Perle Noir Vs Onyx Vs Intense Black

[InkedUp]

Let me preface this by saying I currently use Noodler's Black, which is only problematic for me in one brand of notebook (which I happen to like), but performs wonderfully in other situations. I've ruled out other Noodler's Blacks from my second black choice since it's impossible to know which aspect causes the problem or which other options do/don't share that property.

 

Essentially the second black is a convenience to me, allowing me the freedom to use black in these notebooks. It's by no means an ink I "need", nor do I want to break the bank on a second option. Water resistance is a plus but not a deciding factor.

 

For pricing and local availability I've narrowed it down to:

J Herbin Perle Noir $0.22/ml

Waterman Intense Black $0.23/ml

Diamine Onyx $0.175/ml

 

I could consider a bottle of Pilot Namiki Black, Schaefer Skrip Black, or Parker Quink Black; but they run on the upper end of my pricing, and would require additional for shipping; so I'm not really leaning towards them.

 

Any pros/cons? I'd love to hear if you have tried multiple of them which you lean towards liking more.

[Russ]

I use Perle Noire exclusively, as a black. It always performs well, and the bottle is generously sized.

[Bookman]

I've never been a fan of Waterman Black, Parker Quink Black, Sheaffer Skrip Black, or Pilot Black. I wouldn't say there's anything wrong with them, but I like other black inks more—a lot more.

 

My recommendations, in order:

1. Aurora Black. A great ink: smooth, lubricious, very black, mostly well behaved (sometimes shows through worse than other black inks).
2. J. Herbin Perle Noire. Another great ink: smooth, not quite as lubricious or black as Aurora, but equally, if not better, behaved.
3. (tie) Pelikan 4001 Black (for wet nibs). This is a staple in my ink drawer. I have plenty of pens with wet nibs, and Pelikan 4001 Black, a bit on the dry side, is a reliable remedy. And from my pens it goes on ultra black and dries that way. Platinum Carbon Black. Smooth, ultra black, dries relatively quickly for a carbon ink, and of course is waterproof. Some people report that this ink clogs their pens. I have had Platinum Carbon Black in my Platinum Carbon Desk Pen every day for almost a year and have never had any issues—clogging, hard starts, skipping—none.

[TSherbs]

I like Bookman's list, but sometimes Perle Noir is too wet for me, and I do like Parker Quink so I would add it to the list.

Edited February 9, 2017 by TSherbs

[Arkanabar]

When Greg Clark tested inks for the final edition of the Clark's Ink Sampler (2007, and I have a copy), he listed all of these inks as having Good fade resistance ... except for Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black, which he listed as Very Good.

[Witsius]

I love Waterman Serenity Blue, but I found Waterman Black to be really dissappointing. It's not a very good black in terms of being "black." It's kind of an odd, sickly kind of black. I would go with Aurora, Perle Noir, Pelikan 4001, or even Sailor Jentle Black.

[the_gasman]

 

1. Aurora Black. A great ink: smooth, lubricious, very black, mostly well behaved (sometimes shows through worse than other black inks).

 

 

Bookman, you should let Aurora know that its ink is lubricious – I suspect that more widespread knowledge amongst otherwise conservative stylophilists would provide a major boost to its profit line. The Oxford English Dictionary gives one meaning of lubricious as, "offensively displaying, or intended to arouse, sexual desire". I know that we get excited about our pens and inks but I think that we are not so immoderate (on a public forum, anyway).

 

Mind you, your addendum that it is "mostly well behaved" may diminish any prurient appeal.

 

OK, OK, in the interests of balance, I note that OED also gives "smooth and slippery with oil or a similar substance".

 

Cheers,

David.

[amberleadavis]

David, you are killing me. Not only is your vocabulary sublime, you have captured my unholy interest in retina searing inks as lubricious.

[visvamitra]

Perle Noire is definitely the best choie among the three. It's actually black and the flow is great. Diamine Onyx is one of worst inks I ever used. Maybe I was unlucky but it clogged every pen I filled with it and was difficult to clean. Waterman Black is fine ink but it's nor intense nor black. It's rather dark grey.

[the_gasman]

David, you are killing me. Not only is your vocabulary sublime, you have captured my unholy interest in retina searing inks as lubricious.

 

Amber,

 

I'm just a naughty schoolboy locked in the body of a sixty year old!

I share the ink lust.

 

Cheers,

David.

[Jerome Tarshis]

 

The Oxford English Dictionary gives one meaning of lubricious as, "offensively displaying, or intended to arouse, sexual desire". I know that we get excited about our pens and inks but I think that we are not so immoderate (on a public forum, anyway).

 

Well, yes, but quite a few of us refer to the lubricity of ink. I don't believe there is any recognized secondary meaning there. I hope the ink is having a good time.

 

For that matter, I rather often see "disposable" income when discretionary income is meant. Wisest perhaps not to read too closely. Also perhaps to look at my own errors and remind myself "judge not that ye not be judged."

Edited February 12, 2017 by Jerome Tarshis

[Cryptos]

+1 for Perle Noir. It's currently the only black ink I have - I don't usually use black but thought it should be in one pen.