Royal Blue - Pelikan 4001®

[Intensity]

I don't know if there's an English idiom that translates well, but in Italian I'd say "Il troppo storpia," meaning the excessive ruins things. I've used this color for so long that I don't feel like using it anymore.

The English version is probably "Everything [is good] in moderation."

 

On a related note, I have a general aversion to Blue in ballpoint pens, having used blue for most of my school years, from primary to high school. Later I switched to black, other colors, and pencil, and since then I haven't purposefully bought a single blue ink pen. I was pointedly overlooking all ink reviews in the blue family until I saw one of Diamine's Asa Blue. It was such a revelation: fountain pen Blues can be dramatically different from ballpoint/gel pen blues! The intensity, the shading, various nuances like sheen. I now LOVE fountain pen blues, especially in the cerulean and turquoise family!

[The Good Captain]

Actually, I've always loved the blues. 'Mannish Boy' - the version from 1979 by Muddy Waters and Edgar Winter - comes to mind.

[lapis]

And then we have

[RoyalBlueNotebooks]

The English version is probably "Everything [is good] in moderation."

 

On a related note, I have a general aversion to Blue in ballpoint pens, having used blue for most of my school years, from primary to high school. Later I switched to black, other colors, and pencil, and since then I haven't purposefully bought a single blue ink pen. I was pointedly overlooking all ink reviews in the blue family until I saw one of Diamine's Asa Blue. It was such a revelation: fountain pen Blues can be dramatically different from ballpoint/gel pen blues! The intensity, the shading, various nuances like sheen. I now LOVE fountain pen blues, especially in the cerulean and turquoise family!

Thank you for the suggestion.

 

I totally get what you're saying. Some gel pens have such nice colors, but most ballpoints pens have pretty much the same shade even if they are from completely different brands.

Also, I'm looking into buying some Diamine inks to switch from the Pelikan 4001. Blues are my first concern. Do you have any suggestions apart from Asa Blue? I'm asking specifically about Diamine inks because I've seen from their official website that they are extremely affordable. A penpal sent me writing samples and the colors that I've already chosen are Majestic Blue and Bilberry.

[dcwaites]

Thank you for the suggestion.

 

I totally get what you're saying. Some gel pens have such nice colors, but most ballpoints pens have pretty much the same shade even if they are from completely different brands.

Also, I'm looking into buying some Diamine inks to switch from the Pelikan 4001. Blues are my first concern. Do you have any suggestions apart from Asa Blue? I'm asking specifically about Diamine inks because I've seen from their official website that they are extremely affordable. A penpal sent me writing samples and the colors that I've already chosen are Majestic Blue and Bilberry.

 

This is the link to their ink swatches --

 

http://diamineinks.co.uk/listings.aspx?catid=67

 

Not only are the inks nice in themselves, but they blend nicely, such as the blend Majestic Havasu

 

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_g_oFvX9K3R0/S1v1LN8Mq3I/AAAAAAAAAd8/01w9MQfEKVM/s800/Majestic%20Havasu.jpg

[RoyalBlueNotebooks]

 

This is the link to their ink swatches --

 

http://diamineinks.co.uk/listings.aspx?catid=67

 

Not only are the inks nice in themselves, but they blend nicely, such as the blend Majestic Havasu

 

Thank you, I'd already consulted that page but as I know from the few ink samples I have, the color of swatches and the color that flows from fountain pens of any line width can be very different. So I try not to trust color swatches 110%.

 

That blue is gorgeous omg! Hahaha, don't tempt me like this, it's unfair! Oh my, I think my heart skipped a beat there, I'm so weak for nice blues.

[jthole]

Thank you for the review! I disliked Pelikan 4001 Königsblau for years, because I thought it was too boring.

But since about a year I am gravitating to the classics (royal blue, blue black) again. The Pelikan ink is one of the true classics, in my book.

[The Good Captain]

And then we have

Oh yes indeed!

[sandy101]

I have found MB's Royal Blue to be a more lively & vibrant colour than both Parker Quink & the Pelikan.

[Pianoman]

An old thread... but I had to post my reply to it.

 

When I used Ink-Cartridges as a kid I always remembered there were light-blue ones and carts which a fabulous darker blue ink. I found out (years later) that these nice dark-blue cartridges were the 4001 Royal Blue carts from Pelikan brand.

 

Today I am still a big fan of 4001 Royal Blue. I use it in my Pelikan M200 with M400 Fine nib. It flows very well and it does everything I want.

 

There is one thing I absolutely dislike of it, and that is the color when it is dry. The wet-color is fabulous, and the dry-color is boring. And on some paper it seems to fade even more.

 

But... writing (and reading back) are two different things for me. The experience while writing with this ink is so good, I can not stop using it. I wished there existed a ink in this color that behaves just as 4001 royal blue and keeps its color when dry.

 

Anyway: I am also a fond user of 4001 brilliant green (unfortunately it is discontinued, fortunately I have one complete 2 ounce bottle left... enough for a lot of writing). I also love the 4001 blue black.

[Mercian]

Today I am still a big fan of 4001 Royal Blue. I use it in my Pelikan M200 with M400 Fine nib. It flows very well and it does everything I want.

 

There is one thing I absolutely dislike of it, and that is the color when it is dry. The wet-color is fabulous, and the dry-color is boring. And on some paper it seems to fade even more.

 

But... writing (and reading back) are two different things for me. The experience while writing with this ink is so good, I can not stop using it. I wished there existed a ink in this color that behaves just as 4001 royal blue and keeps its color when dry.

 

I have similar feelings about 4001 Königsblau and Waterman ‘Serenity Blue’, and about Parker Quink ‘Washable Blue’ (the nearest British equivalent to 4001 Königsblau) - its feel when writing and quick drying time are great, and I love its colour when wet, but dislike the pale colour it turns to when it is dry.

Of course, I suppose that ease of washing and erasure are the most important features for an ink intended to provide problem-free use by school students.

 

I found a solution to my problem by buying Parker Quink ‘Blue’ - not ‘Washable Blue’ - and I find that it has the same wet-under-the-nib feel that enables the nib to glide across the page, and that the ink dries quickly on the page too.

It isn’t water-resistant, and I don’t know whether one can use ink eradicators with it, but it does retain the depth of its colour after it dries - so it looks a much deeper and more vibrant hue once dry than do the ‘Washable’ Quink, the ‘Serenity Blue’, or the Pelikan 4001 Königsblau.

 

I haven’t ever seen it in bottles in shops here in the UK, but the ‘WH Smith’ store in my small town does stock it in cartridges, and of course our online retailers do sell Quink ‘Blue’ in bottles.

 

I think that it could perhaps suit you too

[docolmo]

I wanted something safe for my Pilot Vanishing Point stainless steel F nib, and finally settled on the Pelikan Royal Blue. Used this to take notes at meetings,etc. because it is light enough that the next person besides me won't be able to read what I write. For other "official" writings/signatures, I use permanent ink such as Sailor Seiboku Blue-Black pigment ink in a cheap Chinese pen, Jinhao 992. I no longer like black inks except permanent pigment inks.

[IanP2303]

Hello, I would like to ask whether this ink is suitable for flex pens?

 

Thanks,

Ian

[Ron Z]

It shouldn't be a problem.

[stric75]

On 3/11/2016 at 6:45 PM, Sasha Royale said:

Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue works reliably in every fountain pen, from 1922 Parker Duofold to the LAMY 2000. It is safe in vintage fountain pens. I like the Pelikan Königsblau. Yes. I'm boring. I watch antenna television. My cellphone has no camera. I collect fountain pens. (Yawn !)

 

Can you not see beauty in a creation that is simple and enduring ?

 

(. . . and when the ink runs low, tip the bottle.)

I totally agree. I’ve tried many other variations of various blue inks but I always keep coming back to this one. One can’t argue with reliability. It’s like Toyota of fountain pen inks. 

Edited May 12, 2022 by stric75

[InesF]

To add my 2 ¢ to this old thread:

- 4001 Royal Blue is a solid and reliable ink without airs and graces and without exciting appearance (for excitement use the P.Edelstein line)

- if you like to mix it, you may use 4001 Blue-Black, but do not mix it with 4001 Black (because of incompatible pH)

 

If you live in Europe, you may get a bottle 4001 ink for as low as 2.50 €. That's a major argument for preferring it over other brands.... 😋

[ksx4system]

On 5/23/2022 at 9:57 AM, InesF said:

but do not mix it with 4001 Black (because of incompatible pH)

 

Could you please elaborate?

[InesF]

10 hours ago, ksx4system said:

Could you please elaborate?

You're welcome.

 

In theory: detergents will, most probably, be of different ionic type in inks of different pH, especially when either acidic or alkaline. Those detergents will stoichiometrically neutralise each other when mixed.

 

In praxis: previously done mixtures of 4001 Blue and 4001 Black looked perfectly fine at first, but lost almost all colour on paper after ca. 5-7 years in the dark.

 

In imagination: preservatives will had been chosen based on ink pH. Changing the pH (due to mixing) may loose all effects.

 

Simple: don't mix inks of widely different pH, especially not those above and below neutral.

 

The truth about additives in inks is solely at the manufacturer.

[Licue]

8 hours ago, InesF said:

You're welcome.

 

In theory: detergents will, most probably, be of different ionic type in inks of different pH, especially when either acidic or alkaline. Those detergents will stoichiometrically neutralise each other when mixed.

 

In praxis: previously done mixtures of 4001 Blue and 4001 Black looked perfectly fine at first, but lost almost all colour on paper after ca. 5-7 years in the dark.

 

In imagination: preservatives will had been chosen based on ink pH. Changing the pH (due to mixing) may loose all effects.

 

Simple: don't mix inks of widely different pH, especially not those above and below neutral.

 

The truth about additives in inks is solely at the manufacturer.

Hm, do you have any writing in umixed 4001 Royal Blue for comparison? - on the same paper, stored same way!

 

I don't want to cast doubt on your theory - it sounds pretty sensible -, but I've heard of blue ink fading even in closed notebooks quite often - and in these cases the ink most likely was unmixed.

[InesF]

15 hours ago, Licue said:

Hm, do you have any writing in umixed 4001 Royal Blue for comparison? - on the same paper, stored same way!

Indeed. 4001 Royal Blue was written in the same book some pages before and is still blue, although more muted than a fresh line nearby. Yes, 4001 blue fades over time, but fades much faster when mixed with 4001 black.

4001 black seems to be stable, but no direct evidence available as it was written around the same time in another book.