J.herbin 1670 Caroube De Chypre

[Gazcom]

As you may have noticed from my previous review (Diamine Shimmertastic Sparkling Shadows), I do not dislike that much sparkling inks, and I do not dislike sheeny inks either. For this reason I ordered online a bottle of J.Herbin 1670 Emerald of Chivoir, as I've been told to be something like "the Grail ink" for those who likes this kind of properties.
I received instead Caroube du Chypre, and since I like browns, I just decided to keep it and give it a try.

 

Caroube du Chypre is a well behaving brown, quite complicated colour, made by a prevalent ammount of magenta/red tones over the turquoise and yellow component. In addition to the ink there are some extremely think golden particles that leaves a glittery effect while writing.

The flow is consistent and appears to be a fairly wet and well lubricated ink, my architect grinded B nib litterally glides on paper. No clogging or hard starts for this ink, quite interesting as there are particles in it.
I've to say that compared to the Diamine Shimmertastic series, Caroube du Chypre seems to have thinner particles that need less effort to be mixed to the rest of the ink.

Shading is quite good on all the paper I've tested it on, with better result with less absorbent ones. No bleedthrough or feathering observed.

This ink has some water resistant, but I won't be advertising it as waterproof.

There are still two aspect to cover about this ink, the first one is surely the sheen. This ink, on the right paper, and using a good ammount of ink, leaves on paper a lovely green sheen, wich recalls in my architect head, something like the copper rust. Even if this is not a work appropriate colour, I find this ink brilliant, because it's a clever mix between a antique looking brown, discreet golden particles, and a really perfect matching green sheen. I think that J.Herbin found a really good mix to make something glittery wich does not recall "my little ponies" or "Barbie" but something wich can be bought by an adult without being ashamed.

The second aspect is related to the ink comparisons I've made: I've got a doubt over the main "ingredient" this ink is made from. I possess a bottle on J.Herbin Terre de Feu, which looks really the same ink, just without golden particles. It's that possible? The answer is "maybe". I don't know much about inks composition, but even if how the ink behaves and looks on paper makes me think that this anctually is the same ink, the fact that Terre de Feu doesn't have the same green sheen, makes me think they're somehow different. I know that this is quite irrelevant to the discussion, but I think is an interesting argument of discussion. When I'll be reviewing Terre the Feu I'll do the comparison between cromatographies and probably we'll have our answer.

 

So, the usual final question: Is this ink worth it?

I like this ink, I like this ink a lot. Behaves well, doesn't clog your fountain pen, has sheen, has everything you want if you like this particular kind of inks. So, if you're the type who like drawing, if you like making holiday card with fancy ink and so on, this is a really good option: with 20 € you have a 50 ml bottle. It's a little expensive, but the bottle is pretty (not really practical, bute really pretty) and the ink is "something else", not a common ink.
If you don't like glitters, just leave it on the shelf, it's not made for you.

 

COPY PAPER

 

SCHIZZA & STRAPPA PAPER

 

TRACING PAPER

 

SHEEN

 

GLITTER

 

CROMATOGRAPHY

 

INKDROP

Edited October 6, 2016 by Gazcom

[lgsoltek]

Nice review, thank you!

While I'm not crazy of this colour, I still ordered a bottle... for the sheen.

[Gazcom]

Nice review, thank you!

While I'm not crazy of this colour, I still ordered a bottle... for the sheen.

Thank you Lgsolek!

And sorry if I've "stolen" from you the colour band with the name of the ink on it. I found your reviews brilliant!

 

This brown alone is "just another brown", nothing fancy, not that great shading, not that eyecatching colour. What really makes this ink good is the right combination of all its elements. Hope you'll enjoy your bottle and I'm looking forward for the review you're surely going to write on it.

[lgsoltek]

Thank you Lgsolek!

And sorry if I've "stolen" from you the colour band with the name of the ink on it. I found your reviews brilliant!

 

This brown alone is "just another brown", nothing fancy, not that great shading, not that eyecatching colour. What really makes this ink good is the right combination of all its elements. Hope you'll enjoy your bottle and I'm looking forward for the review you're surely going to write on it.

 

 

I think I might have stolen the idea from Visvamitra too LOL.

[Gazcom]

 

 

I think I might have stolen the idea from Visvamitra too LOL.

LOL, In the end we're all inspired by Visvamitra

[KKay]

I've tried this ink, and liked the color, and the sheen. I put it in a clear Platinum #3776 Yamanaka B. The ink was lightly shaken before I filled the pen. I started writing with the pen, and some ink had already became clogged in the feed. This was a very short writing session. I taped on it, turned it, did everything. It did move some of it, but not all of it. This did not seem to effect ink flow in a noticeable fashion. After I used the ink, I cleaned the pen, and spent a while trying to get the small clogged spot (2) out of my feed. I loved the color, but won't buy this ink. I have Emerald of Chivor, and it runs fine in this particular pen. But I would never put Emerald of Chivor in a F nib again, it clogged big time.