Private Reserve Ebony Blue-Just A Brief Note

[markh]

Got a bottle from Pendemonium at the S.F. Pen Show last week.

 

It's "blueness" seems pretty limited. I would consider it closer to a black/green, or maybe black/teal. Hard to understand why it has blue in the name.

 

Typical modern high-density and high surfactant ink. It could be picky as to which pens it likes or doesn't. In the pens I have tried this in, I get a little ink creeping over part of the nib, and filling part of the feed combs. Sometimes hard starting after the pen sits overnight. These issues are usually very pen specific, but not always predictable in advance as to which pens will work well.

 

I would consider it a "writing ink" as opposed to a "color ink" - by this I have my own specific definition in mind - a color ink is one where someone looks at the ink color first before reading the text, a writing ink the opposite. Not a judgement - there isn't a right or wrong answer, but for me I always choose writing inks.

 

The question I now come to is will I continue to use it, and where usually I know immediately, I can't decide with this ink. The greenish tint gives it an old fashioned vintage quality to my eye. On each combination of paper and pen it seems to be a different ink. It's a "serious" ink for recording and communicating information.

 

My reaction to this ink reminds me of my reaction to Noodlers Ellis Island. There is something about it that surprises the eye - it's not what it first seems when you first look at it.

 

When I first filled a pen and tried it out an initial reaction was "not for me." Now... I don't know. Definitely beyond my normal black to blue-black range, but certainly interesting.

 

 

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[WayTooManyHobbies]

I really like Ebony Blue. It's beautiful in a broad nib, and surprisingly interesting in a fine nib.

[humblescribbler]

Interesting differentiation re: "writing" and "color" inks. I myself have consistently used the Ebony Green at work in mostly medium, but also broad and fine nibs. People have done (very mild) doubletakes when they see the note or memo. It catches the light a certain way and the green has sheen.

 

Does the Ebony Blue have the same characteristic?

[markh]

Interesting differentiation re: "writing" and "color" inks. I myself have consistently used the Ebony Green at work in mostly medium, but also broad and fine nibs. People have done (very mild) doubletakes when they see the note or memo. It catches the light a certain way and the green has sheen.

 

Does the Ebony Blue have the same characteristic?

 

The "double take" is exactly what I mean by "color ink." Of course, the first take is the fact that you are using a fountain pen at all...

 

I saw a review that mentioned (and showed) the reflected sheen. I don't see it - it could be the paper, or the pen. Note that I use fine to x-fine nibs, so there isn't much space to reflect light.

 

 

 

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[ThirdeYe]

I had hard starting/flow issues with this ink in my Duofold International. I haven't had a chance to try it in any of my other pens, however. Perhaps due to the heavy saturation?

[ChuckR9]

I have ebony blue in a medium italic nib and Franklin Christoph FP and am have more clogging issues than with other inks.

[pengoddess]

The PR Ebony series inks are oh so subtle in the color department. They seem to please black ink lovers, just that hint of color without straying too far from black.

 

Sam

[Newjelan]

Just tried it for the first time and so far, I love it.

[penultress]

Thanks for the review. I was looking at the swatches in this series. As my favorite color is blue, I was wondering how I would actually like this ink. It sounds like they work better with a broader nib so that you can see the variation. Interesting.