Your Thoughts On Purple

[acidjuicemotel]

Looking to buy a purple ink that can be used daily, even in a professional setting, if need be. The ink should be pleasant, but not distracting, and not straining or difficult to read for long stretches.

 

I also need the ink to perform well. It should have good flow, be easy to clean and, most importantly, write well even on cheap paper.

 

I'm considering Montblanc Lavendar and Diamine Imperial Purple.

 

What are your thoughts on these inks based on my criteria above? Do you have any suggestions, other than the possibilities I mentioned? The purple I'd truly like to have is Edelstein Amethyst, but I missed the boat!

[ENewton]

I use Montblanc Lavender Purple very often for professional writing, but whether an ink performs well on cheap paper also depends somewhat on the pen and nib.

 

In a pen with a fine or extra-fine nib, I think Lavender Purple would be fine on almost any paper. I do not know what the behavior of the ink would be in a pen with a medium or broad nib.

 

I also use Rohrer and Klingner Scabiosa on a regular basis. It works beautifully on cheap paper, even in a medium nib, and although it contains iron gall, it is easier to clean than many of my conventional inks.

 

I haven't had good luck with Diamine but have not used Imperial Purple.

[Cryptos]

Sailor Shigure. Quite a conservative purple.

[carlos.q]

Sailor Shigure. Quite a conservative purple.

Please check out this wonderful comparison of Shigure with other Sailor inks:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/278127-sailor-four-seasons-8-inks-compared/

 

Here is a nice comparison of many purples:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/275987-60-violets-purples-and-magentas/

Edited October 6, 2016 by carlos.q

[sharonspens]

http://www.fahrneyspens.com/Item--i-363266S

 

Fahrens has some Edelstein Amethyst in cartridges (I thought I recalled seeing it there a week or so ago). I have both the Edelstein and the Diamine Imperial Purple. The Diamine is brighter, and has long been my favorite purple. I have not had a problem with it over the years, having used it in different pens and on different papers. I used it in an Edison Pearl consistently for a year, and it was my "professional" pen that year; no issues and I never tired of it.

 

Amethyst is this year's "professional" ink for the year; I am using it in a Pelikan. It is not an in-your-face ink, and has not given me a day's concern. I use it for personal letters, professional notes, and everything in between. I also have it (in cartridge form) in a Visconti eco-roller; no problem there, either.

 

One other ink to consider - Bungbox Ink of the Witch: https://vanness1938.com/collections/bung-box-inks/products/bung-box-ink-of-the-witch. I have this one, too, and it is definitely business-appropriate. Frankly, depending on the pen/nib, you may not even register it as purple; it will come through (almost) black. I haven't tried it in as many pens yet, but I have liked it in what I've seen.

 

Sharon in Indiana

[Barkingpig]

+1 for the wonderful Ink of the Witch!

[Cryptos]

[lgsoltek]

Montblanc Lavender Purple is very well behaved. I think it meets perfectly with your criteria.

[AndyYNWA]

Both Sailor Shigure (dark purple) and Nioi-sumire (blurple) will probably fit your requirements.

If you can get hold of Lamy Dark Lilac, it's lovely ink. But it's a limited edition.

You also have Iroshizuku Murasaki-shikibu, a very well behaved ink, however a bit less sturated than the others.

 

I have used Diamine Imperial Purple and it has worked well for me. But I think it was a bit boring, not much shading or sheen. But I have signed documents with it without any complaints.

Edited October 6, 2016 by AndyYNWA

[Cause]

MB Lavender Purple is a favorite. I use it often with std printer paper and have no problems.

[Mew]

Both Sailor Shigure (dark purple) and Nioi-sumire (blurple) will probably fit your requirements.

If you can get hold of Lamy Dark Lilac, it's lovely ink. But it's a limited edition.

You also have Iroshizuku Murasaki-shikibu, a very well behaved ink, however a bit less sturated than the others.

 

I have used Diamine Imperial Purple and it has worked well for me. But I think it was a bit boring, not much shading or sheen. But I have signed documents with it without any complaints.

Since you have used both dark lilac and shigure, how would you compare their performance? Is dark lilac as saturated, lubricating and wet as sailor inks? I have 3 bottles and don't plan on opening any unless I can get some info on this.

[wastelanded]

Shigure for the win, very classy colour.

[tjchervy]

http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu204/CrazyVacationer/Pens/1F242B50-CFF5-4F3E-AFA2-65DF6AF928AC.jpg

[AndyYNWA]

Since you have used both dark lilac and shigure, how would you compare their performance? Is dark lilac as saturated, lubricating and wet as sailor inks? I have 3 bottles and don't plan on opening any unless I can get some info on this.

The performance of Lamy Dark Lilac is quite similar to most Sailor inks. I definitely think you should give one of your bottles a try, it's a really nice ink.

[bluemagic]

Waterman Violet is a good choice for almost all fountain pens with different brands.

[Pensei]

Random thoughts: Shigure is fantastic ink and for me is the answer to the question at hand. BB Imperial Purple is also outstanding if you just happen to want to spend three times as much for your ink. Ink of the Witch is one of my favorite inks as a general performer, but anyone who thinks it is purple (in a line, not a smear) has better eyes than I do.

[Budzynski]

Diamine Imperial Purple works nice on poor quality paper with EF/F nibs. Pelikan Violet is also quite interesting

[VivienR]

Agreed I used Diamine Imperial Purple for a long time as my favorite purple, its a wonderful purple, as mentioned above works really well on cheap paper as well. Shigure mentioned as well, its more darker, more bluish one, excellent ink.

[etaylor33]

I'll give another vote for Diamine Imperial Purple. My favorite purple until Lamy Dark Lilac came along. Lamy's ink is a shade or two darker but now I have two inks that I like equally. So if you can't get the Lamy, definitely get the Diamine, it's a beautiful purple and you can't go wrong with it. If you can get both, do so and rotate between the two. That's what I have been doing because I can't pick one over the other.

[inkstainedruth]

I'm not sure about how well it flushes yet, but I'm getting really fond of KWZI Grey Plum. It's so dark it could pass for black, so it's very professional looking.

There is of course Noodler's Kung Te Cheng (but my bottle is more of an indigo blue with purple undertones. It's super permanent, but not the best behaving ink on the planet.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth