Mont Blanc Mystery Black

[tommyss4l]

 

Mont Blanc Mystery Black with Faber-Castell Astound on Black & Red A4 Notebook

 

*Smear Test* The smear test shows dashes after 1-5 and 10 seconds from left to right. The ink dries fast enough for me, by the time I reach the next line, the ink where my hand is resting is dry and no smudges on the paper or my hand. The ink flows at a steady pace, keeping up with fast writing but still slow enough to not blob up with slower writing. After staying capped all afternoon, a quick lick of the nib and the ink was flowing like it had never stopped. Even leaving the cap off for an hour the lick-and-stick rule still works. The nib lubrication is amazing, “skating on paper” could be applied. The ink looks quite dark and makes strong lines on the paper with average pressure, without any feathering or bleeding. While the text is slightly visible on the reverse of my legal pad paper, it is not so dark it inhibits writing. The ink does not seem to care about my hand oils, or perhaps my hands are not oily enough to make a difference. I wrote a page of notes today with no problem, as well as a few pages in this book. My old Waterman Intense Black is close to this one, but a smidge lighter. The ink store I go to only sells it in cartridges, which is perfect for me, but I do not know if it is sold in bottles as well.

[LWW]

 

Mont Blanc Mystery Black with Faber-Castell Astound on Black & Red A4 Notebook

 

*Smear Test* The smear test shows dashes after 1-5 and 10 seconds from left to right. The ink dries fast enough for me, by the time I reach the next line, the ink where my hand is resting is dry and no smudges on the paper or my hand. The ink flows at a steady pace, keeping up with fast writing but still slow enough to not blob up with slower writing. After staying capped all afternoon, a quick lick of the nib and the ink was flowing like it had never stopped. Even leaving the cap off for an hour the lick-and-stick rule still works. The nib lubrication is amazing, “skating on paper” could be applied. The ink looks quite dark and makes strong lines on the paper with average pressure, without any feathering or bleeding. While the text is slightly visible on the reverse of my legal pad paper, it is not so dark it inhibits writing. The ink does not seem to care about my hand oils, or perhaps my hands are not oily enough to make a difference. I wrote a page of notes today with no problem, as well as a few pages in this book. My old Waterman Intense Black is close to this one, but a smidge lighter. The ink store I go to only sells it in cartridges, which is perfect for me, but I do not know if it is sold in bottles as well.

That is my everyday business ink.

[Mags]

My MB 149 came with a bottle in the box. It is lovely ink.

 

Mags

[tommyss4l]

One more note, the cartridge seems to last forever. I've been on the same one since the day before I posted this and it's still going strong.

[Montblanc owner and lover]

nice ink i use it sometimes,for most official things

[georges zaslavsky]

looks like a very good ink.thanks for the recommendation

[Pen2009]

MB Black is one of my ink staples. I am using it with my 149 EF and I like the flow and shading of this ink. Well behaving ink.

[Redbarchettayyz]

Thanks for the review! I use this ink in my Montblanc 14, it is a great black!

[Xqmano]

This is a recent aquaintance of mine as well, and so far I am very happy with it and the burgundy red as well.

[pavoni]

I have been using Mystery Black in my MB 149 (F nib) and Mystery Black cartridges in my MB 145 (M nib) every day at work for a couple of years. For my private writing, despite having a draw full of colourful inks to choose from, I seem to defer to this excellent, reliable ink time after time. Looks great on any shade of white and is simply delicious on cream, particularly when using one of my vintage nibs

 

Really enjoyed Tommy's review.

 

Pavoni.

[nervium]

great everday ink for a fast writing doc.

[icevic]

Comes in very clever bottles too.

[AJ50]

Must give this ink a try, it looks interesting.

[BillZ]

Is it waterproof like the bottled Blue/Black and Midnight Blue? I am looking to downsize my ink collection and go to one black instead of the three blacks and two blue/blacks I have now. I am afraid of shelflife issues.

[carlos.q]

MB Black is not at all waterproof. If you want waterproof try Noodlers Black. If you want a water resistant black try Namiki/Pilot Black or Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black. My favorite water resistant BB is MB Midnight Blue.

 

PS I wouldn't worry too much about shelflife issues. I have and use 80's Skrip Blue, Blue Black and MB Black with no issues at all...

Edited March 12, 2013 by carlos.q

[humsin]

Hey what passage is that from which you write? It seems like an interesting read!

[BillZ]

MB Black is not at all waterproof. If you want waterproof try Noodlers Black. If you want a water resistant black try Namiki/Pilot Black or Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black. My favorite water resistant BB is MB Midnight Blue.

 

PS I wouldn't worry too much about shelflife issues. I have and use 80's Skrip Blue, Blue Black and MB Black with no issues at all...

 

 

Thanks for the info about MB Black. I guess I'll stick with my Noodler's Black and MB bottled Blue Black(old style).

[AJ50]

MB Black is not at all waterproof. If you want waterproof try Noodlers Black. If you want a water resistant black try Namiki/Pilot Black or Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black. My favorite water resistant BB is MB Midnight Blue.

 

PS I wouldn't worry too much about shelflife issues. I have and use 80's Skrip Blue, Blue Black and MB Black with no issues at all...

 

What a shame that it isn't waterproof, its a lovely ink to use.

[stevekolt]

Is this an iron gall ink?

[carlos.q]

MB Black is not iron gall. MB Midnight blue has an iron gall component and a blue dye, which makes it water resistant... with marvelous shading!