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De Atramentis - Sapphire Blue (Picture Heavy, Sorry)

Sammyo

By Sammyo
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Sammyo Mint

Sammyo

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I was looking for reviews of this ink, or even just a writing sample, but there was nothing out there. So I decided to buy a bottle and try it... Then it dawned on me, what if someone else was looking... I could do an ink review! This is the first time that I have done this so please, any feedback, advice, comments, etc are all welcome... positive or negative.

Do I like this ink? ... Yes I do.
It is very much like Iroshizuku Asa Gao, but darker. It flows well, looks very nice and is very water resistant from the two tests I did. I tried it on cheap copy paper, Rhodia, Clairefontaine and Tomoe River. The Pilot Parallel feathered terribly on the Rhodia for some reason... not sure why! The sheen on the Tomoe River was amazing, it was visible on nearly all the text, but especially on the Pilot Parallel and flexed writing. It was also visible on the Apica but nowhere near as stunning. I captured it the best I could, but I don't have an expensive camera or set up.

I thought that cleaning this out of a pen was going to be a nightmare after the water test... but I was wrong. I cleaned out my Speedball auto-feed, which has a lever filled sac with no troubles. It thought it was going to be like the Diamine Grape that was coming out of the pen for weeks, and just when I thought it was clean... more came out. But this stuff flushed straight out with so few issues, I wasn't sure I had done it properly. So I left it and went back again... clean, clear water http://fpgeeks.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.png

This ink was everything I was hoping it would be. I wanted it for an everyday office ink with a little, extra special something; it delivers for me. If you do not like dark blues, then this is not for you. It is a very saturated rich colour, much like the Iroshizuku inks. I am very happy and already have three people at work that would like a sample for their pens, I think that speaks for itself.

The rest can be seen from the pictures and scans. I tried to correct as best I could and included a scan and a photo of the review paper. The swab was a bit more purple in real life, but the rest seems about right.

I hope this helps somebody out there.
p.s. Sorry for the terrible handwriting.

post-116271-0-41119500-1425751128_thumb.jpgpost-116271-0-46208100-1425751131_thumb.jpgpost-116271-0-91276200-1425751116_thumb.jpgpost-116271-0-72308200-1425751123_thumb.jpgpost-116271-0-47191000-1425751118_thumb.jpgpost-116271-0-62073600-1425751134_thumb.jpgpost-116271-0-44666500-1425751115_thumb.jpgpost-116271-0-78983200-1425751125_thumb.jpgpost-116271-0-54528900-1425751210.jpg

Sam O

"A fountain pen with a bad nib is like a Ferrari with a flat tyre..." - Brian Gray, Edison pens

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Chettiar Mint

Chettiar

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Fantastic review.. Thanks.. Have to try this color soon.

 

But one question. In the third picture as Asa gao looks way darker than I expected. Is that right?

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Sammyo Mint

Sammyo

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Fantastic review.. Thanks.. Have to try this color soon.

But one question. In the third picture as Asa gao looks way darker than I expected. Is that right?

I went back and got a new picture for you. A agree that my Parker Vector makes the Asa-Gao look darker... not sure why! I kept flexing and using The dip pen to give as much color variation as possible. Hopefully this helps :)

post-116271-0-99966600-1425774306_thumb.jpg

Edited by Sammyo

Sam O

"A fountain pen with a bad nib is like a Ferrari with a flat tyre..." - Brian Gray, Edison pens

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Sammyo Mint

Sammyo

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And in my rush to respond I misspelt Iroshizuku! Doh!

Sam O

"A fountain pen with a bad nib is like a Ferrari with a flat tyre..." - Brian Gray, Edison pens

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Chettiar Mint

Chettiar

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Thanks a lot, Sammyo... Now I see asa gao as I expected and deatra. Sapphire becomes a must buy.. Oh no, just allocated money for kwzi... Oh Dear...

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Sammyo Mint

Sammyo

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Great review of what seems to be a very nice saturated (and waterproof) blue. It seems it must be a newer and better formulation of the original DA Sapphire Blue:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/108231-de-atramentis-sapphire-saphirblau/

That review was one of the reasons that I decided to do this. It was the only one that I could find anywhere except for the Goulet pens swatch! Know that I had looked for it before but only found that made me want to put a newer review that showed the colour I expected and knew after getting the ink.

Sam O

"A fountain pen with a bad nib is like a Ferrari with a flat tyre..." - Brian Gray, Edison pens

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Frank C Collectors Item

Frank C

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Thanks for the review. I generally like De Atramentis' inks. I'll have to put this one on my shopping list.

"One can not waste time worrying about small minds . . . If we were normal, we'd still be using free ball point pens." —Bo Bo Olson

 

"I already own more ink than a rational person can use in a lifetime." —Waski_the_Squirrel

 

I'm still trying to figure out how to list all my pens down here.

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amberleadavis Pen Dust

amberleadavis

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Yes, I missed this review. I tried it today. WOW. I love it.

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sammyo Mint

Sammyo

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Yes, I missed this review. I tried it today. WOW. I love it.

This really is one of my favourite blues and is my go to envelope ink.

Sam O

"A fountain pen with a bad nib is like a Ferrari with a flat tyre..." - Brian Gray, Edison pens

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amberleadavis Pen Dust

amberleadavis

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Great review of what seems to be a very nice saturated (and waterproof) blue. It seems it must be a newer and better formulation of the original DA Sapphire Blue:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/108231-de-atramentis-sapphire-saphirblau/

 

Yes, it is much better.

 

I don't see that mine is waterproof. It may be one of those inks that needs to dry overnight.

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sammyo Mint

Sammyo

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Yes, it is much better.

 

I don't see that mine is waterproof. It may be one of those inks that needs to dry overnight.

I'll be honest with you, I let it sit about 10 minutes before putting it under any water. Maybe as (according to their website and other places) it is hand mixed there is a higher chance of variation between bottles?

Sam O

"A fountain pen with a bad nib is like a Ferrari with a flat tyre..." - Brian Gray, Edison pens

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DrDebG Antique

DrDebG

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Outstanding review! This is one that I will have to try. I love Asa Gao, but I really like this much better. It sort of reminds me of L'Artisan Pastelier Callifolio Bleu Ultramarine. But I imagine that the formulation is quite nice, being a DeAtramentis ink.

"Today will be gone in less than 24 hours. When it is gone, it is gone. Be wise, but enjoy! - anonymous today

 

 

 

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PS104 Vintage

PS104

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No need to apologize for the pictures. Inks are a visual medium. The more pictures the better.

​BTW that's a nice color

Thanks

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