The Well-Appointed Desk

On this, the ninth day of Inkmas, I give you a tried-and-true classic, Pilot Blue. This is not the fancy-pants Iroshizuku version but the back-to-basics, loyal-like-a-labrador Pilot Blue.

It comes in a gorgeous, classic bottle with a pedestal base that will look nice on your desk and last for ages. The bottle has an ingenious little plastic tube in the middle. When the ink level in the bottle starts to drop, just cap the bottle, flip it over and then right it and open it. The plastic tube will be filled with ink and you can easily fill your pen.

Pilot Blue has a bit of a strong smell in the bottle but once its loaded in my pen, I don’t notice it. There’s lots of shading details in my writing sample from a crystal sky blue to a deep indigo. The dry time was pretty reasonable. I was using a wider nib than I normally do and didn’t have any smudging issues. It stood up pretty well to water. While it is not waterproof, there is a bit of water resistance which is nice.

When compared with other blues in my arsenal, Diamine Washable Blue 80ml ($12.75) was the closest in color. De Atramentis U. S. Constitution 35ml ($12.50) (besides being extremely bloopy in my dip pen) is a bit more of a smoky blue. Private Reserve American Blue 50ml ($8.80) is more of a royal blue and leans much darker when applied in heavy strokes.

Pilot Blue comes in a 70ml bottle for $16.50. If you’re looking for the best value for the volume, Pilot Blue might not be the favored option but the easy-to-use bottle adds a benefit some of the other inks don’t offer.

The samples above were written with a vintage Esterbrook outfitted with a #2442 falcon stub in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

Inspired by Kenouni Renoshin‘s suggestion that I do more ink reviews, I give to you the first day of the 12 Days of Inkmas. Cheers!

I must confess, of the eight inks I received this month from the December Ink Drop,in honor of Private Reserve founder Terry Johnson, I waited to do Private Reserve Black Velvet last. Partially because I find it hard to say much about black ink. I love fountain pens because I don’t have to use black. But I know lots of people like using black inks or need to use black for professional reasons. So, for you, lovers of the black inks, this is my review of Black Velvet. Let’s start by admitting that I love the name and find it quite fitting for the holiday season.

I found the Black Velvet to be a fairly neutral black. In the water test, there is a slight undertone of red but overall its a very neutral black. In writing, it seems to be a solid black with slight shading. Black Velvet is not a waterproof or even water resistant ink but it does leave evidence on the paper after water which means it could stain clothes or surfaces if spilled.

Black Velvet is a wet ink and flowed easily out of my EF TWSBI mini. If I felt compelled to use a black, this is not a bad option.

When compared to other black inks in my collection, I’d say its most comparable to Lamy Black. Noodler’s Zhivago ($12.50)and El Lawrence ($18.50) both are 3 oz/ 88ml bottles and  both have more of a green undertone.  Monteverde Black 90 ml ($12.50) has a clear red undertone making it look a little purply, even in my samples.

Private Reserve Black Velvet is sold in 50ml bottles for $8.80.

The samples above were written with a TWSBI Mini EF fountain pen in the Quo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a steel dip nib with a bit of flex which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.