A key has been added, written on Clairefontaine paper, with a number of different inks for reference.
Standard Disclaimer: Image provided only to give a general sense of the color. The vibrance and nuance are typically lost when an ink is digitized.
Review
When I write a review, I first focus on color, and award an ink 0 to 100 based upon that alone, separate from other considerations. I then deduct points from the color score for defects (ie: lack of flow, creep, etc), to arrive at an overall score.
Color
Sailor Blue-Black is a benchmark in its category. When I think of blue-black, something approximating the Sailor comes to mind. This isn't to say that other inks called "blue-black" aren't as good or better, it's just that the Sailor is most deserving of the term. As an added benefit, it has a vintage tone to it, which is very appealing.
At a glance, and when looking at very small excerpts, the Sailor and Sheaffer Blue-Blacks appear very similar. However, the Sailor is richer, and is decidedly blue-black, whereas the Sheaffer has a touch of green.
Color Score = 85
Deductions
Sailor Blue-Black is on the expensive end of the spectrum, at between $0.23 and $0.24 per milliliter (where the average is around $0.15/milliliter)
-4
Bonus Points
Sailor Blue-Black is among the quickest drying inks I've dealt with to date.
+2
Overall Score = 83 out of 100
