Ink Review: Diamine Aqua Blue

[Chrissy]

Yesterday I posted a review of Diamine Beau Blue ink

Today I'm reviewing a much brighter, more saturated ink within the same colour range: Diamine Aqua Blue

I would describe it as a bright cerulean blue, or cornflower blue. It leans very slightly towards the green edge of the blue colour spectrum like Waterman Inspired Blue and J. Herbin Blue Pervenche and it's very saturated with wonderful shading and a great 'halo' outline effect.

No noticeable sheen.

It felt really wet in my Lamy Al-Star with B nib, and because the B nib lays down more ink, the colour looks darker and shows up more shading than when I used the Lamy NexxM with M nib. Both pens I used wrote straight away without any hard starts or skipping. The flow was very good, not at all dry with both pens and the lubrication felt good along a line. The dry time on all of the papers I used was 10-12 secs. Once dry there was no smearing.

Like Diamine Beau Blue, Diamine Aqua Blue isn't at all water resistant.

• This isn't sold as a waterproof ink, and shows no noticeable water resistance.
• Bearing in mind the review form paper I use is thick with a shiny surface, and I used Lamy M and B nibs this ink took 10-12 secs to dry using the M nib. No smear after dry.
• It exhibited good flow and lubrication and I found it smooth to write with. I saw no skips or hard starts while I did swabs and dry time tests.
• It is currently available in 80ml glass bottles or 30ml plastic bottles
• Diamine sell it directly to end-users on their web-site.
• It's a reasonable price.

 

 

Ink blot of kitchen paper roll

 

[OCArt]

Thanks for another nice review. I think it is a cheery color !

[namrehsnoom]

Thanks for the informative review. I like this colour range a lot, with Topaz being my absolute favourite. This one comes close - from the scan it seems to be a tad lighter.

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks for the review -- and not. (Clearly I need to add some more ink to the stash.... )

How does this one compare to Diamine Turquoise and Havasu Turquoise? I'm still in the hunt for the best replacement for the old Skrip Peacock (so far Diamine Turquoise is pretty close).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos

Edited January 3, 2017 by inkstainedruth

[Chrissy]

Thanks for the review -- and not. (Clearly I need to add some more ink to the stash.... )

How does this one compare to Diamine Turquoise and Havasu Turquoise? I'm still in the hunt for the best replacement for the old Skrip Peacock (so far Diamine Turquoise is pretty close).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos

 

You're welcome. Aqua Blue is slightly more blue - less green than either Turquoise or Havasu Turquoise, or Marine. I think Aqua Blue is a more accurate replacement prospect for Peacock Blue, but I will do some swab comparison tests tomorrow. Think Caribbean Sea type of blue.

[Chrissy]

Thanks for the informative review. I like this colour range a lot, with Topaz being my absolute favourite. This one comes close - from the scan it seems to be a tad lighter.

You're welcome. I'm with you on this colour range. Topaz is blue while Aqua Blue and the other cerulean blues have very slightly more lean towards the green edge of the colour spectrum. Scans sometimes fail to pick out the difference. I adjusted the images in artificial light, but I will recheck them in the morning for accuracy. I have to prize my OH off the iMac during daylight hours.

[Chrissy]

Thanks for another nice review. I think it is a cheery color !

You're welcome. Yes bright and cheery.

[chromantic]

You're right, Chrissy, definitely more 'oomph' than Beau Blue.

[Chrissy]

You're right, Chrissy, definitely more 'oomph' than Beau Blue.

 

Thanks. I'm glad I got there.