Ink Reviews

• Abraxas
• Akkerman
• Aurora
• Bexley
• Caran d'Ache
• Conway Stewart
• Cross
• Delta
• de Atramentis
• Diamine
• Dupont
• Herbin
• Iroshizuku
• Lamy
• Levenger
• Montegrappa
• Montblanc
• Monteverde
• Noodler
• Omas
• Panache
• Parker
• Pelikan
• Platinum
• Private Reserve
• Rotring
• Rubinato
• Sheaffer
• Stipula
• Visconti
• Yard-O-Led
• Waterman

 

INK REVIEWS

Parker

Quink
Blue, Blue-black, Green*, Red*, Peacock Blue*, Brown*

Quink
Parker has been making inks for some 60+ years. Their Quink line is made in France. Available in blue, blue-black and black.

• Blue-Black - varies by dye lot, the colour is fairly dark, flow good, performs well in both broad and medium nib pens.
• Blue - a colour of blue that won't have anyone look twice at your document!
• Black - mixed reviews on this ink. They range from being not one of the blackest inks around to a very underrated ink. Described as a "moderate black" with a blue-grey hue. Moderate flow. Good water resistance.
• Green - light tone to the colour.
• Red - medium colour, very little orange tone.

Penman
Sapphire Blue*, Emerald Green*, Mocha Brown*, Black*, Ruby * These inks were discontinued in 2000. A much acclaimed product when released in 1993. Leighton Davies-Smith, an ink chemist with Parker, talked about the development of the Penman line of inks in a article published in Pen World. Davies-Smith said the ink took more than two years to develop the ink. Parker was aiming at producing an ink that would be quick drying on paper but slow drying on the nib to enhance a smooth writing experience. The bottled ink came from England and the cartridges came from France. The distinctive ink bottles were designed by Lansdown Conquest, design agency based in London.

I regularly receive e-mails asking about where these inks can still be obtained. The ink is discontinued. Many of the pen discussion boards had strong feelings expressed about this ink. Comments range from staining, clogging to just perfect!

Sapphire Blue was one of my standard inks ever since the ink came out, and until I use my last bottle. I have had no problems with any pen, any nib. While I have some bottles left, an Ink of Choice.

Emerald Green had a great rich colour but I found the ink dried too quickly and clogged some nibs.

The Black had a grey tinge.

The Ruby was a burgandy-ish red with just a hint of black. A bit thinner than the black and has a moderate drying time.