Montblanc Jonathan Swift Seaweed Green

[Bigeddie]

The Second of the new line of Montblanc Writers Edition inks (the first being Carlo Collodi); a seaweed green. The name seems to be wholly appropriate.

 

Tonight has posted a review prior to this one [linked here].

 

Packaging and price

35ml round bottle with no filling aids. I prefer the LE Diamond bottles, but if this is a new line then it looks like these circular ones might be here to stay.

 

The ink seems quite widely available at release priced at about £11 a 35ml bottle. This is roughly twice the cost per ml compared with J. Herbin or the standard Montblanc inks. Being a limited edition ink it will be around for about a year, the same as the Jonathan Swift WE pens are about, to be replaced with another in 12 months or so... If you like it stock up.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/7818144384_62fca2d11e.jpg

MB Jonathan Swift Stocks by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

Samples

Sample quote is from "Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships" better known as 'Gulliver's Travels' by Jonathan Swift.

HP Everyday (weight unstated)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8447/7817682898_0322f01b58.jpg

HP Page by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

HP Everyday - Sonnet Stub

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8430/7817683512_781e56e60f.jpg

HP Sonnet by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

HP Everyday - 146 Medium

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8294/7817680544_8921f794d1.jpg

HP 146 by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

HP Everyday - Custom 92 - Fine-Medium

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7817680768_f425c3d1c8.jpg

HP Pilot by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

 

Conqueror Wove 90gsm (Brilliant White)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8421/7817171628_0ed92ddee1.jpg

Conqueror Wove Page by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Conqueror Wove - Sonnet Stub

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7131/7817170482_6a8053a8a1.jpg

Conqueror Wove Sonnet by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Conqueror Wove - 146 Medium

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8446/7817171906_1b1e091b78.jpg

Conqueror Wove 146 by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Conqueror Wove - Custom 92 - Fine-Medium

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7133/7817170688_f31611bef7.jpg

Conqueror Wove Pilot by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

 

Conqueror Bamboo - Bamboo pulp 100gsm (Creama)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7123/7817173394_9face372b2.jpg

Conqueror Bamboo Page by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Conqueror Bamboo - Sonnet Stub

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8299/7817172142_af5967c16f.jpg

Conqueror Bamboo Sonnet by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Conqueror Bamboo - 146 Medium

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8305/7817173630_3455619240.jpg

Conqueror Bamboo 146 by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Conqueror Bamboo - Custom 92 - Fine-Medium

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8427/7817172416_d763aa43e3.jpg

Conqueror Bamboo Pilot by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

 

Rhodia Bloc Pad (80gsm)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8437/7817169936_61f798bf98.jpg

Rodia page by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Rhodia - Sonnet Stub

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8304/7817168774_65699bf3f5.jpg

Rodia Sonnet by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Rhodia - 146 Medium

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7257/7817170270_e5ff01c3af.jpg

Rodia 146 by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Rhodia - Custom 92 - Fine-Medium

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8294/7817169024_8fb4862fff.jpg

Rodia Pilot by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

 

Swabs

A colour comparison to some other murky greens and MBIG for comparison (sadly I have no MBRG to compare it to )

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8447/7817168550_d2959afe24.jpg

Seaweed Green Swabs by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

...after 1 minute in standing water

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8291/7817468256_4ee4e2476e.jpg

Seaweed Green Swabs Soak by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Writing 30 seconds in standing water

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8308/7817468558_4c406e1018.jpg

Seaweed Green Writing Soak by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Performance

The ink flows from the pen well, it didn't strike me as being particularly wet or dry, that said it did lubricate very well. None of the samples showed any sign of bleed, show through was on the better side of average. Overall MBJSSG seemed to be a very well behaved ink. Shading is not too contrasty, but it's clear and pleasant.

 

Water resistance was better than I expected. The swabs showed it to be about average, I just wanted to compare it to those that were bulletproof. The writing sample was clearly legible, which was a nice surprise.

 

Colour

It's a low saturation green. The scans show it to be a little less saturated than it comes across on the page, I attempted a tweak, but couldn't get any closer representation. On the old wiping cloth it separates into two distinct colours, one a more sequoia green, the other a much lighter yellowy green. I like it, it has more of a distinctness about it than Vert Empire.

 

Conclusion

I like it, I currently use quite a lot of Vert Empire, and this is similar with a bit higher saturation and some water resistance. The rub is in the price, is it worth double; on a penny per page basis the truth is the difference is not going to be all that noticeable. I plan on keeping a couple more bottles in my LE ink box before the end of the production run. I'll report back with how I get on.

 

 

Tools used:

I have tried to use a range of nib widths here, although looking back the Parker stub seems a little too close to the 146 medium... something for next time!

 

Parker Sonnet (Vert de Gris - Parker stub nib... a nice colour match for the ink )

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8301/7817469816_ebb93290c4.jpg

Sonnet by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Montblanc 146 (medium nib)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8293/7817467638_c8f560b96a.jpg

146 by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Pilot Custom 92 (fine-medium nib)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8445/7817471224_345c5202d8.jpg

Pilot by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

As always; all comments, feedback and suggestions are very welcome.

Edited August 19, 2012 by Bigeddie

[engravably]

To me the color seems a little more on the brownish side?

[geoduc]

Thanks, Bigeddie. Very nice work

 

I still want to see how this stacks up against MB Racing Green. Guess I'll just have to order a bottle when it becomes available and find out.

[lapis]

Excellent review!

FWIW this isn't a "seconder" because Gandhi and Hitchcock came out first. Einstein is to follow.

What I myself do loathe is that the boutique here often (but not always) says that their inks of this type are only to be sold together with the corresponding pen for the first 3-4 months of arrival. So, I buy that jazz elsewhere.

 

http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/peli46/Sick32.png

[Bigeddie]

Excellent review!

FWIW this isn't a "seconder" because Gandhi and Hitchcock came out first. Einstein is to follow.

What I myself do loathe is that the boutique here often (but not always) says that their inks of this type are only to be sold together with the corresponding pen for the first 3-4 months of arrival. So, I buy that jazz elsewhere.

 

http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/peli46/Sick32.png

 

I have heard about the 'only with a pen' issue from some people, it has never come up when I have bought close to release from a boutique. It strikes me as one of those things that has been said somewhere and caught on with sales people, prehaps to deal with short initial supply.

 

As for the WE 'second' - The Hitchcock and Gandhi inks were twined with pens, but not writers editions. I cant seem to find it, but someone put up a PDF of the new pen and it had a slide on the ink which said that this was going to be the new bottle and presentation for writers edition inks to come, it seems the character editions (was the Hitchcock a character edition? I might just have made that term up!) and other inks will be packaged differently.

 

I am looking forward to the Einstein silvery-grey ink though... I hope it comes in the pretty square 'Ink of [x]' / Hitchcock / Diamond type bottles.

[leod]

excellent review, still have one more month to go before we can get this ink.

[deenurse]

There's another post on FPN that says the ink will be available at Pen Boutique on 9/1/12. I'm wondering if MB boutiques in the U.S. have it yet.

 

 

excellent review, still have one more month to go before we can get this ink.

[Truman]

thanks for the review. To be honest, I don't really like the color, which is OK as I don't have to enjoy all inks. It does look gray to me and not evena light green. Saves me some money from not buying it!

[Bo Bo Olson]

Just dipped tested on Claire fountain 90 g Veloute.

 

I don't know if it drys to a green from a gray or the lights I had on last night were wrong. But by daylight it looks like the color some one else showed, and the color I expected.

Last night I was not a happy camper, this morning I am.

 

I have not used Herbin Vert Empire much, but I don't see a close resemblance. (memory )

That was green this is gray.

I still don't quite see Vert Empire but could see if some one thought so.

Pens used.

P-45 M regular flex:

A very GRAYED green. I have regular gray inks this can be compared too.Fuzzy line under 2.8x7 magnifying glass.

Has shading.

Much better a murky green than last night's gray.

 

Parker English Duofold Jr. Semi-flex F. Relatively dry writer it seems with this ink. I've only inked it once before and had not 'noted' it as a dry writer.

It's even more gray than with the regular flex P-45 M.

Crisp line, no feathering, good shading.

Again, a lighter murky green than with the other pens.

 

Osmia-Faber-Castell 773 Kugle (ball) M semi-flex. Some what wet.no feathering. good shading. I don't notice any green in this gray ink.

Now seeing green, this would be the pen for this ink.

Columbus from 1950 with a Bertontra #375 'flexi' F. Wet writing.

A touch of feathering. Good shading...mostly still a gray, but there is a line or two where green comes through.

This morning a nice darker shade of murky green. A good nib for this ink too.

All four nibs do well, giving different tone or shade of the ink, due to flex and width.

 

Remember, I'm only dipping. I have not ran it through any papers yet.

I can not see with what I used any relation to Racing Green out side a word green...and not much green at all.

 

OP has a green ink, I have a gray one.

bottle label:

1204-May17 encre khaki

 

This is the first time I've had such a drastic difference between night light and daylight.

 

Now I'd buy this ink again, last night I had thoughts of selling it.

Edited August 22, 2012 by Bo Bo Olson

[meghan]

I have heard about the 'only with a pen' issue from some people, it has never come up when I have bought close to release from a boutique. It strikes me as one of those things that has been said somewhere and caught on with sales people, prehaps to deal with short initial supply.

 

As for the WE 'second' - The Hitchcock and Gandhi inks were twined with pens, but not writers editions. I cant seem to find it, but someone put up a PDF of the new pen and it had a slide on the ink which said that this was going to be the new bottle and presentation for writers edition inks to come, it seems the character editions (was the Hitchcock a character edition? I might just have made that term up!) and other inks will be packaged differently.

 

I am looking forward to the Einstein silvery-grey ink though... I hope it comes in the pretty square 'Ink of [x]' / Hitchcock / Diamond type bottles.

Yes, Eddie, the brochure for the Swift line seems to indicate that future Writer's Edition inks will be sold in the round bottles.

 

I can't wait to compare this to MBRG.

Edited August 22, 2012 by meghan

[torstar]

Excellent review, keep them coming!!

[Bo Bo Olson]

I have halogen lights that shine on the desk, regular energy saving lights that shine on the ceiling, so this ink and halogen lights don't play well together.

 

The test still looks gray with those lights.

Daylight looks good.

 

I wonder how many other inks are ruined by halogen lights?

[OC Mike]

Excellent review! I could see pairing this ink with my Dumas!

[drgriz]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing!

[Angry__Panda]

There's another post on FPN that says the ink will be available at Pen Boutique on 9/1/12. I'm wondering if MB boutiques in the U.S. have it yet.

 

 

excellent review, still have one more month to go before we can get this ink.

 

I called about a week ago and the answer was no. The closest MB store to me is like a 2 hour drive so it's kind of a big deal to go up there...I generally want to make sure they have what I want in stock before I go (though I suppose I could just buy it over the phone and have it shipped...which I might do if it is much longer as I am about to have no days off from work due to some stuff going on heh).

 

So has anyone gotten this ink that also has racing green? I think there is still much talk about how similar the two are and I would be very curious as I never got to get my hands on racing green .

[encremental]

I bought a bottle of the Swift from the MB Bond St shop this week when I picked up a pen that was being repaired, and yes - I also have Racing Green!

 

Firstly, it's not a remake of Racing Green. Sorry ... I would be interested in knowing what MB were thinking with this ink since it is obviously very similar - way too similar for it to be an accident. As Bigeddie has shown us, it is very similar to Herbin Vert Empire with the Swift being perhaps slightly yellower. That's by daylight - in incandescent light I agree with Bo Bo (if I understand him correctly) that the Herbin is noticeably green while the Swift remains a sludgy grey/green/brown and in fact then looks far closer to Racing Green than it does in daylight.

 

Racing Green is darker - as if there is a dab of black in there somewhere, and crucially, there is a far wider range of tones in the shading, and that, of course is a big part of the Racing Green charm. Swift in comparison, is a much flatter and generally lighter ink. Unless you're an MB ink collector, I think Vert Empire would do the job (in daylight at least, vampires may be disappointed)for less money, and although it may be the closest ink to Racing Green I've seen so far (and I think I have all the front runners except the Diamine LE for Missing Pen), it's not as close as everyone would like.

 

John

[geoduc]

I bought a bottle of the Swift from the MB Bond St shop this week when I picked up a pen that was being repaired, and yes - I also have Racing Green!

 

Firstly, it's not a remake of Racing Green. Sorry ... I would be interested in knowing what MB were thinking with this ink since it is obviously very similar - way too similar for it to be an accident. As Bigeddie has shown us, it is very similar to Herbin Vert Empire with the Swift being perhaps slightly yellower. That's by daylight - in incandescent light I agree with Bo Bo (if I understand him correctly) that the Herbin is noticeably green while the Swift remains a sludgy grey/green/brown and in fact then looks far closer to Racing Green than it does in daylight.

 

Racing Green is darker - as if there is a dab of black in there somewhere, and crucially, there is a far wider range of tones in the shading, and that, of course is a big part of the Racing Green charm. Swift in comparison, is a much flatter and generally lighter ink. Unless you're an MB ink collector, I think Vert Empire would do the job (in daylight at least, vampires may be disappointed)for less money, and although it may be the closest ink to Racing Green I've seen so far (and I think I have all the front runners except the Diamine LE for Missing Pen), it's not as close as everyone would like.

 

John

 

Thanks for the update, John. I'm disappointed that the new ink isn't closer to Racing Green, but that's life.

 

Vert Empire doesn't appeal to me much, so I'll just have to wait until a few more scans of Seaweed Green go up and then decide whether or not to purchase this new ink.

[encremental]

I'm sure there will be e x t e n s i v e scans and comparisons in the coming weeks!

 

Some brave soul could even create a sort of 'Black Swan in German Seaweed' with a spot of Noodler's, which would come closer to Racing Green, but then it is expensive stuff to splash about - although MB have made these bottles 35m rather than their usual LE 30ml. It is a shame the bottles are so small, - I imagine that the ink itself is by far the cheapest element in the package, maybe cheaper even than the little double-lined string handled bag you take it away in

 

John

[Bo Bo Olson]

Back in the dieing days of Racing Green, back when MB was horribly hated here on the com...the advice was buy MB ink for the bottle and toss the ink....and Racing Green was the most hated ink of all time.

 

So long ago, three full years...I have the feeling then not only was the insecurities of many reacting to snobby people who flashed a MB signature pen, but they were still locked into vivid mono-tone inks.

Didn't have any good papers.

Didn't have a spectrum of nib widths and flexes.

 

There I was, with a two seater Masada MX-5 in metal flake racing green, at the B&M, and took a brown ink instead of the murky green that I did not understand....I never had a brown ink, Sepia.

Being MB it too was not liked. As so often advised as noobie, I was just after the bottle.

 

It was better than I expected, so did not toss the ink. In fact, later went out on the Bay and bought a second bottle. (For a while though Sepia was back shelfed for MB Toffee)

It too is now much more liked than back in the day. Must have been the winter of their discontent, in the day was so short.

 

So sad, Seaweed is just seaweed, and don't race around a track.

 

Thank you, encremental for bringing the sad news. Do you want to be shot at dawn or noon?

[PS104]

Sadly, a green ink (MBRG) is not beloved in it's own time