Pelikan Edelstein Olivine Ink Of The Year 2018

[visvamitra]

Pelikan Edelstein line is great proof of Pelikan's marketing team efficiency. Beautifully packaged inks bear promise of amazing writing experience. The line is popular all around the world and concurs with the likes of Pilot Iroshizuku or Graf von Faber-Castell.

 

Packaging and bottle

 

The packaging is impressive.

 

The outer cardboard box is, more or less, standard. It’s not overisized and made from cardboard. The front panel has a slightly slanted extra facet with a colored panel that corresponds to the ink color inside. Care was also taken to keep ink secure in the box – the pair of styrofoam pads rest between the neck of the bottle and the box.

The bottle itself is really, really nice. The glass is thick, heavy and rectangular but with slightly concave sides. The lettering fits the design. I believe Caran d’Ache Chromatics inks bottles are more interesting, Iroshizuku probably nicer but Edelstein offers great and solid cap.

 

The inks can be bought in 13 colors, seven standard.

1. Aventurine
2. Jade
3. Mandarin
4. Onyx
5. Sapphire
6. Ruby
7. Topaz

And 7 LE inks of the year

1. Turmaline Ink of the Year 2012
2. Amber Ink of the Year 2013
3. Garnet Ink of the Year 2014
4. Amethyst Ink of the Year 2015
5. Aquamarine Ink of the Year 2016
6. Smoky Quartz Ink of the Year 2017
7. Olivine Ink of the Year 2018

I have mixed feelings about Edelstein as a line. The inks aren't bad. But they're not as good as the price tag would suggest. On the other hand Pelikan does a great job communicating with pen enthusiasts and engaging them in activities (Pelikan Hub, creating the color of the ink of the year).

My feelings, though, change nothing - each year I'm eager to try their new ink.

This year Pelikan has finally offered green ink. There was a debate concerning the color, and while Olivines can have a wide range of hues, it's not the one I expected. I wanted something yellow green. If the color matched the color on the box, it would be nice. it doesn't, sadly.

It's not bad, but I can't say I'm crazy about it. Truth be told in 2018 I'm disappointed by both Lamy and Pelikan LE inks. A shame.

Color perception is always subjective. Physical properties less so. Let's examine them.

Flow: the Ink feels wet.

Saturation: level of saturation is satisfying for my needs. The ink doesn’t look oversaturated, it remains fully legible in alli light conditions.

Lubrication: very good.

Drying time: rather reasonable. 15-20 seconds on Rhodia, 10 – 15 seconds on absorbent paper.

Clogging issues: None experienced. The ink may dry in the nib but only after few minutes. You can leave the pen uncapped for 2-3 minutes and everything should be fine. I’ve tried it in Wing Sung 658 and hard starts were experienced only after leaving the pen uncapped for 4 minutes.

Feathering: practically none. Maybe some barely perceptible feathering on Moleskine.

Bleedthrough: experienced only on Moleskine (crappiest paper ever)

Water resistance: it's not water resistant.

Ink Splash

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Software ID

Color range

Copy paper, Graf von Faber-Castell Classic, medium nib

Velin paper, Graf von Faber-Castell Classic, medium nib

Fabriano, Hero 5028, stub 1.9

Water resistance

[Barkingpig]

Thank you for an always honest & thorough review.

 

I initially cancelled my "pre-order" of this ink after reading about the discrepancy of the actual color from the one announced previously. I weakened after noticing a bottle from a Seller in Germany that offered one for under $20.00, with free shipping to me. It seems I was willing to pay a "reasonable sum" for an attractive green ink, just NOT $35.00 with added $7.95 shipping cost for an ink I had been anticipating with optimism.

 

It is a perfectly nice green ink, unfortunately NOT the ink we expected & waited to appear, for more than a year.

[namrehsnoom]

Nice review. It’s a decent writing ink, that suffered from a misleading marketing campaign. One positive thing is the ink’s dynamic colour range ... this makes it great for drawing.

[carlos.q]

I like this ink a lot even though it doesn't have water resistance. It's a lot nicer than that awful Aventurine.

[lgsoltek]

It's really not what I expected. I think I'll pass.

Edited May 27, 2018 by Lgsoltek

[visvamitra]

Well, yes, it's not exactly what I hoped to get.

[The Good Captain]

Well, yes, it's not exactly what I hoped to get.

I agree, along with many others. We thought it would be more olive but that doesn't detract from the fact that it is a lovely ink in its own right and our review is as exemplary as always.

[lapis]

I agree with everyone because I disagree with the ink's name. Vis, I especially like your subjective judgements.

[tropicalwitch]

While the ink color is nice, I think I'm in the same boat with initially hoping for a more yellowy green. As usual, a great review.

[minddance]

Not for me, I do not enjoy blueish greens. Teal, is another story.

[aurore]

Great review as always.
I used to consider this ink as a promising one, those times are gone.

[coinlvr]

Where can I buy one? Or do I need to wait for this ink until the Pelikan Hub?

[DrDebG]

Great review! I really appreciate your comments, Vis. We share many of the same impressions.

[Bo Bo Olson]

The price tag of Edelstine inks has remained at least for this year at E16 something.

MB boot ink, E19 ......a decade ago they were E-12 and I did think the jumps all the way up to 16 a bit much....and at E19, I have to see if there is any MB ink I have a need for LE inks are in the 20's...........not counting the E65 'antique' ink.

 

So are many other 'name' inks....have become too expensive for me. I'm not going to be spending E25 for an ink.

I thought DA's jump from E9-12 to E-15 for cheap bottle, a bit too much.

I'm thinking of going to that affordable Polish ink. Or Herbin.

 

But Edelsteine inks are 'cheap' in the pretty bottle inks.