After I did the MB scented inks, I thought I should do their standard inks that they have.
Pelikano pens with medium nibs used.
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Black
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Bottled Blue-black
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Cartridge Blue-black
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Royal Blue
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Tuquoise (discontinued)
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Violet
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Bordeaux
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Ruby Red (discontinued)
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Sepia
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Racing Green
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Emerald Green (discontinued)
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Testing on generic ink-jet paper
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Testing on Elco Record paper, which is an 80gm2 paper
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Testing on Elco Classic Verge paper, which is a laid 100gm2 paper
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Water resistance test. The page was left to dry for 2 hours, then put under running water.
Inks from top to bottom; Black, Blue-black (bot), Blue-black (cart), Royal Blue, Turquoise, Violet, Bordeaux, Ruby Red, Sepia, Racing Green, Emerald Green.
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Full Version: All the MB standard inks
Excellent set of comparisons. Called the Mont Blanc Customer Service Center and asked if the Blue-Black in cartridges was the same ink as in the bottle. They said the two inks were identical. It doesn't perform the same, that is clear. One question: Did you use separate Pelikanos for each ink or did you clean and refill for one pen?
Have the Bourdeaux, the Black, and the Blue-black in bottle. They are all good inks, adequate flow, and good color. I'm pleased to see the other inks perform well. Maybe will get the Violet when I run out of the Levenger Amethyst.
Thanks,
Randal
Have the Bourdeaux, the Black, and the Blue-black in bottle. They are all good inks, adequate flow, and good color. I'm pleased to see the other inks perform well. Maybe will get the Violet when I run out of the Levenger Amethyst.
Thanks,
Randal
QUOTE (Randal6393 @ Aug 1 2008, 06:05 PM) 
Excellent set of comparisons. Called the Mont Blanc Customer Service Center and asked if the Blue-Black in cartridges was the same ink as in the bottle. They said the two inks were identical. It doesn't perform the same, that is clear. One question: Did you use separate Pelikanos for each ink or did you clean and refill for one pen?
Have the Bourdeaux, the Black, and the Blue-black in bottle. They are all good inks, adequate flow, and good color. I'm pleased to see the other inks perform well. Maybe will get the Violet when I run out of the Levenger Amethyst.
Thanks,
Randal
Have the Bourdeaux, the Black, and the Blue-black in bottle. They are all good inks, adequate flow, and good color. I'm pleased to see the other inks perform well. Maybe will get the Violet when I run out of the Levenger Amethyst.
Thanks,
Randal
I used a seperate pen for each ink.
With regards to the Blue-blacks, they are definitely different inks. As far as I remember it says so on the MB site.
Darius
I like the completeness of your collections. There is something especially satisfying about that. And, as I said about the scented inks review, these are very informative and useful -- thank you for the time and patience.
Out of the standard MB inks, I have the Racing Green, Sepia, Bordeaux, Red, and Blue-Black cartridge. Racing Green is one of my all-time favourite and most used inks. The degree of water resistance of Racing Green on your scans, pretty much parallels my experience with this ink. I am surprised that the Violet is so subdued and dark. I had assumed it was a garish colour, like most violet inks, but now perhaps I will give it a try. I usually mix my own "plum" inks by combining violet and brown, and this looks close to the colour I get.
Out of the standard MB inks, I have the Racing Green, Sepia, Bordeaux, Red, and Blue-Black cartridge. Racing Green is one of my all-time favourite and most used inks. The degree of water resistance of Racing Green on your scans, pretty much parallels my experience with this ink. I am surprised that the Violet is so subdued and dark. I had assumed it was a garish colour, like most violet inks, but now perhaps I will give it a try. I usually mix my own "plum" inks by combining violet and brown, and this looks close to the colour I get.
QUOTE (Randal6393 @ Aug 1 2008, 08:05 AM)
Excellent set of comparisons. Called the Mont Blanc Customer Service Center and asked if the Blue-Black in cartridges was the same ink as in the bottle. They said the two inks were identical. It doesn't perform the same, that is clear. One question: Did you use separate Pelikanos for each ink or did you clean and refill for one pen?
Have the Bourdeaux, the Black, and the Blue-black in bottle. They are all good inks, adequate flow, and good color. I'm pleased to see the other inks perform well. Maybe will get the Violet when I run out of the Levenger Amethyst.
Thanks,
Randal
Have the Bourdeaux, the Black, and the Blue-black in bottle. They are all good inks, adequate flow, and good color. I'm pleased to see the other inks perform well. Maybe will get the Violet when I run out of the Levenger Amethyst.
Thanks,
Randal
I think it was mentioned somewhere on FPN that the bottled BB is iron-gall ink is while the carts contain normal BB ink.
QUOTE (QM2 @ Aug 1 2008, 06:12 PM)
I like the completeness of your collections. There is something especially satisfying about that. And, as I said about the scented inks review, these are very informative and useful -- thank you for the time and patience.
Out of the standard MB inks, I have the Racing Green, Sepia, Bordeaux, Red, and Blue-Black cartridge. Racing Green is one of my all-time favourite and most used inks. The degree of water resistance of Racing Green on your scans, pretty much parallels my experience with this ink. I am surprised that the Violet is so subdued and dark. I had assumed it was a garish colour, like most violet inks, but now perhaps I will give it a try. I usually mix my own "plum" inks by combining violet and brown, and this looks close to the colour I get.
Out of the standard MB inks, I have the Racing Green, Sepia, Bordeaux, Red, and Blue-Black cartridge. Racing Green is one of my all-time favourite and most used inks. The degree of water resistance of Racing Green on your scans, pretty much parallels my experience with this ink. I am surprised that the Violet is so subdued and dark. I had assumed it was a garish colour, like most violet inks, but now perhaps I will give it a try. I usually mix my own "plum" inks by combining violet and brown, and this looks close to the colour I get.
Thank you for your appreciation.
The Violet is a very rich ink. The colour is not the usual violet you would expect. It also has nice shading and good water resistance.
QUOTE (Immoteus @ Aug 1 2008, 06:17 PM)
I think it was mentioned somewhere on FPN that the bottled BB is iron-gall ink is while the carts contain normal BB ink.
That is true. The bottles are iron-gall, and because iron-gall can not be stored in plastic containers, the carts are not the same ink.
Thank you for this clear and detailed review. I have been using Mt Blanc's Royal Blue for many years, and find it to be as discribed. The color makes me happy.
QUOTE (AlexLeGrande @ Aug 1 2008, 11:12 PM)
Thank you for this clear and detailed review. I have been using Mt Blanc's Royal Blue for many years, and find it to be as discribed. The color makes me happy.
I'm glad you find my review consistant.
Very complete MB ink review and very informative. Thank you so much.
QUOTE (ruud2904 @ Aug 2 2008, 06:47 PM)
Very complete MB ink review and very informative. Thank you so much.
Thank you for your kind words.
Great scans, thank you. And I really dig your handwriting. Best,
David
David
QUOTE (cellulophile @ Aug 2 2008, 09:07 PM)
Great scans, thank you. And I really dig your handwriting. Best,
David
David
Thank you
These scans are great! Thank you so much for doing all this work, Darius, although it looks like a labor of love. The Ruby Red does wonderful subtle color-shifting things on my monitor--and it figures I like a discontinued color!
That sepia on the Elco paper is also gorgeous, as is the violet. Next bottle of ink I get will be one of these. 
QUOTE (Sharkle @ Aug 3 2008, 05:50 AM)
These scans are great! Thank you so much for doing all this work, Darius, although it looks like a labor of love. The Ruby Red does wonderful subtle color-shifting things on my monitor--and it figures I like a discontinued color! That sepia on the Elco paper is also gorgeous, as is the violet. Next bottle of ink I get will be one of these.
That sepia on the Elco paper is also gorgeous, as is the violet. Next bottle of ink I get will be one of these. Thank you. The violet is great. The scans don't capture all its character. The sepia is also nice, but flows drier than the others.
Darius, these scans provide a wonderful service to those of us who love Montblanc ink. One question, though: are you sure the turquoise is discontinued? I bought a bottle in the States back in February and it has the new label design on it.
QUOTE (PenTieRun @ Aug 3 2008, 07:35 AM)
Darius, these scans provide a wonderful service to those of us who love Montblanc ink. One question, though: are you sure the turquoise is discontinued? I bought a bottle in the States back in February and it has the new label design on it.
PenTieRun, it came to a surprise to me too. If you check the Product Details of a bottled filled pen on the official MB website, the 149 for example, and click on the refill tab, you'll see that the turquoise is there no more. The black, blue-black (permanent, ferro-gallic content), royal blue, bordeaux, sepia, violet, racing green are still there. On the fountain pen ink bottle section of the MB online refill shop, the turquoise is no there either. When I was in the MB boutique and asked for a bottle, I was told that they didn't receive it in their last shipment. But the stongest indicator is the official MB site, not the refill site. That's how I know about the release of the violet long before it was available in the market. If you really like the colour, I think you should buy a few bottles that are still stocked in some shops.
Very nice review (especially seeing those inks on different papers).
On my monitor the colors look pretty accurate; except fir the Ruby Red which I find less pink but more bright red-orange in real life.
Checking Montblanc Refills it looks like Sepia has been discontinued as well?
Cheers
Michael
On my monitor the colors look pretty accurate; except fir the Ruby Red which I find less pink but more bright red-orange in real life.
Checking Montblanc Refills it looks like Sepia has been discontinued as well?
Cheers
Michael
QUOTE (Michael R. @ Aug 3 2008, 10:41 AM)
Very nice review (especially seeing those inks on different papers).
On my monitor the colors look pretty accurate; except fir the Ruby Red which I find less pink but more bright red-orange in real life.
Checking Montblanc Refills it looks like Sepia has been discontinued as well?
Cheers
Michael
On my monitor the colors look pretty accurate; except fir the Ruby Red which I find less pink but more bright red-orange in real life.
Checking Montblanc Refills it looks like Sepia has been discontinued as well?
Cheers
Michael
Thank you for your compliments.
I don't think the sepia is discontinued. I think the N. America distributer is out of stock
Darius, thank you for the great review. Also good scans.
May I just add (as a sort of confirmation) that MB's blue-black in a bottle DOES contain iron gall (i.e. it has a ferro-gallic content). It says that in all 8 languages on the package instruction sheet. The dummy in the store (not "my store") where I bought it said that MB doesn't manufacture any iron gall inks anymore since 25 years!
HAR HAR
May I just add (as a sort of confirmation) that MB's blue-black in a bottle DOES contain iron gall (i.e. it has a ferro-gallic content). It says that in all 8 languages on the package instruction sheet. The dummy in the store (not "my store") where I bought it said that MB doesn't manufacture any iron gall inks anymore since 25 years!
HAR HAR
QUOTE (lapis @ Aug 6 2008, 06:09 PM)
Darius, thank you for the great review. Also good scans.
May I just add (as a sort of confirmation) that MB's blue-black in a bottle DOES contain iron gall (i.e. it has a ferro-gallic content). It says that in all 8 languages on the package instruction sheet. The dummy in the store (not "my store") where I bought it said that MB doesn't manufacture any iron gall inks anymore since 25 years!
HAR HAR
May I just add (as a sort of confirmation) that MB's blue-black in a bottle DOES contain iron gall (i.e. it has a ferro-gallic content). It says that in all 8 languages on the package instruction sheet. The dummy in the store (not "my store") where I bought it said that MB doesn't manufacture any iron gall inks anymore since 25 years!
HAR HAR
You did not add anything. I already stated that in my review.
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