Private Reserve Invincible Aqua Blue

[KeatsPhD]

I saw this ink when I went in to pick up my Pelikan demonstrator and the compulsion to buy overpowered me. I'm a fan of Noodler's bulletproof inks, but my experiences with some very dry writing inks lately left me a little disappointed. But I really like this PR Invincible line.

 

My scanner diluted the color slightly. It's a touch...just a touch...darker than the scan shows on my screen. If you've seen the new blue demonstrator in person, the ink is the same color as the pen - a deep sky blue - not purple or green. No feathering on Rhodia paper, no bleed/show through and super fast dry time. The ammonia slightly lightened the color in my test, but not appreciably. I soaked a Q-tip and rubbed it back and forward across the samples and then let it dry overnight.

 

 

[Goodwhiskers]

Wow! Thanks for the review so soon after the product's release! It looks great on Rhodia paper. I'm looking forward to reports of how well it does on FP-unfriendly paper.

[Token]

Looks like a nice ink!

Just a question -when you rubbed the water-wetted q-tip across the ink, did any of the ink transfer on to the q-tip? I just want to know the if dry ink smears (even a little bit) when exposed to water.

 

Thanks

Edited August 24, 2009 by Token

[penspouse]

Thanks for the review. At which B&M did you find this?

[Dave Johannsen]

Thank you for the detailed and complete review. Have you noticed nib creep? Though it's silly, nib creep is pretty much a show stopper for me. I hope that you'll also have the time to post some follow-up comments once you've had a bit more time with the ink.

 

 

Dave

[KeatsPhD]

Looks like a nice ink!

Just a question -when you rubbed the water-wetted q-tip across the ink, did any of the ink transfer on to the q-tip? I just want to know the if dry ink smears (even a little bit) when exposed to water.

 

Thanks

 

I didn't notice any smearing with water for the Private Reserve. I was really impressed with the dry time for the PR. Just the teeniest smudge for just a one second smudge, but it seems to dry very quickly compared to many of the bulletproof inks I have. I love my bulletproof, but it's not always the best when you need an ink that will dry quickly.

 

The ammonia was the only thing that seems to remove any ink from the paper, but it requires a rigorous rub with the Q-tip. And it was only a very slight tint on the Q-tip.

[KeatsPhD]

Thanks for the review. At which B&M did you find this?

 

Scottsdale Pen in downtown Scottsdale, AZ. Jay, the owner, is very friendly and knowledgeable. He also has the new Cosmic Cobalt color if anyone is interested in that one - I controlled myself and only got the Aqua.

[KeatsPhD]

Thank you for the detailed and complete review. Have you noticed nib creep? Though it's silly, nib creep is pretty much a show stopper for me. I hope that you'll also have the time to post some follow-up comments once you've had a bit more time with the ink.

 

 

Dave

 

Surprisingly no nib creep - or at least none that I've noticed so far. And curiously no smell. My Noodler's bulletproof inks have that strong chemical smell, but the PR doesn't have that trait.

[KeatsPhD]

An update on some other papers...

 

Moleskine cahier, lined paper - no feathering, surprisingly, but there is show through and I could see bleed through with a wetter nib. My Pelikan has a fine nib, bit is just a touch on the wet side. I had to fill in a circle in order to get any bleed through.

 

Staples bagasse notebook - no feathering, some show through and no bleed through, even with the filled in circle test.

 

Staples laser jet printer paper - no feathering, show through but no bleed through (but just barely) with circle test

 

Levenger annotated notepad - no feathering but does bleed through when ink slightly pools on downstroke

 

Clairfontaine - no feathering and slight show through - still dries quickly on Clairfontaine

 

Those are all the papers I have at my fingertips. If someone has a request and I have it around the house, I'm happy to try it out and report back.

[Goodwhiskers]

Thanks for the paper update! It gives me a good idea of how this ink works.

[stevo]

I saw this ink when I went in to pick up my Pelikan demonstrator and the compulsion to buy overpowered me. I'm a fan of Noodler's bulletproof inks, but my experiences with some very dry writing inks lately left me a little disappointed. But I really like this PR Invincible line.

 

My scanner diluted the color slightly. It's a touch...just a touch...darker than the scan shows on my screen. If you've seen the new blue demonstrator in person, the ink is the same color as the pen - a deep sky blue - not purple or green. No feathering on Rhodia paper, no bleed/show through and super fast dry time. The ammonia slightly lightened the color in my test, but not appreciably. I soaked a Q-tip and rubbed it back and forward across the samples and then let it dry overnight.

 

 

 

Have you tried soaking the inks for any period of time? Maybe I missed that...

 

S

[Dave Johannsen]

Surprisingly no nib creep - or at least none that I've noticed so far. And curiously no smell. My Noodler's bulletproof inks have that strong chemical smell, but the PR doesn't have that trait.

 

I just wanted to say thank you for all the follow-up information. You went above and beyond the call of duty in fielding all questions.

 

 

Dave

Edited August 26, 2009 by Dave Johannsen

[ofpwriter]

I don't like this ink - it's the color - but you gave a great review. Things you said characterize "ink behavior" really well.

 

-O

[Aysedasi]

Nice review - even though the ink does nothing for me, I'm afraid.

[Inka]

Very nicely done; thank you for taking the time to write and review this.

I've found my permanent or "fraud-proof" blue inks all look a bit bland, some have even said “chalky”, but I still like them.

So far I have Polar Blue, Luxury Blue Eternal, just got some *Gulfstream Blue [* a Noodler's ink but a Swisher Pens Exclusive] in the mail yesterday I'm about to give a spin.

It's good to see Private Reserve is making them now too, I'd read they were but have not yet seen any examples, so thanks again and good job!

 

[KeatsPhD]

I haven't soaked any samples yet, but I certain can. I'll work on that this morning and we what I end up with later today. I'll post pictures/scans later if I get a chance.

[stevo]

I haven't soaked any samples yet, but I certain can. I'll work on that this morning and we what I end up with later today. I'll post pictures/scans later if I get a chance.

 

I'm guessing/hoping that if they claim it to be waterproof, you won't see a different result after soaking vs. swabbing. Great review by the way...

 

Cheers

S

[Inka]

Private Reserve advertises this ink as...

 

"Private Reserve Ink® Invincible Aqua Blue Bottled Ink [2.536 oz].

This new blue ink has been tested and found to be light-fast and quick drying, with no feathering.

Created with stable dyes and formulas, Invincible Aqua Blue ink resists water, bleach and other chemicals, but is easily cleaned from pens, nibs and converters with no residue."

Sounds pretty fraud-proof and "Eternal" to me!

 

I really liked the PR Tanzanite color and behavior when I had it.

I just didn't much care [at the time] that a single drop of water would spread it everywhere.

Preferring waterproof inks, or the Noodler's "bulletproof" inks, I gave away my bottle of Tanzanite to a good friend and he loves it!

 

Now I’m growing fonder of many inks, including those that are not waterproof.

There’s such a broad spectrum of colors out there that aren’t waterproof, my tastes have changed and I’m finding the colors to be great fun to use as my moods change.

That and colored inks are just so cool-looking on my correspondence/letters, plus when just writing for fun there’s no need to have waterproof or “bulletproof” inks all of the time.

 

After all, the old saying does go that “Variety is the spice of life!”, so why not spice up my life with some colors?

I have some sample cartridges of Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue that an FPN member and employee of Goldspot.com had sent me to try.

PR-DCSSB is not even water resistant, but once I'd tried it and found the deep, rich blue color is eye-popping, it’s now a favorite ink of mine!

Just too bad it was a "Limited" ink, discontinued and hard to find these days, yet still I'm very happy with what I have now and enough inks of many kinds to last me a good, long, time.

[Pippin60]

I don't like this ink - it's the color - but you gave a great review. Things you said characterize "ink behavior" really well.

 

-O

 

Nice review, but disappointed in the color. It looks like PR Lake Placid blue which is too light for my tastes. I like Noodlers Luxury Blue but even thats a bit too light and chalky. Great review, but I'll give the ink a pass. I do hope they decide to make it in other colors, since apparently there is no nib creep. As far as the smell of Noodlers yes the smell is not pleasant in the bottle but once its in the pen I no longer smell it.

 

[Inka]

What about Private Reserve Cosmic Cobalt Blue, instead of the Aqua?

Aren't they both "Invincible" inks by PR?

I've seen just one review, was hard to see the real color in photographs instead of scans.

The swabs looked lighter than the written words, just as my Polar Blue inks reacts, as when I write using a Fine nib Polar Blue looks dark, from a Broad nib PB looks much lighter.

This seems contrary to logic, one would think Broader nib would result in a darker line but that's not so in my tests using Polar Blue, just the opposite.

So if Private Reserve Cosmic Cobalt Blue has the same or similar characteristics as Polar Blue, it may be a good, dark-enough blue when used in pens with finer nibs.

 

P.S.:

Just found a Site that sells Cosmic Cobalt Blue and says nothing about it being "Invincible" so I'm guessing it's not.

Oh well, just a thought that it might be and if so and darker blue could be just the ink for those wanting a darker PR ink that is also "Invincible".

Edited August 26, 2009 by Inka