Ink Review: Diamine Saddle Brown

[Chrissy]

This is still quite a rich brown, not as dark and rich as Chocolate Brown, but still a really nice shade, with a hint of red. More of a milk chocolate than a dark chocolate. Saddle Brown is a good name for it, as I remember having a saddle that was this colour a long time ago.

I saw some shading because it’s a less saturated ink than Chocolate Brown. It’s drier than Chocolate Brown ink and I noticed that it dried quickly on my thick, coated Xerox paper as well as the other papers I tested it on. I experienced no problems at all while I was writing with it. It had a smooth flow with a lubricated line. II saw no skips or hard starts, and it didn't dry out on the nib while I was doing swab tests.

For me it was a well-behaved ink, as well as being a nice colour. It only exhibited show through on Field Notes paper, but so do most inks.

It isn't sold as water resistant, but there was a little water resistance.

• This isn't sold as a waterproof ink, but shows a little water resistance.
• Bearing in mind the review form paper I use is thick with a shiny surface at 100gsm, and I used Lamy F,M and B nibs, this ink took 10-12 secs secs to dry using the M nib.
• No smear after dry.
• It exhibited good flow 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.

Chroma Test Strip

[lgsoltek]

Hmm, it seems to look nicer on whiter papers.

[visvamitra]

It's quite enjoyable brown ink.

[lapis]

Nice one. I don't know if Diamine was thinking of this, but it does resemble quite nicely my saddle by Brooks.

[PaganArcher]

An apt name. It really does mimic the worn, burnished warmth of a well loved and used saddle.

[amberleadavis]

This color didn't move me, but the performance sure did. Chrissy, thank you for the review!

[Chrissy]

This color didn't move me, but the performance sure did. Chrissy, thank you for the review!

 

You're welcome.