Two Caran D'ache Blues

[dneal]

On a whim, I added a bottle each of Caran d'Ache Idyllic and Magnetic Blue. I say whim, because they are quite costly and the scans/samples on the Goulet website aren't exactly inspiring...

 

I am actually pleasantly surprised though, and they have made their way into two pens for regular use. Here are some scans and thoughts. The thoughts are in another ink I ordered, De Atramentis Black-Brown. Perhaps a review will follow, but I like it a lot.

 

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa163/roomdog/Ink/CarandAcheSample_zpsa7d32443.jpg

 

This is my running quick reference for blues. The smears are done with a wet fingertip, after the ink has dried, to test water resistance.

 

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa163/roomdog/Ink/Blues1_zpsc69a0faf.jpg

 

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa163/roomdog/Ink/Blues2_zpsf52c1095.jpg

 

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa163/roomdog/Ink/Blues3_zpsd9b60135.jpg

[lapis]

Thanks for the good review. I have them too but also find that they are outrageously expensive. They have excellent properties (like flow and maintenance, and the bottles's caps arer unsurpassed) but I doubt that many of us will ever buy them... just due to their price. E.g. a lot of other blues -- which you kindly included as a comparison -- are just as "good", if not even better -- but for half the price or less, I'll take any bottle and/or cap.

 

Mike

[Tas]

Great comparison. Thanks dneal.

I too bought Magnetic Blue on a "whim" but like it so much that I'll no doubt buy another if it ever runs out.

 

It lives in my fine nibbed Pilot Custom 91 and produces a beautiful sharp crisp line with really subtle shading.

Flows like a dream and starts every time, first time.

 

http://www.taskyprianou.com/custom_91_tsuki_yo.jpg

[MartinSimonnet]

Thanks for your review. I bought Idyllic Blue as well, because I love blues, and I LOVE the ink. The color, flow, everything is really great with the ink. Even better: My brick and mortar nearby pen shop sells them for a really affordable price. I don't know how he does it.

I will definitely buy another bottle of Idyllic Blue once mine runs out. Except if I decide I like MB Royal Blue better... Oh well, I will just buy both bottles again once I run out.

[FountainPenCowgirl]

Really glad I acted on impulse and ordered a bottle of Idyllic Blue. Color is vivid and lovely, flow is butter-smooth. So far, it's behaving nicely. Destined to become a standard in my line-up.

[ztt2]

I'm reassured by this. The colour for Idyllic Blue looked pretty generic and boring on Goulet. If I pay that much for ink I want to actually be able to use it on a regular basis. I'm impressed.

 

Thanks for this!

[dneal]

Great comparison. Thanks dneal.

I too bought Magnetic Blue on a "whim" but like it so much that I'll no doubt buy another if it ever runs out.

 

It lives in my fine nibbed Pilot Custom 91 and produces a beautiful sharp crisp line with really subtle shading.

Flows like a dream and starts every time, first time.

 

I will agree that this is the one that is the most tempting. It moved straight to the top as my favorite blue-black.

[thebroadnib27]

Bought a bottle of this today at a brick and mortar. They said it doesn't play well with other inks because it was "chromatic" and that one should have a dedicated pen/nib for it. Sounds strange. Any thoughts?

[MartinSimonnet]

Bought a bottle of this today at a brick and mortar. They said it doesn't play well with other inks because it was "chromatic" and that one should have a dedicated pen/nib for it. Sounds strange. Any thoughts?

 

Thebroadnib27,

 

I have personally used the ink after and before other inks (MB Royal Blue, Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo and Namiki Blue to name them) and have had no issues whatsoever. My pen wrote very well. I do not think the "chromatics" has anything to do with the ink's properties.

 

Cheers,

Martin.

[dneal]

Bought a bottle of this today at a brick and mortar. They said it doesn't play well with other inks because it was "chromatic" and that one should have a dedicated pen/nib for it. Sounds strange. Any thoughts?

 

Some inks are troublesome (especially with cleaning) due to overly saturated colors/dyes, but these don't seem to have that affliction. The word "chromatics" is just marketing.

 

The general rule of "don't mix inks" is always applicable, but I see no reason to have a dedicated pen for this ink.

[lapis]

Bought a bottle of this today at a brick and mortar. They said it doesn't play well with other inks because it was "chromatic" and that one should have a dedicated pen/nib for it. Sounds strange. Any thoughts?

Yes, that what your CdA rep said is bull tweed.

 

Mike

[kp288908]

Thank you for taking the time to complete such an extensive comparison. This is really good information.

[Charles Skinner]

I believe some people call this ink ---- Blue-Black! --- Is there something wrong with my eyes? To me, it is just a beautiful shade of blue ink! C. S.

[Charles Skinner]

I don't know what I was thinking, with my September 2016 "post!" This ink is now my LEAST favorite ink! I must remember not to buy ink just to get the bottle! C. S.