The Well-Appointed Desk

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!

On the fourth day of Inkmas, Goulet Pens brought to me… Private Reserve Black Cherry! This is also another of the colors from the December Ink Drop in honor of Private Reserve founder Terry Johnson.

I would best describe this ink as a red-black. It is not the least bit purple or pink that might make it feel more like a burgundy or bordeaux, wine color. In the water test, you can clearly see the red undertone. If anything, I might also describe the color as a brownish red.

As with all the Private Reserve inks the flow is consistent. I’d compare the ink density more closely with Diamine than any other ink I’ve tested. I had no issues with dry time but since I was doing big swabs, and painting and adding water — those areas did take a bit longer to dry than the areas where I was just writing. Paper choices will also affect dry times.

As soon as I put the Black Cherry ink to paper, I thought it reminded be of Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses 3 oz/88ml ($12.50) though once compared, Black Swan has more of a purple undertone. De Atramentis Elderberries 35ml ($12.50) and Diamine Merlot 80ml ($12.75) were also similar (though its hard to tell from these photos to see any distinct differences). Overall, I really like P.R. Black Cherry. It reminds me more of a Cherry Cola. I quite like Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses and De Atramentis Elderberries which are all subtly different from one another but all in the red-black family so it’ll be tough to choose which one to buy as a full bottle.

I’ve added screen shots from the Goulet Pens Swab Shop as its a bit easier to see the color comparisons. Thanks to Goulet for making all these resources.

Private Reserve Black Cherry 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.

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

Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue was part of the December Ink Drop from Goulet Pens. This month, the sample assortment included eight different colors from Private Reserve, favorites of the staff at Goulet in memory of the creator of Private Reserve, Terry Johnson.

Supershow Blue is named after the well-known pen show held in the nation’s capital each year. Its crisp true blue color and its name make me think of flags and uniforms and patriotic red, white and blue. There’s some shading in the color, even with a fine nib and it writes smoothly.

Colors closest in comparison (in my collection anyway) would be the Diamine Washable Blue 80 ml ($12.75) or the Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuyu-Kusa 50 ml ($28). For the price, DC Supershow Blue is a good value.

Dry times were acceptable. The ink did not hold up in my water test.

Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue is sold in 50ml bottles for $8.80 each.

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.

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!

Private Reserve Orange Crush was part of the December Ink Drop from Goulet Pens. This month, the sample assortment included eight different colors from Private Reserve, favorites of the staff at Goulet in memory of the creator of Private Reserve, Terry Johnson.

I own a bottle of Orange Crush and have used it in the past. Its a more dark orange, more brown than the fizzy pop orange it’s named after. Orange Crush is not brown by any stretch but its not a vivid bright orange as I would expect for something called Orange Crush. I think Sailor Jentle Apricot 50ml ($12.50) is is much more of a vivid orange and Noodlers Summer Tanager 3oz/88ml ($12.50) is a brighter, sunnier orange. I would compare it most closely with the Diamine Orange 80ml ($12.50) though you’ll see in the swab close-up, there is a little blue halo around the Diamine Orange that did not appear in the Orange Crush.

Its not a bad color, its just a very in-between color for me. If I want brown, I want something browner. If I’m looking for an orange, I want something that screams ORANGE. Orange Crush is somewhere in between.

In regards to flow and dry time, Orange Crush is wholly acceptable. The dry time was not excessive and I had no issues with ink flow through a fine nib. It is not water resistant in the least though I’ve found that lighter colors tend to not have much staying power when water is introduced. On the plus side, if you spill it, it should wash up easily.

Private Reserve Orange Crush 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.