classic Green and Sherwood Green are great colors I’ve recently added to my collection, and Colorverse Schrodinger and Sea of Tranquility have staying power.
My overall favorite green ink for everyday writing? Probably a tie between the Sailor Epinard and Sailor Bungubox Dandyism.
As with the reds, I laminated the two green ink sheets and will have them with me at the D.C. Pen Show!
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