Mb Royal Blue Old Vs New Style Bottle

[Pravda]

Bought my first MB Royal Blue bottle about 10 years ago. I didn't care much for blues at the time, too mainstream/boring, or so I thought; recently, I filled up one of my pens with it and I couldn't put it down. I was in love with the colour.

 

So quickly I went to the boutique and bought myself another bottle of the latest edition. Figured would be nice to have this colour in one of the new shape or style bottles.

 

WTH? It is nearly almost a completely different colour!

 

But in the reviews and many of the topics, I have seen very little gripe about it. Why is this so?

 

The new bottle's colour is much less saturated, more leaning towards purple and doesn't pop at you like the old bottles Royal Blue did.

 

Feedback anyone?

[Joane]

I did not use MB Royal Blue ten years ago so I don't know what the colour was like then. However, i have been using RB for up to five years and it has always had a touch of purple, with the older rounded bottle and the squared-off one of today. A touch of purple is what makes blue "royal."

 

The texture is indeed not as saturated as some inks. I lile the flowy variable colour but some people prefer more saturated inks. I'm wondering if your ten-year-old bottle might be more saturated due to some evaporation over time. I guess others who have used it longer than I have could answer that question better than I can.

[jsolares]

Could it be the paper?

 

This one doesn't look purple at all http://penpaperpencil.net/montblanc-royal-blue-ink-review/ nor this one https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/232925-mont-blanc-royal-blue-mini-review/

 

but this one does and it's older

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/194949-mont-blanc-royal-blue/

[Pravda]

I guess I meant a more pronounced touch of purple, as I agree that RB always included a little.

 

But what irks me is the saturation.

 

My old round bottle RB put down vivid, dark saturated blue lines whereas my new one it is a lot lighter or more faded for some reason. Same pen, properly flushed/dried before refilling.

[ThierryfromFrance]

Hello "Pravda", there is also a very simple explanation, beside the possible changes in the ink formula.

Even in bottles, ink dries with time, and the quantity of dies is automatically greater for the same amount of ink, as water disappears.

And as it appears that you live in Dubai, it is highly probable that heat plays a role...

So, the blue ink looks much "deeper" and brighter than with new bottles.

A simple way to enhance new MB ink is to let it evaporate (bottle open) for a period depending on the heat you live in, or to buy brighter blue ink with other brands (see forums about that).

Thierry

[meiers]

That Is an interesting observation.

I did not notice a difference between the new and the old royal blue inks.

[Pravda]

Hello "Pravda", there is also a very simple explanation, beside the possible changes in the ink formula.

Even in bottles, ink dries with time, and the quantity of dies is automatically greater for the same amount of ink, as water disappears.

And as it appears that you live in Dubai, it is highly probable that heat plays a role...

So, the blue ink looks much "deeper" and brighter than with new bottles.

A simple way to enhance new MB ink is to let it evaporate (bottle open) for a period depending on the heat you live in, or to buy brighter blue ink with other brands (see forums about that).

Thierry

 

That IS a very good observation that did actually cross my mind. Except over the last 10 years I have had the bottle I was living in Boston, London and Amman (all cold climate countries) and only moved to Dubai the past few months. But sure, I would carefully assume that over the years the bottle lost more water:ink ratio. But is that really it, Royal Blue I mean? Not as majestic as my old specimen for sure

[meiers]

Question:

Did anyone ever trying boiling royal blue ink to get a more intense colour?

[jsolares]

Question:

Did anyone ever trying boiling royal blue ink to get a more intense colour?

 

Nope, and considering i have no idea what chemicals are inside the ink or how they'll react to the heat i'm not sure i want to try.

[Pravda]

 

Nope, and considering i have no idea what chemicals are inside the ink or how they'll react to the heat i'm not sure i want to try.

 

I am tempted to leave my bottle open for a few hours/days and see if it improves in colour; just afraid that it impacts flow and viscosity as well which be a fireback.

[tinta]

Pravda, the longer you leave a bottle open, the greater the chance of contaminating the ink.

[meiers]

Pravda, the longer you leave a bottle open, the greater the chance of contaminating the ink.

Good point.

[jsolares]

I wen't by the boutique yesterday on the way to see a movie, got the JFK and Royal Blue ink, this is what it looks like, doesn't look as purple in person though. I'll see if i can get a scan of Blue Black Iron Gall, JFK, Royal Blue and Lavender Purple, as well as Lamy blue/black and i think i have Graf von Faber Castell Royal Blue.

 

http://i.imgur.com/v5DsTHV.png

 

 

[Jaybeez]

I have both the Royal Blue (new) and recently picked up the JFK Blue.

 

Love both of them, but the JFK pops off the page more to my eye.

 

I'm relatively new to FPs, but have been using blue refills in my MB Ballpoint and Rollerball for over 25 years. To me, the Royal Blue is quite similar.

[jsolares]

This is on a regular notebook, all with the same noblesse oblige.

 

 

And this is on tomoe river paper.

The Graf von Faber-Castell ink is less purple but also less saturated, hope the photos help.

[meiers]

Thanks for this outstanding comparison.

The ink in my half-bottle of Montblanc royal blue is a little darker probably because I need to improve my ink-hygiene practices.... and flush my pens properly when changing inks.

 

You reminded me of how much I like MB royal blue.

Edited May 29, 2015 by meiers