J. Herbin: The 1670S

[lgsoltek]

As of 2015, all three J. Herbin 1670 inks come with free-flowing gold(en) particles just like those in Gris orage.

 

These three are, as you already know, Rouge hématite, Bleu océan and Gris orage.

 

As usual they come in nice boxes:

 

http://s3.homezz.com/201504/5915/50474_o.jpg

 

Three gorgeous ink packed in an elegant yet ridiculously impractical bottles. I say impractical because the opening is so narrow, you can't put in a larger pen to fill. I tried to fill my Pilot (with the Con-70 convertor) and the ink overflowed, leaving me fingers and a bottle covered in Bleu océan. Also the wax on the cap seems to break easily, although that does not affect the seal since there's a metal cap inside.

 

http://s2.homezz.com/201504/5915/50473_o.jpg

 

Another photo of the bottles. I have a love/hate relationship with these bottles.

 

http://s3.homezz.com/201504/5915/50472_o.jpg

 

Now let's take a look at the bottom, where the particles are settled.

 

http://s3.homezz.com/201504/5915/50470_o.jpg

 

The particles falling apart.

 

http://s3.homezz.com/201504/5915/50471_o.jpg

 

 

Ink splashes

 

http://s3.homezz.com/201504/5915/50466_o.jpg

 

http://s0.homezz.com/201504/5915/50465_o.jpg

 

http://s1.homezz.com/201504/5915/50464_o.jpg

 

Swabs

 

Shaken, with particles. Scan and photo for comparison. The gold particles are not quite visible in Rouge hématite, but they are there, only shaded by the red colour.

 

http://s3.homezz.com/201504/5915/50463_o.jpg

 

If you really don't like the particles or fear they will harm your pens, you can fill your pen without shaking the bottle. In this way there won't be particles in the ink. The sheen in the red is amazing even without the particles. Swab of the three not shaken:

 

http://s2.homezz.com/201504/5915/50462_o.jpg

 

Writing samples

 

Rouge hématite. This one is my favourite. The colour is vibrant, shading between pinky and dark red, and that great sheen. The only problem is that it's quite difficult to clean out. Not the fault of the particles (which are flushed out quite easily), but the red dye: it's stubborn.

 

http://s0.homezz.com/201504/5915/50467_o.jpg

 

 

Bleu océan. I didn't expect that I would like this but I do love it. A somewhat dark purplish blue, it has a calming effect on me (sans the gold). It's the best flow-er among the three. It's so smooth and wet in writing.

 

http://s3.homezz.com/201504/5915/50468_o.jpg

 

Gris orage. I was excited to get this one when it was first available. But now it's the least favourite for me. I find out that grey really isn't a colour I like. Without the particles it's a boring grey. Frankly the gold particles are not very appropriate for serious writing, and they get boring after a while.

However, for me the worst problem of this ink is that it feathers when it's wet. A lot. Even on good paper like Rhodia, Clairefontaine or Maruman, as you can see in the scan. Also, it flows well but can't be used with a dip pen. The ink just pools away from your nib. I find that with dip pens Rouge hématite works really well.

 

 

http://s3.homezz.com/201504/5915/50469_o.jpg

 

A few more photos:

 

http://s3.homezz.com/201504/5915/50461_o.jpg

 

http://s1.homezz.com/201504/5915/50460_o.jpg

 

http://s0.homezz.com/201504/5915/50459_o.jpg

 

Conclusion

 

For me, Rouge hématite is the best. For its colour and the sheen, I can put up with a bit of extra cleaning. My second favourite is Bleu océan, for its smoothness. My least favourite is Gris orage. Greys don't really appeal to me and the feathering is horrible.

 

For more detailed reviews of these three ink, I'd like to refer you to the posts of our great Visvamitra: Rouge hématite, Bleu océan, Gris orage.

 

For an elaborate account of different versions of Rouge hématite, check out this great post of mhphoto: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/280583-rouge-hematite-1670-through-the-years/

 

The samples in this review are written on Rhodia paper. The pens are Pilot 742 Music nib and Platinum 3776 Century Medium.

Edited April 7, 2015 by Lgsoltek

[visvamitra]

Great Comparison. Rouge Hematite wins hands down.

[Cyber6]

AWESOME REVIEW/COMPARISON !!!!!!!!

 

 

Thanks so much... Rouge Hematite will always be my favorite.... (Unless is Version 2... that one is too orange)

 

 

 

 

C.

[inkstainedruth]

I voted for Gris Orage. It's gorgeous.

I have the first (?) version of Rouge Hematite (the version with the big flecks of gold). I initially got a sample just to see what the fuss was all about, because I didn't think I'd I like the color; surprisingly, I do (a lot) but Gris Orage is better -- saw a written exemplar at DCSS last summer. So when it was finally available in the US I figured I'd better save time and just order a full bottle instead of sampling first....

I have a sample from the first run of Bleu Ocean. I thought it was very ordinary and not worth the hype. At some I really want to try the reformulated version, but at the moment I have too many other inks in the "still to try" queue, including a few samples which are probably a couple of years old at this point....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[musicman123]

Awesome comparison! I really like Rouge Hematite as the sheen is much more pronounced on that one than on others.

[stevesurf]

Wonderful comparison! Rouge Hematite, all versions, but I will switch when Herbin comes out with a Green 1670

[jasonchickerson]

Rouge Hematite is great. Beautiful red with great green sheen with or without the gold specs. Works perfectly well in a pointed dip pen. Terribly hard to clean out of a pen with a sac. Don't try it. Great for cards, calligraphy, etc.

 

Gris Orage is terribly behaved and, IMO, ugly to boot. Pass.

 

Bleu Ocean is pretty, but haven't tested it myself. When supply is steady, I'll try a sample.

 

None of these will ever go in my regular fountain pens for fear of looking like a 10 year old girl.

[Frank C]

They all look better coming from the music nib. Now I have to get a Pilot pen with a music nib.

[erpe]

bought all three (before they run out) and I don't want to pick a winner really

[tinkerteacher]

One interesting thing about Rouge Hematite, very much unlike the other two, is how well it plays with crappy paper. No feathering, no bleed through, minimal show through on almost everything, even with the broader nibs.

 

Rouge Hematite seems to dry mostly on the surface of the paper and not bond much with paper fibers. Really helps to increase the sheen and the shading, but I wouldn't want to use it for anything that that I'd want a long term record of.

[blazingthrough]

I like that they all have gold sparkles, but stormy grey is just a tad bit annoying to deal with in terms of cleaning.

[VivienR]

Currently I have only Rouge Hematit, but not for a long time... Honestly based on this review I like all of it, and eager to try the remaining ones. If I could pic only one, then Rouge Hematite, I like red better than blue and gray.

[benbot517]

Great comparison. I totally agree with your findings. I love Rouge Hematite, and have it inked up in my every day pocket pen, where it will probably stay. The color is amazing, even without the gold. I tried out the Stormy Grey in the same place I got my RH, and found the same things you did: feathers a ton and can't be used with a dip pen. Haven't tried Bleu Ocean, but I'd like to!

[amberleadavis]

THANK YOU! Rouge Hematite is fade resistant, the original Ocean was not. I don't know about Stormy Gray.

[lgsoltek]

THANK YOU! Rouge Hematite is fade resistant, the original Ocean was not. I don't know about Stormy Gray.

 

If I remember right Stormy Grey is not fade resistant. I'm afraid I've thrown away my test paper though...

[amberleadavis]

Bummer.

[bureaudirect]

Fantastic review! Thank you,

 

Mishka

[Tasmith]

Great review!

[benjitzu]

Awesome review and stunning photos - thanks!

[thygreyt]

beautiful. you make me want to buy rogue hematite.. looks amazing