Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-Gao And Pelikan Edelstein Sapphire

[foamy]

I'm a fan of blue ink. It's what I prefer to write with. I like black, but usually just for drawing and blue-blacks kind of leave me cold, though, I'm sure I'll aquire some in the future. I have a smattering of other colors, but they don't find their way into my pens very often.

 

To date, my two favorites are what I'm showing today. Here are Asa-Gao and Sapphire side-by-side. My preference is the Sapphire, but I enjoy them both very much.

 

The ruled paper is conventional notebook paper which kind of sucks up the ink. The cream colored paper is Tomoe River. Both pens write much better on it as you can see.

 

The Pelikan lays down quite a bit more ink that the Pilot. Click the images to get a better look.

Edited April 23, 2015 by foamy

[Horseknitter]

Thanks for a great side by side comparison. On my iMac they look essentially the same color and density. Would you say that is true as you look at comparison?

 

What do you like about these inks aside from their color?

 

And if you had to choose just one which would it be?

 

Many thanks!!

[foamy]

Density is pretty close, I'd have to swap the ink in the pens to be sure, because the Pelikan lays down the ink a bit thicker. As it is right now, out the two different pens, the Sapphire has less thin spots and more color consistency, but that may be due to the different nibs.

 

The Asa-Gao is a bit blacker (less rich) than the Sapphire, which has more red in it, giving it a slightly more violet color, or as I prefer, a bluer blue. It's a shade darker than Noodlers Bay State Blue.

 

As blues go (the ones I've tried), I'd gladly write with either one—they are my two current favorites, though I do like the Sapphire better.

Edited April 23, 2015 by foamy

[whichwatch]

On my iMac they look essentially the same color and density. Would you say that is true as you look at comparison?

 

 

 

 

They also look quite similar on my monitor.

 

I have both inks and personally I much prefer the Asa Gao. I find the Edelstein Sapphire (and all Edelsteins I have tried) to be too dry for my taste/

 

If you like these colors and inks you might try Sailor Kobe Island Blue. I find it to be roughly similar and, like the Asa Gao, to be extremely well behaved.

[Horseknitter]

Interesting!! I note that the OP is using the Edelstein ink in a Pelikan pen, which makes sense because the mfgr. tunes their pens for drier ink. And note the Pilot ink in a Pilot pen. Each ink is probably displayed at its best.

 

I like them both. I have several Iroshizuku inks and haven't come on a bad one yet. Haven't bought any Edelstein yet, but i have several Pelikans and will start with Sapphire.

 

As to Sailor Kobe inks and all the various specialty inks that Sailor makes I haven't started chasing them yet either. Where do you buy Kobe Island Blue, whichwatch?

[whichwatch]

 

 

As to Sailor Kobe inks and all the various specialty inks that Sailor makes I haven't started chasing them yet either. Where do you buy Kobe Island Blue, whichwatch?

 

I bought mine on Ebay from Cool-Japan. Free shipping!

 

If you are interested in Pelikan Sapphire, please drop me an email back channel.

[amberleadavis]

 

 

They also look quite similar on my monitor.

 

I have both inks and personally I much prefer the Asa Gao. I find the Edelstein Sapphire (and all Edelsteins I have tried) to be too dry for my taste/

 

If you like these colors and inks you might try Sailor Kobe Island Blue. I find it to be roughly similar and, like the Asa Gao, to be extremely well behaved.

 

Whichwatch, you should try the Maya Lapis, I think you'll like it even better than Island Blue.

[whichwatch]

 

Whichwatch, you should try the Maya Lapis, I think you'll like it even better than Island Blue.

 

Right you are, my dear ink lady. I've seen reviews and have had my eye on that one! It's only a matter of time!

[amberleadavis]

Frank C came by my office with 39 bottles of Kobe ink. I pulled out my pens and started filling. I tried Maya Lapis and fell in love. It's also wetter than Island Blue.

[whichwatch]

Frank C came by my office with 39 bottles of Kobe ink. I pulled out my pens and started filling. I tried Maya Lapis and fell in love. It's also wetter than Island Blue.

 

Someone entered an attorney's office voluntarily ????? (Asks the guy whose son is a lawyer)

 

So can we see one of your usual cool "reviews"/ missives/ stream of consciousness ramblings using this ink?

[inkstainedruth]

How does Edelstein Sapphire behave? I haven't tried any of the Edelstein inks, but read that they aren't as dry as the regular Pelikan inks, but still run somewhat dry.

I tried Asa-Gao a couple of years ago and thought the color was uninspiring and so of blah. Furthermore, I found the ink to be really drippy -- I'd write a page and then it would then have a droplet roll down the nib and go splat when I'd get to the end of that page.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[amberleadavis]

 

Someone entered an attorney's office voluntarily ????? (Asks the guy whose son is a lawyer)

 

So can we see one of your usual cool "reviews"/ missives/ stream of consciousness ramblings using this ink?

 

Frank is a fellow attorney though his day job is more interesting.

 

Yes, next time I ink up, I'll send you ramblings.

[amberleadavis]

How does Edelstein Sapphire behave? I haven't tried any of the Edelstein inks, but read that they aren't as dry as the regular Pelikan inks, but still run somewhat dry.

I tried Asa-Gao a couple of years ago and thought the color was uninspiring and so of blah. Furthermore, I found the ink to be really drippy -- I'd write a page and then it would then have a droplet roll down the nib and go splat when I'd get to the end of that page.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Ruth, I want to love these inks, but they don't motivate me. They are nice, but well, they are not "all that and a bag of chips".

[jmccarty3]

Both these inks, along with the two Kobe inks mentioned, are great blues. The Edelstein does best in a wet pen like the Pelikan--the others are more versatile.

[sarahfar]

Asa Gao to me in person is more of a true blue and deeper and darker. I like Edelstein Saoohire. It is a very sophisticated lighter blue. Ajsai is more similar I think to my eye than Asa Gao.

[dneal]

I like them both, and was surprised to see them appear so similar. I think it's because the Edelstein was so wet in the example. I think sarahfar has it right. Asa Gao is deeper and darker. The Edelstein Sapphire is what (I think) their regular Konigsblau should be (which is too watery / chalky for my tastes).

 

Here are my samples from my running comparo. Sapphire on top, Asa Gao bottom.

 

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa163/roomdog/Ink/Sapphire%20vs%20AsaGao_zpsr7wkeewx.jpeg

Edited May 23, 2015 by dneal

[amberleadavis]

Nice comparison. Thank you.

[Alexandra]

Is that sheen I see in the Aso-Gao on the Tomoe River?

[amberleadavis]

Is that sheen I see in the Aso-Gao on the Tomoe River?

 

yes.

[mudman]

Both look great, I've been trying to decide between the two. Think I'll just get both.