What Are The Benchmark Inks To Try

[ShortRound131]

I'm about 6 months into fountain pen collecting and have a small collection of pens and inks.

Wondering what are some benchmark inks I need to try out? The big names in FP inkworld?

 

So far I have:

Iroshizuku: Kon-Peki, Tsuyu-Kusa, Yama-Guri, Tsuki-Yo, Shin-Kai (Asa-Gao is my next Iro ink to get)

Mont Blanc: Permanent Blue, Royal Blue, Corn Poppy Red (Midnight Blue is my next Mont Blanc ink to get)

Diamine: Oxford Blue, Bilberry, Ancient Copper (Midnight is next Diamine to purchase)

J. Herbin: Perle Noir, Bleu Nuit, Eclat de Saphir (Maybe Cacao du Bresil next)

Aurora: Black

Waterman: Brilliant Brown

 

 

I suppose Pelikan Tanzanite, Noodlers Black, Aurora Blue, Some Sailor inks, Visconti Blue,

Waterman Florida Blue, Pilot Blue-Black....are the big names I've seen mentioned often.

 

I'm looking for staple ink suggestions every new collector "should" have. Thanks for reading!

 

 

--

fyi from my list MB Perm. Blue and Diamine Oxford are my two favorites, I lean toward blues.

Edited October 7, 2016 by ShortRound131

[bobje]

ShortRound, what a terrific question! I doubt if you'll find any consensus here whatsoever, but the discussion should prove interesting. Three ideas to get you started:

 

Foolproof, reliable blue: Waterman serenity blue

Classic black: Aurora black

Foolproof, reliable red: Sheaffer red

[ShortRound131]

Thank you ... yes I'm looking for foolproof inks, classics if you will...

 

I will have to get a sample of Waterman Serenity Blue, I was actually looking up Sheaffer Blue Black,

will have to consider the Red, seeing as I only have one red ink in my collection.

 

Cheers!

 

 

ShortRound, what a terrific question! I doubt if you'll find any consensus here whatsoever, but the discussion should prove interesting. Three ideas to get you started:

 

Foolproof, reliable blue: Waterman serenity blue

Classic black: Aurora black

Foolproof, reliable red: Sheaffer red

[lgsoltek]

Benchmark ink for wetness and smoothness: Sailor Doyou.

[Sasha Royale]

I have and use some heavily-saturated inks, that are beautiful. However, much of my collection is vintage fountain pens. I like to use inks that were available during those years. I like to think that my oldsters are safe with such inks. Of those inks, I like

Parkers Penman Black

Parkers Quink

Montblanc Turquoise

Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue and Blue Black.

[ShortRound131]

And Doyou is known to "clean" stained demonstrators? Will have to try it...

 

Benchmark ink for wetness and smoothness: Sailor Doyou.

 

Pelikan RB and BB ... will have to add to my list....

I have and use some heavily-saturated inks, that are beautiful. However, much of my collection is vintage fountain pens. I like to use inks that were available during those years. I like to think that my oldsters are safe with such inks. Of those inks, I like

Parkers Penman Black

Parkers Quink

Montblanc Turquoise

Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue and Blue Black.

[mallymal1]

Brilliant question.

 

Classic inks? Hmmmmmm...

[Monbla]

Both of the Aurora colors, Blue & Black

Pelikan, Royal Blue and Brilliant Black

Waterman , Absolute Brown ( was Havana Brown)

Private Reserve, Midnight Blues

[Sailor Kenshin]

I'm about 6 months into fountain pen collecting and have a small collection of pens and inks.

Wondering what are some benchmark inks I need to try out? The big names in FP inkworld?

 

So far I have:

Iroshizuku: Kon-Peki, Tsuyu-Kusa, Yama-Guri, Tsuki-Yo, Shin-Kai (Asa-Gao is my next Iro ink to get)

Mont Blanc: Permanent Blue, Royal Blue, Corn Poppy Red (Midnight Blue is my next Mont Blanc ink to get)

Diamine: Oxford Blue, Bilberry, Ancient Copper (Midnight is next Diamine to purchase)

J. Herbin: Perle Noir, Bleu Nuit, Eclat de Saphir (Maybe Cacao du Bresil next)

Aurora: Black

Waterman: Brilliant Brown

 

 

I suppose Pelikan Tanzanite, Noodlers Black, Aurora Blue, Some Sailor inks, Visconti Blue,

Waterman Florida Blue, Pilot Blue-Black....are the big names I've seen mentioned often.

 

I'm looking for staple ink suggestions every new collector "should" have. Thanks for reading!

 

 

--

fyi from my list MB Perm. Blue and Diamine Oxford are my two favorites, I lean toward blues.

Cacao du Bresil is a very interesting color: not brown, not lavender, not gray, but a little of all three. Right now, Chesterfield inks are being discontinued. And marked down, so I bought an array of six and may buy more. I love their Sodalite, Siam and Mahogany.

 

Not that I am trying to steer you.

[ShortRound131]

hmmm have not researched much of Chesterfield... related to Diamine inks though?

 

Cacao du Bresil is a very interesting color: not brown, not lavender, not gray, but a little of all three. Right now, Chesterfield inks are being discontinued. And marked down, so I bought an array of six and may buy more. I love their Sodalite, Siam and Mahogany.

Not that I am trying to steer you.

[Sailor Kenshin]

hmmm have not researched much of Chesterfield... related to Diamine inks though?

 

 

They are said to be re-branded Diamine inks. At least some of them. I don't know what diamine ink Zircon is, but I'm testing it as a nice, bouncy, cheerful blue. Also have Antique Jade, Crimson, and Mariner loaded, and these are more muted. The swabs on their site seem to be accurate.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary : benchmark is "something that can be used as a way to judge the quality or level of other, similar things"

 

As such, one looks for a some sort of mid-point - not an extreme. Kindly note that we are without metrics...

 

That is also very much influenced by one's preferences. For example, I trend toward lean dry inks with shading potential rather than high lubricity saturated inks, hence my personal benchmark is not the same as those who take a different tack or write with a slow high pressure hand.

 

From your current inky array, (which is very nice indeed, but what ink for billets doux?), Pilot kon-peki, Montblanc RBl and Herbin Bleu Nuit would be my picks for benchmarking pen+paper combos.

 

For new inks to try, kindly consider Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black, Diamine Syrah, Montblanc Toffee Brown; and if you favour narrow nibs, then Visconti Blue; and if tempted to go exploring, R&K Scabiosa and Sailor sei-boku and Stipula Muschiato and and and...

 

Whee!

 

Bye,

S1

Edited October 8, 2016 by Sandy1

[ShortRound131]

Sandy1 thank you I consider you a FPN celebrity of sorts. I got started reading your one of ten blue posts.

 

I'm still early on in my journey and experimenting with what I like as far as inks good suggestions here. Thank you!

 

Hi,

 

From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary : benchmark is "something that can be used as a way to judge the quality or level of other, similar things"

 

As such, one looks for a some sort of mid-point - not an extreme. Kindly note that we are without metrics...

 

That is also very much influenced by one's preferences. For example, I trend toward lean dry inks with shading potential rather than high lubricity saturated inks, hence my personal benchmark is not the same as those who take a different tack or write with a slow high pressure hand.

 

From your current inky array, (which is very nice indeed, but what ink for billets doux?), Pilot kon-peki, Montblanc RBl and Herbin Bleu Nuit would be my picks for benchmarking pen+paper combos.

 

For new inks to try, kindly consider Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black, Diamine Syrah, Montblanc Toffee Brown; and if you favour narrow nibs, then Visconti Blue; and if tempted to go exploring, R&K Scabiosa and Sailor sei-boku and Stipula Muschiato and and and...

 

Whee!

 

Bye,

S1

[ShortRound131]

Thank you love the performance of aurora black, blue is definitely one I want to try

 

Both of the Aurora colors, Blue & Black

Pelikan, Royal Blue and Brilliant Black

Waterman , Absolute Brown ( was Havana Brown)

Private Reserve, Midnight Blues

[ENewton]

Rohrer and Klingner Scabiosa--not a benchmark for comparison with others, but an ink notable for the fact that no other ink compares easily with it

[Pensei]

First, someone should compliment you for putting together a very solid list of fine inks on your own. Beyond that, I think, as you suggested, Sailor is the most obvious gap. Just jump right in on that. Also, in a slight variation on the above post, I think R&K Salix is pretty much a classic. I like their Sepia a lot as well. Pelikan Violet is a good ink, on the drier side, and finally, in terms of what you might call smaller names, I would look at Callifolio and KWZ. Great colors and performance from both of them.

[Sandy1]

Sandy1 thank you I consider you a FPN celebrity of sorts. I got started reading your one of ten blue posts.

 

I'm still early on in my journey and experimenting with what I like as far as inks good suggestions here. Thank you!

 

 

 

Hi,

 

You're welcome.

 

Over the course of doing some 138 Ink Reviews I strove to be on-the-level in the depiction of the inks and my sense there-of. During that task I might have developed some sort of lexicon and personal perspective.

 

I learn as I go - I never pretend to be a smarty-pants know-it-all.

 

As ever the ink on paper [linear scans] speak louder than I, and the replies from other Members contribute greatly.

(I am glad there are 402 Replies to my IR of ESSRI - certainly I missed more than a little something something.)

 

Hoist your sails for a voyage upon the inky seas!

 

Bye,

S1

Edited October 8, 2016 by Sandy1

[Diderot]

As has been said, a superb question.

I have nothing to contribute but will watch this thread with great interest.

 

[ShortRound131]

Yes, I've hesitated on Sailor only because Bungbox line was $43 at the recent Dallas Pen show, I think Souten and Doyou Jentle would be good ones to start with. R&H ... I have a sample of Alt-Goldgrun and it's beautiful, but can't see myself using a green... maybe I'll reconsider..

 

KWZ. another brand I have to research. I Love researching inks, it drive me nuts but it's fun.

 

First, someone should compliment you for putting together a very solid list of fine inks on your own. Beyond that, I think, as you suggested, Sailor is the most obvious gap. Just jump right in on that. Also, in a slight variation on the above post, I think R&K Salix is pretty much a classic. I like their Sepia a lot as well. Pelikan Violet is a good ink, on the drier side, and finally, in terms of what you might call smaller names, I would look at Callifolio and KWZ. Great colors and performance from both of them.

[Maurizio]

As a classic, benchmark blue, for its excellent flow and middle-of-the-road blue color: Sailor Jentle Blue.

 

This is relatively modest in price at $12. or $13. a bottle and in my opinion, much better in flow characteristics than another oft-mentioned favorite blue: Waterman Serenity (or Florida) blue.