Handwritten Review of Waterman Havana

[Breck]

First off, many thanks to FPN member Excarnate who graciously volunteered to help color balance an earlier photo review, and upon whom I've imposed to do the same for this ink review and others going forward. At full size, the color looks quite right on this one, especially on the left hand side. My lousy camera has a really shallow depth of field, so I think I'll be scanning reviews from now on. I'm slightly appalled at how out of focus the right hand side is.

 

 

There already are two very good reviews of this ink in the index, one from KCat, with value-added coffee-filter chromatography as well as many swabs of similar colors on Page 2, and one from Vermiculus with gorgeous handwriting that really shows the purple tones in the big broad flexy parts.

 

Many, many folks cite this as their favorite brown ink, if not their favorite ink overall. I gotta admit that I was sort of skeptical that it could be that good, but it is. For anyone who uses brown inks at all, this should be in your permanent stock.

 

Absolutely classic.

 

 

Teaser: I'll be reviewing 3 Iroshizuku inks over the next week.

Edited January 5, 2009 by Ann Finley

[WillSW]

I had this ink, but ended up giving it away. In my Lamy 2000 it was nearly indistinguishable from Noodler's Red-Black (Red-Black had a bit more shading) and I preferred the semi-bulletproof qualities. Sometimes I miss it, though, and may end up picking up another bottle sometime. If anyone wants, I can post some scans of the red-black vs. Havana Brown.

 

Edit: By "more shading" I meant sharper contrast. Havana Brown has nice shading as well, in a more smooth, watercolory kind of way.

Edited January 5, 2009 by WillSW

[Breck]

Hmmm - Commenters in KCat's thread said much the same thing. I would like to see the two side-by-side. I've never used Noodler's Red-Black.

[WillSW]

Hmmm - Commenters in KCat's thread said much the same thing. I would like to see the two side-by-side. I've never used Noodler's Red-Black.

 

I just realized that I already packed my scanner into a box, since I'm moving soon. So...maybe later.

 

Red-Black is a bit darker and more...red-black. It is obviously red and black, when you look close, though brown at a glance. Havana Brown is a smoother color. Like a good cigar. I don't actually know that.

[Joe in Seattle]

this is one of the inks in my permanent stable. your first pages capture the hue very well.

[CharlieB]

This is one of my three most favorite inks, the others being Waterman Florida Blue and Sheaffer Skrip Blue.

[Peter from Sherwood Park]

This is one brown ink that has performed well in every pen I have tried -- very reliable.

[bphollin]

I just emptied a bottle of W'man HB and bought another with the idea of reviewing it here. Murderface, Kcat, vermiculus, and MicheleB beat me to the punch, though. Thanks, y'all, for the thorough reviews and the discussions that follow.

 

As has been noted in other threads, this ink has great lubricating properties. When my Pel gets stiff I run a tank of Havana Brown through as a palliative. It also has the unusual quality of making Rhodia pads nice and smooth. For most of my pen and ink combos, the orange'd paper is a bit toothy and rough. Not so with W'man Havana Brown. Gotta love it!

[drifting]

Hmmm - Commenters in KCat's thread said much the same thing. I would like to see the two side-by-side. I've never used Noodler's Red-Black.

 

I just realized that I already packed my scanner into a box, since I'm moving soon. So...maybe later.

 

Red-Black is a bit darker and more...red-black. It is obviously red and black, when you look close, though brown at a glance. Havana Brown is a smoother color. Like a good cigar. I don't actually know that.

 

I've got a comparison, with Walnut thrown in for good measure. It isn't colour corrected, but it's pretty close on my screen.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d49/seouldrifting/Notetakers0001.jpg

 

Ryan.

 

[Breck]

Very nice, thanks!

 

Ya know, the more brown inks I see, the more I'm sure I need...

[Pjake]

Waterman Havana is just a great brown ink....interestingly, (or maybe not) I am reading Havana Nocturne at the moment and the cloth spine wrap is the color of Waterman Havana!!!! Actually, it could be the color of any of the swatches shown in this great thread, but since I'm a fan of WH...you know........

 

Bottom line........Waterman Havana is a must have!

 

Peter