Jump to content

Caran d'Ache - Blue Night


Sandy1

Recommended Posts

  • Kindly adjust the brightness & contrast of your monitor to accurately depict this Gray Scale.
  • As the patches are neutral gray, the colour on your monitor should also be neutral.

Figure 1.

Grey Scale.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/FPN049.jpg

Figure 2.

Paper: HP1124 Laser Copy.

Swabs: Waterman Florida Blue. Caran d'Ache Blue Night

Swatch: Drawn with Pelikan M200 + BB.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20-%20Blue%20Night/FPN249.jpg

WRITTEN SAMPLES: Moby Dick

 

Note - Narrow Nibs:

In a break from previous practice, 4mm row height with written and block printed samples were not used. The examples with narrow nibs were written using 6mm row height. I believe this reflects the most likely and appropriate use of this ink.

 

Figure 3.

Paper: HP1124 Laser Copy.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20-%20Blue%20Night/FPN250.jpg

Figure 4.

Paper: Rhodia

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20-%20Blue%20Night/FPN251.jpg

Figure 5.

Paper: G Lalo, Verge de France, white

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20-%20Blue%20Night/FPN252.jpg

Figure 6.

Grocery List

Paper: Pulp - from a one-a-day cartoon calendar.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20-%20Blue%20Night/FPN253.jpg

OTHER SAMPLES:

 

Figure 7.

Wet samples, Smear / Dry Time.

Paper: HP 1124 Laser Copy.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20-%20Blue%20Night/FPN254.jpg

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

 

Type:

  • Dye-based fountain pen ink.

Daily writer?

  • Quite possible, especially if one appreciates small luxuries, and likes to share them with others.

Other:

  • Sits very comfortably upon the page.
  • This ink has normal wetness; and displays a considerable range of density and shading.
  • This might be a 'Must Have' for anyone except mstone.

USES:

 

Business:

  • An interesting alternative ink.
  • Quite dynamic for such a dark ink.
  • Internal & external correspondence.
  • Not snappy enough for mark-up, editing, revisions, etc.
  • Signatures.

Illustrations / Graphics:

  • For charts, graphs, etc., it is too dark - too easily mistaken for Black or Dark Blue.
  • May be used as a substitute for the dreaded Black. And if a lighter 'Dark Blue' is used, then the difference in colour and density will be OK - even welcome.
  • Even on lower tier paper, this ink holds together and does not feather, so long as nib+feed is not overly wet.

Personal:

  • Absolutely.
  • For such a dark ink, there is a tremendous amount of character available from the variation in shading; which is best expressed through careful selection of writing implement and paper.
  • If one uses Dark Blue as a 'personal' ink, then this may be a most welcome addition to your ink array.

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE & CHARACTERISTICS:

 

Flow:

  • Tends to be very neutral.

  • OK with all sampled nibs & feeds.

  • Watch out for too dry writers.

Nib Dry-out:

  • Immediate start-up after 10 minutes uncapped:

Start-up:

  • Very good.

Lubrication:

  • Excellent.
  • Enhances the writing experience.
  • Makes XF nibs tolerable for me.

Nib Creep:

  • None.

Staining:

  • No.

Clogging:

  • Unlikely.

Bleed Through:

  • Not on any of the papers.

Show Though:

  • Both sides of paper may be used without a problem.

Smell:

  • A rather 'rounded' ester aroma.

Hand oil sensitivity:

  • Slight.

Archival:

  • Makes no such claim.

Water Resistance: (Figure 7)

  • Modest.

Smear Results: (Figure 7)

  • Dry within 5 seconds.

Bulletproof:

  • Makes no such claim.

Clean Up:

  • Quick & thorough with plain water. :-)

Mixing:

  • No stated prohibitions / limitations.
  • There may be a temptation to lighten or 'open-up' this ink. If so, I'd stay within the Cd'A range, using a bit of the Cd'A Blue Sky.

THE LOOK:

 

Saturation:

  • Not so much, but due to the dark tone it may appear to be more saturated than it is.

Shading:

  • Oh yes. Apparent even from the rigid nibs of the Parker 25 and the Carene.

Feathering:

  • Only when excessive ink is laid down.

Variance depending on pen+nib combos used:

  • Reasonably consistent. Quite responsive to changes in the writing implement and paper.

FIDELITY:

 

Is colour name appropriate / accurate?

  • Yes.

PAPERS:

 

Lovely papers:

  • This ink should look really good on most white papers.

Trip-wire papers:

  • This ink should be able to handle any writing paper. If it looks bad - it's the paper, not the ink.

Tinted Papers:

  • Not really. Perhaps a pale pale powder blue.
  • I don't really care for the look on the off-white G Lalo. (??)

Is high-end paper 'worth it'?

  • Not necessarily. Very dependent on the nib+feed.

OTHER THAN INK:

 

Presentation :

  • 30ml. bottle.

Country of origin:

  • Not explicitly stated, but infers Switzerland, which may or may not be the case.
  • Note: I've seen an unsubstantiated rumour / loose talk / speculation that Caran d'Ache inks are made in France by Herbin. Who knows or cares if that's true or false - the ink's great.

Container:

  • A heavy clear glass square-based bottle, 48mm on each side. with a maximum height of 65mm.
  • The centred round opening is a mere 18mm.
  • The Label does not include the word 'ink', not does it carry a graphic that indicates ink.
  • The 'Bakelite' screw cap has a pronounced grippy shape.
  • The cap is not child-proof.
  • The cap seal seems to be the better sort of coated card stock.
  • Single tank, no filling aids, no sediment collector. Bah! 2xBah for such a petite shallow ink tank.

Box:

  • Nicely coated.
  • Includes a cut-out to display the bottle label, which can be a minor nuisance - one more task in a busy day. Tsk
  • Includes the word 'ink' in several languages.

Eco-Green:

  • All bits easily recyclable.
  • Cap likely benign.

Availability:

  • Seems to be a global player in the luxe niche.

ETC:

 

Majik:

  • Oh yeah, baby! Even before one opens the bottle.

Personal Pen & Paper Pick:

  • From the few samples shown, my pick is the Pilot Custom 74 with the SFM nib on the Rhodia.

Yickity Yackity:

  • This is a premier ink, which I should use more often.
  • Doing this Review was a pleasure because the ink is wonderful. I won't wash the pens, as I usually do after preparing a Review, but will write them dry.
  • Ah kushbaby, finally an ink for you! (I still pack my own chute.)

{=}+{{~|*|~}}+{=}v{=}+{{~|*|~}}+{=}v{=}+{{~|*|~}}+{=}v{=}+{{~|*|~}}+{=}

 

MATERIEL USED:

 

These pen+nib combos:

  • Parker 25 + an Australian steel XF nib.
  • *No_Name*: An old lever filler without loop or clip; 12mm wide cap band; 111mm capped; sporting a Conklin No. 3 nib w/o hallmark.
  • Pilot Custom 74 + 18K Soft Fine Medium (SFM) nib.
  • Waterman Carene + 18K M nib.
  • Sheaffer Prelude + stock steel stub B nib.
  • Pelikan M200 + M200 series gold-plated steel BB nib.
  • For lines & labels: Pilot Human Engineering + steel XF nib; loaded with Visconti Bordeaux.

On these papers:

  • HP 1124 24 lb. Laser Copy.
  • Rhodia.
  • G Lalo 'Verge de France' white.
  • Pulp - one-a-day cartoon calendar page: Parker 25 + XF nib only.

NOTES:

 

  1. I use only papers, pens & nibs that are readily available, not too pricey and 'stock' - not customised. If some pens/nibs are not currently produced, I'll use them if there are NOS or restored pieces readily available at OK prices. As appropriate, I'll include an implement outside of those guidelines, which will be ID-ed as a *Dealer's Choice.
  2. Figures were produced on an Epson V600 scanner; factory defaults were accepted. Originals scanned at 150 dpi & 24 bit colour to produce .jpg files.The image was not adjusted other than cropping and straightening using iPhoto on a MacBook.
  3. Scanner Densitometer Readings were generated from the Drawn Swatch in Figure 2: Red 31; Green 55; Blue 142; Luminosity 67.

EDIT - Format / lay-out.



-30-

Edited by Sandy1

The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 26
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Sandy1

    13

  • lapis

    1

  • ttakacs

    1

  • brownargus

    1

Thank you for another superb review, Sandy! It has answered most of my worries and looks to be an ink I really must get - although I just have a few final concerns.

 

How old is it (some people have recorded the ink losing its colour over time to end up being a nasty grey), and where did you buy it?

 

I am sure the faulty batch must be through the system by now, but ...

 

John

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for another superb review, Sandy! It has answered most of my worries and looks to be an ink I really must get - although I just have a few final concerns.

 

How old is it (some people have recorded the ink losing its colour over time to end up being a nasty grey), and where did you buy it?

 

I am sure the faulty batch must be through the system by now, but ...

 

John

Hi,

  • You're welcome. I'm glad that this Review has encouraged you to acquire this ink.
  • My bottle contains ink from 2 purchases, the first about 14 months ago then about 3 months ago. (So I used more than 30ml in 11 months. I add the 'new' ink slowly over time - not just dump a bolus - a technique I learned from a calligrapher friend.)
  • Purchases were made in the US.
  • I will retain the originals created for the Review, and will come back to them in a year or so - perhaps the ink changes on the page. Although the swatches I made the first time I bought this ink some years ago still look OK, and comparable to those generated for the Review.

Bye,

S1

The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm new on this forum and thisis the first ink review that I saw.

 

Amazing. :notworthy1:

 

Thank you very much for such a thorough review.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My CdA Blue Night appears a rather non descriptive grey, when I first got it it was a blue/grey, now just a dull grey.

 

Not greatly impressed.

 

Kind regards

NIGEL

NIGEL

Exploding Ink Maestro

 

Pens: Caran d'Ache Leman Godron, Lamy Safari, Italix Parsons Essential, Mont Blanc LeGrande '90 years' Edition, Sigma Style, Italix Vipers Strike, Parker Sonnet, Omas 360, Parker Duofold (c.1950), Conway Stewart #286, Conway Stewart #24, Onoto Magna Classic in Chased Midnight Blue and SS Trim

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, wow, that was one in depth review! Love the colour and those CdA bottles are gorgeous =)

 

Yuki

http://i54.tinypic.com/16jj9fb.jpg

Follow me on twitter! @crypticjunky

 

~And the words, they're everything and nothing. I want to search for her in the offhand remarks.~

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My CdA Blue Night appears a rather non descriptive grey, when I first got it it was a blue/grey, now just a dull grey.

 

Not greatly impressed.

 

Kind regards

NIGEL

Hi,

 

I think that was a 'bad batch'. Well, I certainly hope that's the case, because the ink shown in the Review is so very different in colour. I wouldn't buy an ink the colour of your sample, but that's just a personal opinion.

 

But I am curious -- is it just the colour that differs? Are there also differences in other physical properties? performance?

 

I must say I had a similar experience with a DeAtramentis ink very recently: the ink name is 'Midnight Blue', but the ink is profoundly Blue-Green, to the extent that I was calling it a dark Turquoise. Another FPNer happened to have the same ink, and assured me that my ink matched theirs in colour - it wasn't just me. Ah well, misery loves company, yes?

 

Best Regards,

Sandy1

The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, wow, that was one in depth review! Love the colour and those CdA bottles are gorgeous =)

 

Yuki

Hi,

Glad you enjoyed the Review.

I was tempted to include a scan of the bottle to show the shallow ink tank, but I need to be more sensitive to the bandwidth that an image-heavy OP demands, so I didn't include that. We want to keep FPN use free, yes?

Bye,

S1

The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Excellent review as always, thanks.

And how can this be, because he is the Kwisatz Haderach.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Excellent review as always, thanks.

You're welcome.

The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BETTER BOTTLE - BETTER BOTTLE

 

This is from an 'Inky Thoughts' OP.

So instead of a shallow ink tank, Cd'A could keep the 'glass cube' format, just change the orientation 90o.from wide & shallow to narrow & deep. No Brainer, yes? (Show of hands please)

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20-%20Blue%20Night/Bottle1.jpg

The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Where do these images come from?

The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

BETTER BOTTLE - BETTER BOTTLE

 

This is from an 'Inky Thoughts' OP.

So instead of a shallow ink tank, Cd'A could keep the 'glass cube' format, just change the orientation 90o.from wide & shallow to narrow & deep. No Brainer, yes? (Show of hands please)

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20-%20Blue%20Night/Bottle1.jpg

 

Just buy that bottle that is the one that comes with the gold ink, and throw away the ink. I mean....how much could some lousy "real gold" ink cost, anyway? I do love the bottle though.

With the new FPN rules, now I REALLY don't know what to put in my signature.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is, as are all of Sandy1's ink reviews, as thorough as one could ask for. It's an interesting ink for sure.

 

But what I like most about Sandy1's reviews are the grocery lists. By and large, they make me wish that you'd invite me over for dinner.

Happiness is an Indian ED!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Sandy1, am I right in saying this is your favourite ink?

Hi,

 

I'm afraid you'd be mistaken - bottled Montblanc Blue-Black remains my favourite ink.

 

Even after the arrival of many other inks, Cd'A BN retains its place as a 'top shelf' ink.

 

The best ink is the one that's in the pen I'm holding. :)

 

Bye,

S1

The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very inetesrting blue from caran d'ache :thumbup: thanks for the review

Pens are like watches , once you start a collection, you can hardly go back. And pens like all fine luxury items do improve with time

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...

Bumping this to see if the fading problem has been corrected in recent batches?

"I was cut off from the world. There was no one to confuse or torment me, and I was forced to become original." - Franz Joseph Haydn 1732 - 1809
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bumping this to see if the fading problem has been corrected in recent batches?

Hi,

 

I recently bought a new bottle of CdABlN which appears ever so slightly darker, but nothing that could not be caused by environmental differences or the usual variation of matériel or my manner of writing.

 

Upon inspection, the samples depicted in the Review appear much the same - certainly nothing to indicate the ink has a "fading problem".

 

In the near term, I plan to add a post including a set of comparison exemplars, so those will be done with the ink from the most recent bottle.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited by Sandy1

The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello again,

 

To support ad hoc comparison to Blue and Blue-Black inks that I have reviewed more recently, I have revisited Cd'ABlN to add more written samples. These samples use much the same layout, papers, pens and imaging method as my more recent ink reviews.

 

As always, should one feel that a separate Post or Topic is required to depict a certain aspect of an ink, or a comparison to another ink that I have reviewed, your PM will be welcomed. While requests for new scans may be accommodated as time & tides permit, creation of even more inky work is unlikely.

 

:≡:

Please note: The ink shown below was purchased February 2012. As mentioned in Post 19 above, LINK, it seemed to give an ever so slightly darker result than the ink used for the Review.

 

 

WRITTEN SAMPLES - Moby Dick

Ruling: 8mm.

 

Paper: HPJ1124.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2012/Comparison%20Exemplars%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20Blue%20Night/d80a1527.jpg

 

Paper: Rhodia.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2012/Comparison%20Exemplars%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20Blue%20Night/20644cb6.jpg

Paper: Staples 20lb.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2012/Comparison%20Exemplars%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20Blue%20Night/8808a110.jpg

- - - - -

 

Hi-Res Images

Originals are 30x60mm.

To view as intended, kindly click on the thumbnail.

 

330+M on HPJ1124:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2012/Comparison%20Exemplars%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20Blue%20Night/th_88449dd0.jpg

Carene+S on Rhodia:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2012/Comparison%20Exemplars%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20Blue%20Night/th_ba0f7468.jpg

 

Other Stuff

 

Bleed- Show-through on Staples 20lb.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2012/Comparison%20Exemplars%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20Blue%20Night/e86f7884.jpg

Smear/Dry Times & Wet Tests

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2012/Comparison%20Exemplars%20-%20Caran%20dAche%20Blue%20Night/0fe0f9d7.jpg

 

 

COMMENTS

  • Results are materially consistent with prior samples.
  • Two-sided use on the Staples 20lb seems likely from a slightly dry pen.

= = = = = =

 

NUTS BOLTS & BOILERPLATE

 

Pens:

  • Sheaffer 330 + steel M nib.
  • Non-Nudist Pink Safari + goosed steel 1.1 nib.
  • Platinum President Purist + 22K B nib.
  • Waterman Carene + 18K factory stock Stub nib.

Papers:

  • HPJ1124 24lb. Laser Copy
  • Rhodia.
  • Staples 20lb. multi-use

Imaging

  • An Epson V600 scanner was used with the bundled Epson s/w at factory default settings to produce low-loss jpg files.
  • Figures shown were scanned at 200 dpi & 24 bit colour.
  • Hi-Res Images linked were scanned at 300 dpi & 24 bit colour.
  • No post-capture manipulation of scanner output was done, other than dumb-down by Epson, Photobucket & IP.Board s/w.

Fine Print

The accuracy and relevance of this Review depends in great part upon consistency and reliability of matériel used.

Ink does not require labelling/notice to indicate (changes in) formulation, non-hazardous ingredients, batch ID, date of manufacture, etc.

As always YMMV, due to differences in materials, manner of working, environment, etc.

Also, I entrust readers to separate opinion from fact; to evaluate inferences and conclusions as to their merit; and to be amused by whatever tickles your fancy.

 

-30-

Tags : Fountain Pen Ink Review Caran d'Ache Blue Night Sandy1

 

Edited by Sandy1

The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26624
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...