I recently picked up a bottle of Omas Sepia after hearing how dark it is (I love dark browns) and how it's favored among many. However, I've tried it in three pens and they all don't seem to write well with the sepia. I tried it first in the Omas Emotica, which had a few problems with ink flow (it now runs smoothly with Lamy black) and the color didn't seem dark at all - more a red-brown - and the ink skipped fairly often.

Then I tried it with a Visconti Opera. Again the color wasn't dark and the writing seemed dry in general. Finally put the sepia in a Stipula Florentia, and at first, this pen seemed to work out with the ink - ink flowed beautifully and the color was wonderfully dark - but after a while, it sputtered and the ink flow began to cease, with long, frustrating moments of the ink not coming out at all.

I'm beginning to wonder if I have a dud bottle of Omas sepia here or these three pens are faulty, though they've been working with other inks.

In any case, I'd love to hear from anyone who's loving their Omas sepia and about the pens that go well with the ink. I do so want to find a pen that will make the most of the sepia. I know, usually it's the case of finding an ink that will work best in a particular pen, but I've heard so many good things about the sepia and I want to enjoy it but for now, the enjoyment is elusive!

I love the brown copper colour. This is what I was hoping PR Copper Burst will be.

It is not dark chocolade colour. Sorry.

First of all, do you wash your pens. If you do, do you drain them well. Before I drain them, remainings of water inside the pen cause miserable performance. My Omas skipped terribly.

My Duofold with factory fine italic nib writes great. Omas with stub nib wasn't bad too. It also writes well with Montegrappa.

As of colour, it goes well with Arco Brown.

I'm sure you're aware of this, but the search for omas sepia ink is the subject of an elegantly written and always entertaining blog by an FPN contributor - Inkquest

omas sepia works well in my arte italiana

Thanks, I do wash my pens regularly, though perhaps it's the draining that's the problem. I'll do a more thorough job of that. And yeah, I sure enjoy reading inkquest.

This site is new to me. Eminently Spurl-worthy (filed under "Ink", of course). The latest entry had Visegal and me . Who, pray tell, is this inky Ahab? Has he been 'outed' here?

Does it still count as outing if I out myself?

Neil

Absolutely, Neil!! Love the blog!!! Am working my way through it, savoring one entry at a time. Keep 'em coming!

Welcome!

If you like dark browns, then PR "Chocolat" is superb.

Hello Jonathan, and thanks...I do have a bottle of Chocolat and it works wonderfully. I'm now looking forward to FPN's brown ink!

Neil, Inkquest is splendid! I love reading the blog. How are you liking Caran d'Ache's Grand Canyon? I'd love to hear how you feel about the Omas Sepia when you receive it!

Monoceros

Thanks for the comment about the blog. I'm quite enjoying the Grand Canyon ink at the moment, but it's a bit less interesting once it's dried, in my opinion. Have you tried Noodler's Walnut? That's probably my favourite dark brown, I think.

Neil

PS: I'll be sure to post an entry about Omas Sepia as soon as it arrives

Neil, I agree about Grand Canyon. It's a little duller than some of the brown inks I've used. Noodler's Walnut isn't available yet in the store where I get my inks, though it should come in some time, together with a sepia that Nathan is developing for the owner of the store. I got a peek at the label but have little clue about the shade; the owner doesn't know either, he left it to Nathan to decide. I have tried Beaver though, and I like it quite a bit. Have you tried that? How does it compare with Walnut?

m

Hi monoceros,

Nice to see another FPNer from Singapore. I know the store you are talking about. I'm waiting for the sepia as well, but I think it will take a long while before Nathan has the time to get that one done.

I've seen some of the Noodlers browns like Kiowa Pecan and Beaver. Not really my cup of tea. I like PR Chocolat much better.

Monoceros

No, I haven't tried Noodler's Beaver, I'm afraid, and I don't think that either of the two UK stockists carries that particular colour. On the Noodler's website, it looks to be a little lighter and possibly slightly more terracotta-ish than Walnut.

Neil

Hi back, Nimrud, and thanks for the information, though I think I’m okay if the sepia takes a while. I’ve got quite a number of browns to distract me right now. I like the three shades you mentioned, though I change my mind quite often about which one I like best. For the moment, Beaver and Chocolat are tied at the top. Are there other browns you like? A bit off topic but do you know where in Singapore I might find Aurora Black ink?

Neil,

From my experience, Beaver has hardly any red in it (if at all). It’s a rich dark brown, not quite a reddish-brown, but I suspect Walnut will be darker. I look forward to trying it once it gets to my shores. So you don't have any complaints about Walnut? Great colour, flows well?

By the way, read your blog, and I’m glad the pen turned up!

m