Noodler's Eternal Luxury Blue

November 9, 2005

I present the eagerly anticipated 'bullet proof' luxury blue from Noodlers.

Yes it's bullet proof, bomb proof, chemical proof and will last longer than the paper you write on BUT is it any good as an ink?

The answer is..... NO. Well not for me anyway.

I'm a fan of Noodlers Black; it writes beautifully, looks great and is water proof. So had hoped an expected the new 'Luxury' blue to have the same qualities but no.

The new small bottle is nice and doesn't fill me with high centre of gravity small base spillage dread.

I filled my Van Gogh Maxi with the new ink and encountered my first negative... now most Noodlers clings to the nib and other areas but I've seen nothing like this before. The whole metal section remained blue - the ink did not drain away even slightly! The black feed beneath the nib had a new distinct blue tint and the nib?! Well it looked bad. This stuff clings! It was actually a small job to get it off the surface where I did not want it.

So let's see how it writes... Ummm disappointing...

It is both slightly washed out and saturated at the same time. I hope this is clear from the scan below. I wrote next to some DC SS 2005 and it looks very washed out in comparison - not at all Noodlers like. The ink I have closest to this is Pelikan Royal Blue.

One last thing; this ink smells quite strange - not pleasant!

I have to say I kept the ink in my pen long enough to scrawl the note below and then it was flushed out that's how little this ink appeals to me.

http://homepage.mac.com/djahughes/.Pictures/fpn/noodlers_small.jpg

Click for larger version.

Edited November 14, 2005 by djahughes

November 9, 2005

Thanks for that, David.

Your scanned sample doesn't look all that bad to these eyes. The both light and dense at the same time characteristic that you describe comes across as quite nice shading. Is the fluorescent quality noticeable and what was your impression of it?

In the past, as you mention, many of Nathan's inks have clung to and coated the nib in similar fashion, but Nathan always said that one shouldn't be concerned as only a simple wipe with a rag removed it. That has been my experience. But, your description sounds as if this does wipe off, but with maybe a bit more effort necessary by the wiper.

Where did you get yours, The Writing Desk?

November 9, 2005

Hi,

Sadly the scan looks better than reality. There is a strange quality to how the ink sits on the paper that I can't describe.

I like shading also but this just doesn't look right to me - too much variance between the light and dark for me I guess.

Fluorescence? Nope - actually looks kinda drab to be honest.

What has also concerned me slightly is that I also ordered some Zhivago (both from the Writing Desk and their sample isn't far off to be honest) at the same time which I then tried. Sadly I'm not keen on that either (a disappointing day for ink purchases) so just flushed it out. I decided that having used two inks I'd do a soapy water flush just to make sure and was surprised to suddenly see a blue hint appear even after the Zhivago had been flushed.

Now I can't say that this was Lux Blue but it makes me think about the qualities of this ink.

So a bottle of Lux Blue and Zhivago heading for the Marketplace some time soon

November 9, 2005

David, sorry to hear about your disappointment. The scan really looks neat, I must say, but I see you said the scan looks better than real life. It sure does look like it has some really cool shading. Thanks for the look.

November 9, 2005

David,

where did you get Luxury Blue ink from?

I got this ink in my pen (Modern Parker 45, XF) and it looks VERY different from your scan, though different rendition on my monitor may worsen the situation.

Ok. I confirm that this ink covers nib and nearby portion of pen section with thin film in blue tint. It can be washed out with water, but I was not able to just wipe it off.

My gold plated nib looks like plain stainless still nib with blue areas on it as a result. Pretty funny.

I did not find that the ink smells unusually. Probably I did not pay attention to it during filling, but when I write there is no apparent smell. May be I am bad sniffer ;-)

I'd consider this ink relatevely dry, not that bad as let say MontBlanc blue/black, but definitely not fastest ink. Though they have different feel. MB ink adds pencil like feeling to writing, Luxury Blue (LB) does not.

I'd say LB is VERY similar to my Gulfstream Blue (GB). VERY, VERY similar in color. There is some shading, but definitely not that that big like in your scan. Your version of LB is pretty similar to Noodler's Blue, but mine almost exactly like GB. When you write with LB it looks like you scan while the ink is still wet. Once it have dried out it became less turquose and more prussian blue with some graish or milky look, just like GB.

It is prone to feather on a bad paper, but just a hint, again similar to GB. It is so similar to GB, that I start to think may be I got GB. Though I filled my pen from small bottle (1oz) with Luxury Blue label on it.

Well, that is my two cents.

November 9, 2005

What has also concerned me slightly is that I also ordered some Zhivago (both from the Writing Desk and their sample isn't far off to be honest) at the same time which I then tried. Sadly I'm not keen on that either (a disappointing day for ink purchases) so just flushed it out. I decided that having used two inks I'd do a soapy water flush just to make sure and was surprised to suddenly see a blue hint appear even after the Zhivago had been flushed.

I keep harking back to "chocolate and vanilla".

I love Zhivago as I do Aircorp Blue-Black. Both off dead black but with just enough green and blue tinge, respectively, to be noticable and, to me at least, enjoyable.

I think you and I better stop reading each other's opinions, cause we are pretty far apart, it seems.

But then, maybe we like the same sorts of pens. This is a strange interest due to the myriad choices available.

November 9, 2005

David, give me an offer, I might be interested in both.

Klemen

November 9, 2005

What has also concerned me slightly is that I also ordered some Zhivago (both from the Writing Desk and their sample isn't far off to be honest) at the same time which I then tried. Sadly I'm not keen on that either (a disappointing day for ink purchases) so just flushed it out.

In what way was the Zhivago disappointing? Was it the color, the way it wrote, or did it also coat the entire nib?

Btwy, to the folks who mention that some Noodlers inks coat the nib, but that the ink can be easily wiped off. Does it stay off once you wipe the nib or are you referring to wiping off after flushing the pen?

November 9, 2005

Just my guess, but I think what is being discussed is commonly called "nib creeping," but apparently LB does it a bit more aggressively.

November 9, 2005

Hi,

Yuri - I got both inks from the Writing Desk here in the UK.

Roger - I think (partly encouraged by your enthusiasm) that I will give Zhivago another go. I was disappointed because it just looked like an insipid black but maybe that's it's strength. I've used so many super saturated inks of late that I think I am too used to them.

KlemenV - I think I'll keep the Zhivago and will post the Lux Blue only in the UK for ease and to make it cost effective - sorry!

Stylo - I think that I was disappointed as I expected something different to what I saw - please don't ask me what I expected as I'm not sure anymore... It writes well as do all Noodlers but it just looked too much like a light black but as Roger said that is it's strength.

So the Zhivago stays and the Lux Blue goes mostly because I just don't like what it does to my pen...

First person in the UK to donate £5 to Amnesty or the NSPCC gets the Lux Blue for FREE - send me a PM once the donation is made.

Edited November 9, 2005 by djahughes

April 3, 2006

Hello,

I read the review with great interest but unfortunately, the writing sample is no longer online. Could you, David, maybe repost that scan?! Due to a recent mishap (spilled water on my notebook), I am looking into the issue of waterproof ink. However, I like a strong blue (like J.Herbin's Éclat de Saphir) ... does Noodler have such a blue which is also waterproof?

Nick

April 4, 2006

If by "strong" you mean "darker," then you can look up these Noodler's waterproof blues which are sold exclusively through three retailers, who are located in the USA:

at the Art Brown store: Legal Blue (http://www.artbrown.com/).

at the Pendemonium store: Legal Lapis (a very distinctive, greenish blue-black) (http://www.pendemonium.com/). FPN member Viseguy likes to mix this ink 1:1 with another Noodler's exclusive for Pendemonium, Iraqi Indigo, for a darker and less green blue-black. He calls it, "Lapindigo" .

at the Swisher Pens store (lighter to darker) : Swishmix Glacier Blue, Waterproof Gulfstream Blue and Swishmix Tahitian Pearl (http://www.swisherpens.com/).

One note about Noodler's Swisher-exclusive inks: they are formulated to dry even faster than the Noodler's inks for general distribution. The Swisher exclusives dry impressively quickly and are favorites with left-handed writers and people who use FPs to write in their (paper) daily planners (no time to wait for drying before closing).

The only side effect of this fast-drying formula is that it must be written on "good" paper to avoid feathering and bleeding. The Swisher website does helpfully list several brands and models of paper (some of which are even inexpensive) which are "good;" they are not listed with the Noodler's brand inks but with Swisher's own house brand inks (also formulated for fast drying, but not waterproof), but the recommendations are the same.

Enjoy!

Edited April 4, 2006 by Goodwhiskers

May 15, 2007

I found this ink to be superior to most blues I have tried due to its smooth writing characteristics and its fantastic colour. I have been looking for a blue like this for a long time. I rate it highly and like it too because it is very water resistant

quote name='djahughes' date='Nov 9 2005, 02:13 PM' post='46273']