The Fountain Pen Network > Supershow Blue-Penman Sapphire Faceoff!

Viseguy

Mar 25 2007, 08:53 PM

Here is a side-by-side comparison of Private Reserve D.C. Supershow Blue and Parker Penman Sapphire (the latter given to me by our own Margana -- thanks, Margana!

). These scribbles were done in my pocket-sized Moleskine. (W.r.t. the DCSS, when I wrote "new bottle" I meant "full bottle, newly opened".) The DCSS is vintage 2004.

On my screen, the PPS looks a bit brighter than the DCSS, whereas in person the opposite is true. As between DCSS and PR American Blue, AmBlue may be closer to a dead ringer for PPS.

For reasons that are hard to put into words, I find that I gravitate more towards the DCSS than towards the PPS. Perhaps the mythology that surrounds PPS is more than any ink can live up to. Beyond that, I feel that there is a certain pop to the PR that even the vaunted PPS doesn't quite match. Nevertheless, PPS is a first-class blue in its own right.

Enjoy!

Latro21

Mar 25 2007, 09:47 PM

on my screen the sapphire looks similar to namiki blue to me.

Rob R

Mar 26 2007, 06:24 PM

Isn't the PR DC supershow 2004 a limited production? Saying that, would PR American Blue be a more viable long term solution. Also, the "coalition blue" solution ( 3 pr am blue + 1 noodler's iraqi indigo + 1/2 PR Tanzinite) requires having all three on hand.

So, will PR American Blue give the best solution. Your scan would suggest that from a color point of view.

Thanks for your review.

Margana

Mar 26 2007, 09:23 PM

Glad you found a good use for the Parker Penman Sapphire, Viseguy.

It looks great on your Moleskine paper. No feathering with either ink. Very good to know.

Based on your scan I do prefer it over DCSS. Even so that well-known DCSS twin, American Blue, is a consistent ink in my rotation and only in a side to side comparison can I discern a subtle difference between PPS and AmBlue.

Where I see more of a difference is the drying time and at that PPS trumps AmBlue consistently for me. Smeared ink is a hazard of using fountain pens and I expect it on occasion. I just steer clear of inks that are particularly prone to this problem. AmBlue is not that bad mind you. I'm just careful not to use it in situations that might play to that weakness.

When you can find it, a 50ml bottle of PPS with shipping is usually over $20 while a 50ml bottle of PR is less than half that. PPS will continue to be a part of my collection but the extremely reasonable price of Private Reserve ink keeps AmBlue consistently in my rotation.

Any plans for another side to side comparison? I really like that format.

Viseguy

Mar 27 2007, 04:23 AM

QUOTE (Margana @ Mar 26 2007, 05:23 PM)

Smeared ink is a hazard of using fountain pens and I expect it on occasion. I just steer clear of inks that are particularly prone to this problem. AmBlue is not that bad mind you. I'm just careful not to use it in situations that might play to that weakness.

Recently I have been getting very good results with AmBlue and DCSS. I put both of these aside a few years ago after experiencing very slow drying times, but, for some reason, I'm having no such problems now. And my pens tend to write wet, too. Go figure.

QUOTE (Margana)

Any plans for another side to side comparison? I really like that format.

There are plenty of pages left in my Moleskine!

My next side-by-side may be a comparison of two Noodler's dark blues, Midnight Blue vs. Manhattan Blue. NeilB just sent me a written sample of the latter, and it is gorgeous -- very similar to the 1:1 mix of Noodler's Navy and La Couleur Royale that I did a while back -- with a water-resistant element, to boot. Midnight Blue is slightly darker, but Manhattan is a purer blue... I like it! Stay tuned...

Margana

Mar 27 2007, 07:27 AM

QUOTE (Viseguy @ Mar 26 2007, 08:23 PM)

QUOTE (Margana @ Mar 26 2007, 05:23 PM)

Smeared ink is a hazard of using fountain pens and I expect it on occasion. I just steer clear of inks that are particularly prone to this problem. AmBlue is not that bad mind you. I'm just careful not to use it in situations that might play to that weakness.

Recently I have been getting very good results with AmBlue and DCSS. I put both of these aside a few years ago after experiencing very slow drying times, but, for some reason, I'm having no such problems now. And my pens tend to write wet, too. Go figure.

Maybe it just needed to age.

Which pens have you tested?

MicheleB

Mar 28 2007, 01:58 AM

QUOTE (Viseguy @ Mar 27 2007, 04:23 AM)

QUOTE (Margana)

Any plans for another side to side comparison? I really like that format.

There are plenty of pages left in my Moleskine!

My next side-by-side may be a comparison of two Noodler's dark blues, Midnight Blue vs. Manhattan Blue. NeilB just sent me a written sample of the latter, and it is gorgeous -- very similar to the 1:1 mix of Noodler's Navy and La Couleur Royale that I did a while back -- with a water-resistant element, to boot. Midnight Blue is slightly darker, but Manhattan is a purer blue... I like it! Stay tuned...

I look forward to the Manhattan Blue comparison.

Viseguy

Mar 28 2007, 04:40 AM

QUOTE (Margana @ Mar 27 2007, 03:27 AM)

Maybe it just needed to age.

Or maybe I needed to.

QUOTE (Margana @ Mar 27 2007, 03:27 AM)

Which pens have you tested?

Let's see. I have AmBlue in the M800 with Mottishawed B nib, and also in an M200 with a Mottishawed M nib. I have DCSS in another M200 with another Mottishawed M nib. All are fairly juicy writers, 6-7 on Mottishaw's scale of 1 to 10.

The Penman Sapphire, BTW, is in my Aurora Optima, which has two nibs, a Mottishawed B and an out-of-the-box F. I am sorry to say it, but the PPS sometimes looks a tad ballpoint-y coming out of the F nib, unless you take a really close look -- but who ever does, except us ink geeks?

Viseguy

Mar 28 2007, 04:41 AM

QUOTE (MicheleB @ Mar 27 2007, 09:58 PM)

I look forward to the Manhattan Blue comparison.

Thanks. Me too! But first, I have to get some.

Margana

Mar 28 2007, 07:07 AM

QUOTE (Viseguy @ Mar 27 2007, 08:40 PM)

The Penman Sapphire, BTW, is in my Aurora Optima, which has two nibs, a Mottishawed B and an out-of-the-box F. I am sorry to say it, but the PPS sometimes looks a tad ballpoint-y coming out of the F nib, unless you take a really close look -- but who ever does, except us ink geeks?

Ya know the first time I loaded AmBlue into a fine nibbed "51", I thought IT looked ballpoint-y. IME any of the deeper blues can remind me of those days when BIC was all any of my friends used. For my money AmBlue and PPS both look best in a stub or italic nib where that rich color is displayed in all its glory.

Viseguy

Mar 30 2007, 03:38 AM

QUOTE (Viseguy @ Mar 28 2007, 12:41 AM)

QUOTE (MicheleB @ Mar 27 2007, 09:58 PM)

I look forward to the Manhattan Blue comparison.

Thanks. Me too! But first, I have to get some.

My Mannie Blue is on its way from Art Brown. Woo-hoo!

His Nibs

Apr 6 2007, 12:58 AM

I feel a little bit responsible for American Blue -- no residuals though

-- as several years ago I asked Terry of Private Reserve if he could come close to duplicating Penman Sapphire (I sent him some of my last personal stock to work with).

Anyway, here's a comparison I did a few years ago. No one's mentioned Lake Placid Blue, but it's certainly in the ballpark as well.

American Blue comparison

Margana

Apr 6 2007, 03:11 AM

QUOTE (His Nibs @ Apr 5 2007, 04:58 PM)

I feel a little bit responsible for American Blue -- no residuals though

-- as several years ago I asked Terry of Private Reserve if he could come close to duplicating Penman Sapphire (I sent him some of my last personal stock to work with).

Anyway, here's a comparison I did a few years ago. No one's mentioned Lake Placid Blue, but it's certainly in the ballpark as well.

American Blue comparison

Penman Sapphire was the inspiration for American Blue? Surely you jest! I thought the similarity was purely coincidental.

Viseguy

Apr 6 2007, 05:21 AM

QUOTE (His Nibs @ Apr 5 2007, 08:58 PM)

I feel a little bit responsible for American Blue -- no residuals though

-- as several years ago I asked Terry of Private Reserve if he could come close to duplicating Penman Sapphire (I sent him some of my last personal stock to work with).

Ah, well, thanks for that -- you inspired the creation of a wonderful-looking ink!

Do you know what Terry was thinking when he put out DC Supershow as well? They are almost perfect look-alikes! Which came first? Was AmBlue intended to be an open-stock version of the limited edition DCSS?

Inquiring minds...

His Nibs

Apr 6 2007, 06:03 AM

QUOTE (Margana @ Apr 5 2007, 10:11 PM)

QUOTE (His Nibs @ Apr 5 2007, 04:58 PM)

I feel a little bit responsible for American Blue -- no residuals though

-- as several years ago I asked Terry of Private Reserve if he could come close to duplicating Penman Sapphire (I sent him some of my last personal stock to work with).

Anyway, here's a comparison I did a few years ago. No one's mentioned Lake Placid Blue, but it's certainly in the ballpark as well.

American Blue comparison

Penman Sapphire was the inspiration for American Blue? Surely you jest! I thought the similarity was purely coincidental.

Margana,

Have you ever known me to jest with you?

Margana

Apr 6 2007, 06:07 AM

Never! Well, except maybe when it comes to shopping carts and WD-40.

His Nibs

Apr 6 2007, 06:10 AM

QUOTE (Viseguy @ Apr 6 2007, 12:21 AM)

QUOTE (His Nibs @ Apr 5 2007, 08:58 PM)

I feel a little bit responsible for American Blue -- no residuals though

-- as several years ago I asked Terry of Private Reserve if he could come close to duplicating Penman Sapphire (I sent him some of my last personal stock to work with).

Ah, well, thanks for that -- you inspired the creation of a wonderful-looking ink!

Do you know what Terry was thinking when he put out DC Supershow as well? They are almost perfect look-alikes! Which came first? Was AmBlue intended to be an open-stock version of the limited edition DCSS?

Inquiring minds...

Hi Viseguy,

D.C. Supershow Blue came out first. To tell you the truth, I *really* can't tell the difference between them! Lake Placid Blue, on most papers, is also *very* close.

As Terry promised that each year's D.C. Supershow Blue would be a 'Special Edition', and limited in production, I think he also wanted to come out with another ink that was very similar for regular production...as well as coming close to Sapphire.

I think all three PR inks we're discussing are terrific.

To my eye, Levenger's Cobalt Blue is the closest of all inks that I've tried to the Sapphire.

GoutamJois

Apr 17 2008, 02:12 PM

Quick question about the DCSS ink. I've been using Private Reserve inks for a few years now (mostly Lake Placid Blue and Midnight Blues). In the past, when I bought the DCSS ink, it had the year on it, e.g., "DC Supershow Blue 2005." I bought a bottle today with no year listed. Should I assume it's from '08? I live in Boston; would the '08 (assuming there was an '08) even have made it to Boston for sale in just about a week? Just curious...

QUOTE(His Nibs @ Apr 6 2007, 02:10 AM) [snapback]267776[/snapback]

QUOTE(Viseguy @ Apr 6 2007, 12:21 AM)

QUOTE(His Nibs @ Apr 5 2007, 08:58 PM)

I feel a little bit responsible for American Blue -- no residuals though

-- as several years ago I asked Terry of Private Reserve if he could come close to duplicating Penman Sapphire (I sent him some of my last personal stock to work with).

Ah, well, thanks for that -- you inspired the creation of a wonderful-looking ink!

Do you know what Terry was thinking when he put out DC Supershow as well? They are almost perfect look-alikes! Which came first? Was AmBlue intended to be an open-stock version of the limited edition DCSS?

Inquiring minds...

Hi Viseguy,

D.C. Supershow Blue came out first. To tell you the truth, I *really* can't tell the difference between them! Lake Placid Blue, on most papers, is also *very* close.

As Terry promised that each year's D.C. Supershow Blue would be a 'Special Edition', and limited in production, I think he also wanted to come out with another ink that was very similar for regular production...as well as coming close to Sapphire.

I think all three PR inks we're discussing are terrific.

To my eye, Levenger's Cobalt Blue is the closest of all inks that I've tried to the Sapphire.

JohnS-MI

Apr 17 2008, 03:35 PM

QUOTE(GoutamJois @ Apr 17 2008, 10:12 AM) [snapback]581154[/snapback]

Quick question about the DCSS ink. I've been using Private Reserve inks for a few years now (mostly Lake Placid Blue and Midnight Blues). In the past, when I bought the DCSS ink, it had the year on it, e.g., "DC Supershow Blue 2005." I bought a bottle today with no year listed. Should I assume it's from '08? I live in Boston; would the '08 (assuming there was an '08) even have made it to Boston for sale in just about a week? Just curious...

Apparently, it was originally issued once a year as a special color for DC Pen Show; when it was gone, it was gone ('til next year).
It is now a permanent color and they dropped the year.