Dark Chocolate - Franklin-Christoph

[visvamitra]

Please,allow me to start by saying thank you mmg112 for sending me samples of all new Franklin-Christoph's writing fluids (and much more!). I appreciate it a lot and I hope the reviews I've prepared are enough to repay you

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/3941/5Lb5cU.jpg

Franklin-Christoph is one of fairly new pen makers. I had three of their pens and they were all good writers. The company is headed by Scott Franklin and operates from North Carolina. I like company's approach to clients (sales directly to us) and they're designs.

Franklin-Christoph offers not only pens but also notebooks, pen cases, wallets and inks. I was huge fan of Olde Emerald from first generation of their inks. It used to be my favourite ink for a while. At the moment however the bottle's long gone and I keep fond memories of this exceptional writing fluid.

I was surprised to hear they've stopped producing first generation of their inks, especially after I took a look at new colors. First generation colors were rather unique, second generation colors are rather generic. And that's not an advantage to my eyes. Being boring in ink market may be safe when you're Pelikan or Sheaffer, but for smaller player it's risky. Just my opinion.

If you happen to know who makes they're ink, I'm eager to know.

The second generation of FC inks counts eight inks with uninteresting names (Black Magic, Dark Denim, Olde Emerald - those were cool names; Blue 72, Emerald 357 are NOT cool names)

1. Blue 72
   
2. Brown 732
   
3. Classic Black
   
4. Dark Chocolate
   
5. Emerald 357
   
6. Midnight Emerald
   
7. Noir et Bleu
   
8. Red 187
   

Dark Chocolate is nice, earthy brown. It's not super-saturated but I like this kind of muted dark browns.

Verdict: I like the color and I believe the ink is well behaved. The price isn't insane and the quality seems rather high. It's not special in any way but I believe I could consider this one if I hadn't Standardgraph Feigenbraun or Rohrer & Klingner Sepia in my micro-cellar (ok, not cellar, old box, but let's not be too finical). They're not the same but they offer nice earthy feel I quite enjoy in dark browns.

Ink splash

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/3950/5ID74A.jpg

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/6203/Lq2Y27.jpg

Software ID

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/9994/ika9Ug.jpg

Oxford, Kaweco Sport Classic, B

http://imageshack.com/a/img910/1226/dtTUH1.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/2888/wTopup.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img908/89/wmKJlJ.jpg

Semikolon, Kaweco Sport Classic, B

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/338/ubStfS.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/5708/zqSN54.jpg

Midori, Hero 5028, stub 1,9

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/2788/w0IxGr.jpg

Edited June 30, 2015 by visvamitra

[Tas]

You must have so much fun . . .

 

Lovely review of what looks like another to go on my list.

[Cyber6]

Now.. that IS a LOVELY BROWN!!!... and I do have Standargraph Fig Brown.. I think this will go in my wish list..

 

Thanks for the review Vis..

[mmg122]

Great review, Vis! I'm a real fan of brown and sepia inks and I do like this one quite a bit.

[eelldan]

Awesome review! This is one I will need to add to my collection.

[Manalto]

I reluctantly clicked on this topic, thinking, "With a name like that, I'm going to want to buy a bottle." Nice, rich, understated color.

 

Is there a difference between ink and writing fluid, or are the terms used interchangeably?

[visvamitra]

I believe there's no difference apart from fancy name.

[Manalto]

I believe there's no difference apart from fancy name.

 

I thought writing fluid might be like "pasteurized processed cheese food," prohibited from calling itself cheese (ink) because of a legal standard determined by some esteemed international council.

 

Having the option to use both "ink" and "writing fluid" can help us avoid repetition; for example, when writing a review. Thanks for yours - always excellent and always interesting.

[delano]

I'm caught between the unusual point between really liking the color and having no interest in owning and using it. Can't explain why.

[Tas]

I'm caught between the unusual point between really liking the color and having no interest in owning and using it. Can't explain why.

 

Felt the same way about Cacao de Brazil - I kind of still do. But when I occasionally get it out and fill a wet pen with it . . . ooooo

[Manalto]

I'm caught between the unusual point between really liking the color and having no interest in owning and using it. Can't explain why.

 

We call that "appreciation."

[jmccarty3]

This is my kind of brown, i.e., no red in it.

[Pira]

How would you say that compares to Private Reserve Ebony Brown?

 

...and wonderfully detailed review as always Thank-you.

[visvamitra]

Actually I've never used Ebony Brown so I'm not able to compare them

[Pira]

Actually I've never used Ebony Brown so I'm not able to compare them

 

 

*shuffles throught tree drawings*.... Wait what?!....I thought I'd....Huh. Okay...that goes on the list of tree-to-dos.

[Frank C]

Thanks for the review. I like this ink; I just don't use much brown ink.

[ethernautrix]

This is my kind of brown, i.e., no red in it.

 

 

*Chuckling in my head*

 

I had the opposite reaction. I prefer the hint of red (e.g., Noodler's Walnut).

 

This shade of brown would likely look great during my seasonal use of brown inks (a variation of browns). But I probably wouldn't use it much at all.

 

Another useful review - dziękuję!

[delano]

 

We call that "appreciation."

 

 

 

Thanks for the vocab lesson. I now have "I appreciate this ink" as a macro.

[Manalto]

 

 

 

Thanks for the vocab lesson. I now have "I appreciate this ink" as a macro.

 

LOL - It's a category I've had to train myself to be comfortable with!

Edited July 5, 2015 by Manalto