De Atramentis Sapphire (Saphirblau)

[dizzypen]

http://www.de-atramentis.com/out/oxbaseshop/html/0/dyn_images/1/1032_09_en_p1.jpg

 

I received this ink as a trade with another FPN member. I had no idea what to expect really, but it was a brand I had not tried before so I decided to go for it. In all, I'd describe this as an average sort of vintage looking blue (light blue with purple undertones). It is almost exactly like my Quink Washable Blue except there are more purple undertones in this De Atramentis Sapphire. I'd also imagine (though I don't have the inks to compare it to) that it is quite comparable to other big pen house blues such as Waterman Florida Blue and J. Herbin Eclat de Saphir or Violet Pensee and maybe even a Diamine lightish blue. Like those other Big house brands, this ink is remarkably well behaved in almost every situation and even on cheap paper. If you like these sort of blues, you can't go wrong here.

 

The important stuff:

 

No feather or bleeding.

Flow is a little on the dry side, but generally quite good.

Drying time is average at 4-5 seconds in a Fine nib.

There is some shading. Different pens and paper might yield better results.

It is not waterproof at all, but if you can clean up your spill quickly the writing will still be faintly visible. It doesn't feather wildly when wet, so that is a plus.

 

http://images47.fotki.com/v1401/photos/4/1482744/7318469/DASapphirecard-vi.jpg

[Peter from Sherwood Park]

Thank you for this review -- this is one ink that I have wanted to try, but haven't been able to find. It looks like a good blue.

[Ondina]

Thanks for the review. Peter, shoot me a PM if your want a sample.

[SBinMT]

The photo in your review looks nothing like the De Atramentis Sapphire Blue sample that I bought from Goulet recently. I even wrote the GPC to ask if my sample may have been mismarked, as it looks nothing like any of the so-called sapphire blues that other manufacturers make. The sample is, however, a delightful dark blue/purple, and shades strikingly. If my yet-to-arrive bottled ink looks like yours, I'll be disappointed, because the sample is fabulous.

[sadiemagic]

The photo in your review looks nothing like the De Atramentis Sapphire Blue sample that I bought from Goulet recently. I even wrote the GPC to ask if my sample may have been mismarked, as it looks nothing like any of the so-called sapphire blues that other manufacturers make. The sample is, however, a delightful dark blue/purple, and shades strikingly. If my yet-to-arrive bottled ink looks like yours, I'll be disappointed, because the sample is fabulous.

 

I totally agree. The photo looks nothing like the ink in my bottle of DeAtramentis sapphire. My sapphire is much darker with a purple undertone. Interesting how there can be such variation! And my bottle was purchased within the last six months or do, from Goulet pens.

[DanielCoffey]

If your own sample looks a lot different, why not submit a current review? This one was done three years ago so maybe time for a fresh look at the ink?