Best Match To The Pilot Varsity Blue Ink

[jvcn]

Hello all.

 

I've tried doing a search on this but can't come up with a definitive answer. All I've learned is that the Pilot/Namiki Blue Ink in bottles is clearly not the same as the ink in the disposable Pilot Varsity pens.

 

At this point in time, is there a consensus on which widely available ink is closest to the dark blue ink found in a Pilot Varsity? I really like that color and would love to use it in different pens.

 

Thanks.

[tamiya]

I've played a bit with V-pens past 25+ yrs

 

Colourwise of my limited bottle collection I think Waterman Serenity Blue comes close.

 

But it may be drier, the stock V-pen ink flows quite freely.

[inkstainedruth]

I've also wanted to know the answer to this. The Varsity Blue ink is a fabulous color. If I could find a replacement I'd buy a bottle in a heartbeat.

My understanding is that it's formulated differently to flow in those pens.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[openionated]

I've searched for the same thing. Closest I have gotten so far is the Iroshizuku Asa Gao in person. The Private Reserve "American Blue" also looks close, but I haven't tried it. That's the great thing about ink samples from places like Goulet Pens. You can try a few blues until you get what you like.

[amberleadavis]

Next time I have mine out, I'll do a quick comparison. If you like the Pilot Varsity Blue, I think you would like Visconti Blue.

[amberleadavis]

Also, check out this thread and see what you like.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/278212-inky-t-o-d-color-swatches-blue-please-post-your-pictures-and-tell-us-your-thoughts/

[beanbag]

The pilot varsity blue is a royal blue, which means it has some purple to it.

 

I went to the SF pen show, where I wrote with a Pilot Varsity, plus many other inks. The close matches are:

 

Aurora Blue - very close

De Atramentis Royal Blue - very close

J Herbin Blue Myosotis - it's darker

J Herbin Eclat De Saphir -it's lighter

Diamine Sapphire Blue - very close

L' Artisan Pastellier Bleu Azur - very close

" " Blue Ultramarine - very close

Sailor Nioi Sumire - close, but slightly more purple

Sailor Ultramarine - close, but slightly more purple

Pelikan Edelstein sapphire - a little lighter and maybe more purple

Iroshizuku Aji Sai - lighter, and more purple

Iroshizuku Asa Gao - slightly more blue

Pelikan 4001 Royal blue - since this is a dry ink, it tends to be lighter in color

 

This evaluation was done on Clairefontaine paper under 97 CRI 3000K LED lighting. It might look different under sunlight or fluorescent lighting

[jvcn]

Interesting. I already have too many inks, but when I'm looking at the various onscreen comparisons, I thought that many of these would be a bit lighter than the Pilot Disposable's blue. For example, wouldn't the Sargasso Blue be closer than Sapphire Blue in the Diamine?

 

But you were there, so I take your word for it. I suppose it also depends on how wetly different pens write.

[athenian]

To me the closest match seems to be Diamine Imperial Blue