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Barrier Reef Blue - Blackstone

visvamitra

By visvamitra
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visvamitra Antique

visvamitra

Posted
Posted (edited)

Some time ago Kevin from Justwrite Pen Company offered few australian made pens for reviews. Sadly I haven't qualified to review the pen but Kevin was generous enough to send me samples of Blackstone inks as a consolation prize :) As some of you know I enjoy testing new inks. So once they arrived from Australia I've filled my pens with them and started experimenting.

 

It seems Blackstone inks are a product of FPN - their origin can be traced back to 2013 when some of ink-testers (Amberlea minions) started discussng powdered inks. Soon after many of us had a chance to review / try the original SuSeMai powdered inks. The powders are gone but in the meantime they evolved into Blackstone ink concentrates and recently the line called Colours of Australia was created (based on those concentrates).

 

For instance the line consistes of five excellent inks.

 

http://imageshack.com/a/img908/3973/1AxQE2.jpg

 

  1. Barrier Reef Blue
  2. Black Stump Black
  3. Daintree Green
  4. Sydney Harbour Blue
  5. Uluru Red

 

The only thing they lack is water resistance which is none. For me it's not that important but I know there are people who expect their inks to be water resistant. If that's you you need to seek for your grail ink elsewhere. The colors however are stunning. Kevin - I hope we'll see some nice bron and dark purple soon :)

 

I'll review them in alphabetical order.

 

Barrier Reef Blue is, surprisingly, a favourite of mine. It offers great feel even in finer and drier nibs. In my everyday carry medium / broad nibs it gives great feel to writing and the color is very nice. I didn't expect to like it, but, frankly, I really enjoy using it.

 

 

fpn_1450125512__barrierreefblue_is.jpg

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

fpn_1450125620__barrierreefbluer_rk.jpg

Color ID

fpn_1450125538__barrierreefblue_l_3.jpg

fpn_1450125546__barrierreefblue_l_4.jpg

Tomoe River, Kaweco Classic Sport, broad nib

fpn_1450125578__barrierreefblue_tomoe_1.

fpn_1450125587__barrierreefblue_tomoe_2.

fpn_1450125595__barrierreefblue_tomoe_3.

Leuchtturm1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, broad nib

fpn_1450125520__barrierreefblue_l_1.jpg

fpn_1450125528__barrierreefblue_l_2.jpg

fpn_1450125554__barrierreefblue_l_5.jpg

Oxford, Hero 5028, stub 1,9

fpn_1450125563__barrierreefblue_ox.jpg

fpn_1450125571__barrierreefblue_ox2.jpg

Edited by visvamitra

https://wondernaut.wordpress.com/

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T4TEXAS Extremely Rare

T4TEXAS

Posted
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A very nice blue. Thanks for reviewing.

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club."


- Jack London



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lapis Museum Piece

lapis

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Thanks. A really nice blue. A whole new hue of it... good doses of green, yellow and grey... but not too much....

 

Mike

Life is too short to drink bad wine (Goethe)

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amberleadavis Pen Dust

amberleadavis

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Maybe a competitor for Iroshizuku Kon-Peki?

 

It feels a little different and I have to admit, I like it better than KP.

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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amberleadavis Pen Dust

amberleadavis

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Woo Hoo.

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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visvamitra Antique

visvamitra

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Is the delivery of pouches as expensive as bottles? I guess I'll want to use BRB once the sample's gone (read: after tomorrow).

 

Edit - I've just checked. It's crazy expensive even for one pouch (20 AUD!).

Edited by visvamitra

https://wondernaut.wordpress.com/

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amberleadavis Pen Dust

amberleadavis

Posted
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Shipping anything to you is expensive.

 

When we do the group buy, I'll get a pouch for you and send it in the next shipment.

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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swanjun Collectors Item

swanjun

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Posted

Shipping anything to you is expensive.

 

When we do the group buy, I'll get a pouch for you and send it in the next shipment.

 

Ohh! Is there a group buy thread already underway?

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PAKMAN Ancient Artifact

PAKMAN

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Posted

Very nice blue! Thanks for the review!

PAKMAN

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mmg122 Collectors Item

mmg122

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Excellent review of an excellent ink. I think this may be my favorite blue. I've been very impressed with all the Blackstone inks. Hope they find a retailer in the US.

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dcwaites Donor Pen

dcwaites

Posted
Posted

People will just have to buy the complete set of pouches and amortize the shipping between the 5 pouches. :D

it's the only way we in Aus. can afford to buy stuff from the US. The only consequence/side effect is buying more inks than we originally planned. :drool:

fpn_1412827311__pg_d_104def64.gif




“Them as can do has to do for them as can’t.


And someone has to speak up for them as has no voices.”


Granny Aching

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ac12 Donor Pen

ac12

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This ink will shade.

At least it did out of the test pen at the SF Pen Show.

 

You can see traces of the shading in the first pix.

Edited by ac12

San Francisco Pen Show - August 28-30, 2020 - Redwood City, California

www.SFPenShow.com

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Jamerelbe Antique

Jamerelbe

Posted
Posted

This ink will shade.

At least it did out of the test pen at the SF Pen Show.

 

You can see traces of the shading in the first pix.

 

I'm pretty happy with this ink - I bought the 30ml nalgene bottles, before the pouches went live on the website, but that probably suits my usage better anyway.

 

An example of the shading possible with a wet B nib:

 

post-108160-0-41720400-1450311499_thumb.jpg

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