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Idyllic Blue - Caran D'ache Chromatics


visvamitra

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When I got sick few years ago (virus called pens and inks), I started picking different inks. I was amazed by Caran d'Ache Color of the Earth inks.

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/2926/Vi7las.jpg

The thing is the inks were discontinued before I had a chance to try all of them. I was disappointed to hear Colors of the earth were replaced by Chromatics.

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/4222/n8Zvpm.jpg

OK, the bottle is cool, colors seem nice, so what's the problem?

One - no more Amazon and Grand Canyon! I can get over Amazon, with time I started to prefer murkier greens, but Grand Canyon was in my top 5 of browns.

Two - the price. OK, Chromatics bottles are 50 ml compared to Colors of the Earth 30 ml bottles yet the price per ml increased by 25,7 % (I compare prices in Poland : 55 PLN / 30 ml vs 115 PLN / 50 ml).

Are they really worth it? Well, I like the way Caran d'Ache market their products, I like the bottle and the brand. If I'll be able to try all of these inks, I'll review them here. It will take time though. At the moment I have only sample of Organic Brown and Ultraviolet bottle. Some time ago I've reviewed Infinite grey which was cool.

  1. Cosmic Black
  2. Delicate Green
  3. Divine Pink
  4. Electric Orange
  5. Hypnotic Turquoise
  6. Idyllic Blue
  7. Infinite - Grey
  8. Infra Red
  9. Magnetic Blue
  10. Organic Brown
  11. Ultra Violet
  12. Vibrant Green

Idyllic Blue is quite vibrant when the line is fresh and wet. However after minutes it becomes pale. The color is rather nice and it flows smoothly, however it really doesn't offer anything exceptional that would justify the price. Basically if you want premium ink in amazingly cool bottle and can afford it, Idyllic Blue won't disappoint you. If however you don't care about the bottle and marketing doesn't do much for you, you'll find easily inks that are cheaper and better in every aspect.

 

 

In Pasteur Pipette

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/9057/Nr7Xsh.jpg

Ink Splash

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/2649/pFaMQr.jpg

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

http://imageshack.com/a/img905/9461/4jGqn2.jpg

Software ID

http://imageshack.com/a/img905/2896/kZNzUF.jpg

Color Range

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/3127/Bld1b1.jpg

Waterproofness

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/3936/Ui6eTD.jpg

Oxford Recycled ( 90g, satined paper ), Kaweco Sport Classic, B nib

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/3145/nUYPMg.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/8933/FcnQdP.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/7813/vFL4sF.jpg

CIAK, TWSBI 580, stub 1,1

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/2628/O0wZRT.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/9255/R32bkz.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/1903/ortryc.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/401/E2UhNC.jpg

TeNeues, Hero 5028, stub 1,1

http://imageshack.com/a/img909/8772/j6xQZy.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img910/8531/0tA0Kv.jpg

Edited by visvamitra
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  • visvamitra

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Very nice review, as always! I really like the flow of the Caran d'Ache inks, but they are expensive! The colors are nice, but not compelling.

"Today will be gone in less than 24 hours. When it is gone, it is gone. Be wise, but enjoy! - anonymous today

 

 

 

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The Caran d'Ache bottle is nice

 

In my use of this ink I find it to be almost impossible to distinguish from Waterman Serenity Blue (and for me Waterman blue is 1/4 the cost of the Caran d'Ache version).

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Thank you for the great review.

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Great review! Well, its not my kind of blue. I have the Blue Sky from the Colors of the Earth series and this seems very similar to that one, same get ready to school type of blue.

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  • 6 months later...

What is the likelihood that someone would like this over Iroshizuku Asa-gao? I tried that one, and thought it was going to be THE blue ink for me, but eh. It was okay. I do like that this seems to shade more, and I have Sunset (discontinued) so I have a reference for how CdA inks behave. Thanks for the review; I might give this a go.

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