Private Reserve- Velvet Black

[chingdamosaic]

Private Reserve is a US-based artisan ink company, originally an addition to the fountain pen department of Avalon Jewelers/Gallery.

 

Most PR inks feature being highly saturated/concentrated, neutral pH, lubricated, drying crazily slow, of reasonable price and with a cheap looking(IMO...).

 

First, let's take a look at it's box and bottle:

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB01_zpsx6nbka7v.jpg

The bottle shape reminds me of that of acrylic paint here in Taiwan.

At first glance, it doesn't look like something you'd expect to find in a gallery/ FP store, but in an art supply store, maybe?

It's at the opposite end on the spectrum compared with the fancy design like Iroshizuku's.

However, the practical broad brim is growing on me, especially when I try to fill/dip my pen and the J.H 1670 bottle wouldn't cooperate.

 

 

Tag/Label

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB02_zpspqvo2gd7.jpg

With all due respect, this low-resolution and unevenly glued tag looks like something done with a home use printer.

 

And Private Reserve seems to make some of the least accurate color tags.

In this case, Velvet Black is actually a purplish black but is given a greenish label.

 

Writing Samples

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB05_zpsgvhuhpwz.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB03_zpsqtienqq7.jpg

I'm never a fan of color black, nor have I tried any other black inks before, so I am genuinely surprised at the darkness and saturation of this ink---- it is so BLACK that it has no shading at all.

 

 

Most inks tend to look lighter in a fine/dry nib, but PRVB remains as black in Sailor PG HF and LAMY Safari EF.

IMO, it can almost pass for a ballpoint pen.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB04_zpsoe3sxnrg.jpg

And it's a very lustrous ink. Not sure if this should be called "sheen", though.

 

Under yellow light

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB07_zpsk8t8e4al.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB06_zps5mbetejw.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB07-1_zps6g1pgpsi.jpg

(Oops, wrong spelling...)

Under white light

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB08_zpsv12nhk7o.jpg

Looks like HB pencil.

I find this ink very suitable to play with in a dip pen; the words look like print.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB12_zpsytcism0f.jpg

On the other hand, if you find the luster/sheen disturbing, you can dilute it a bit(also helps the ink dry faster). This ink looks almost the same even if you add of water 1:1.

 

1/3 Dilution

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB09_zpsr5qt5s8c.jpg

Only now does it start looking gray...

Chromatography

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB10_zps5tajrczq.jpg

(1 min)

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB11_zpschphrvwz.jpg

(15 min)

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu239/chingdamosaic/PRVB11-1_zps2dj7ngmp.jpg

(dried/ backside)

OOOoooOoOOooooohhh.........

 

Overview

Saturation: Extremely high

Flow: medium

Lubrication: good

Shading: too dark to observe

Sheen: lustrous

Bleed-through& Feathering: on cheap paper

Water resistance: to some extent

Cleaning: requires extra soaking and flushing

Dry speed: Extremely slow

 

 

Conclusion

This is the only black ink I have ever tried so I don't have much to say/compare.

It's a pleasure to write with in a dip pen/ flex nib, but considering its dry speed it probably isn't the best choice for daily/official use, unless you dilute it.

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this review: )

 

 

[Abner C. Kemp]

Thanks for the review, I actually really like this one.

[visvamitra]

Excellent review. While I'm not keen on black inks in general, I liked this one because of amazing lubrication and velvety feel.

[rohit1974]

Thanks for the review. Like it as it has good lubrication and quite black in property.

[chingdamosaic]

Thanks for the kind reply! : )

[Tas]

Oooo, look at that split in colour ! This just made the list thanks to you and your chromatography . . .

[proton007]

Interesting color and feel, although it looks like someone made a black by mixing most colors they had .

[Bri]

Love opaque blacks! This is on my wish list now.

[Newjelan]

Fabulous review, again. Thanks

[amberleadavis]

Great pictures. Thank you.

[4lex]

What is the point of ink with no shading? But people who keep chasing that rollerball line will get excited about it, like they do about Aurora Black or Iroshizuku take-sumi.

[amberleadavis]

What is the point of ink with no shading? But people who keep chasing that rollerball line will get excited about it, like they do about Aurora Black or Iroshizuku take-sumi.

 

I'm not a huge fan of shading. I do enjoy sheen, but generally, I like solid lines and clear bright retina searing colors.

[4lex]

 

I'm not a huge fan of shading. I do enjoy sheen, but generally, I like solid lines and clear bright retina searing colors.

 

Well you can't beat rollerball for that.

[amberleadavis]

 

Well you can't beat rollerball for that.

Yes I can! I love Rollerballs, but most are first WAY TOO FINE and you can never get the amazing stroke variation.

[4lex]

Yes I can! I love Rollerballs, but most are first WAY TOO FINE and you can never get the amazing stroke variation.

 

But don't you think that shading adds something to line variation? If it was not for feedback, shading and line variation I would be using rollerballs not FP, just because of convenience. But rollerball can't give me feedback, shading or line variation.

[amberleadavis]

http://www.sheismylawyer.com/2016-Ink/02-February/2016-02-07_02.jpg

[4lex]

http://www.sheismylawyer.com/2016-Ink/02-February/2016-02-07_02.jpg

 

I have to quote this just coz its always nice to see some inks.

Anyway, I am not arguing against line variation. It is one of the main advantages that FP has over other writing instruments.

[Joe in Seattle]

Amber puts it very well. That's why I'm here. Variety.

[amberleadavis]

Again, thank you for the great review. I like the really dark and sheeny blacks.

[pepsiplease69]

What is the point of ink with no shading? But people who keep chasing that rollerball line will get excited about it, like they do about Aurora Black or Iroshizuku take-sumi.

I'm not too keen on shading either. Some consider it a prized quality of a particular ink. I don't. I like my inks solid and opaque and well saturated.

 

With shading I somehow feel the ink has been watered down. It also (to me) is a bit distracting while I'm putting my thoughts down on paper. That's just my preference.

 

There's a LOT to fountain pens with non shading inks and no it's not the same as rollerball at all.

 

Line variation comes from two different phenomena.

 

1- the shape of the nib, ie. Stub or italic nibs allow you to put down broader downstrokes versus thinner cross strokes.

 

2- flexible nibs allow you to make broader lines by bearing down on the nib and spreading the tines apart, and using light pressure to make thinner lines.

 

Shading is, more or less, not related to line variation because it only is concerned with the appearance of the ink wherever it pools on the paper versus where it doesn't pool. If an ink has high shading it means the difference between pooling and non pooling areas is high.

 

It's totally possible to exhibit a high shading of an ink while using a monoline nib (no line variation), for example a broad or double broad nib with a rounded ball tip.

 

I would never use a roller ball or ball point save for the direst of circumstances. My preference is first fountain pen, then a pencil, and if all else fails, I take out my parker jotter or pilot G2.

 

Fountain pen is far superior to roller ball on any given day because:

 

1- it requires far less pressure to write. I can write for pages and pages without even a hint of fatigue, with a roller ball I'd probably go for 3/4 of a page before I have to stop.

 

2- line variation

 

3- staggering selection of inks each with its own personality

 

4- friendlier to the planet

 

5- you can work on your nib and adjust the flow, and smoothness if you so choose, and can have a pen that suits your needs perfectly. Rollerball can't do that.

 

I could keep going here.

 

Sorry for the long winded post but I just felt I had to opine on this and express at least what I thought.

Edited February 8, 2016 by pepsiplease69