Grigio Lava (Dark Grey) - Stipula

[visvamitra]

Stipula Pen Company originates from Florentine, Italy and was established in 1973. Stipula is a historic term used by the ancient Romans to indicate faithfulness to an obligation. Stipula’s has accepted the obligation to its customers to produce quality pens utilizing ancient themes, designs, techniques and traditions. It sounds nice but from my limited experience with their pens it seems they doesn't really deliver what they promise.

Happily Stipula pens come with a limited lifetime warranty so the buyers are covered in case the pen fails.

Additionally there are rumors that Stipula has some problems and may cease operations. I'm not sure if it's the case but it seems their products availablility on the market (especially european) is limited and only few retailers carry their pens and inks. If anyone has some news / insights about Stipula situation I would appreciate the insights so that this review provides sound informations.

Stipula offers a line of fourteen inks sold in nice glass 2.4 oz bottles. Interesting feature of the bottles is the fact they have light polyethylene seal pushed in the neck of the bottle, visible when you unscrew the cap. The seal (is it correcy english term?) is rather hard to remove without splashing some of ink onto desk, wall, closest entourage.

The colors are:

1. Azzurro (Light Blue)
   
2. Blu della Robbia (Blue)
   
3. Borgogna (Red)
   
4. Grigio Fumo (Fading Grey)
   
5. Grigio Lava (Dark Grey)
   
6. Nero (Black)
   
7. Nottorno Giannutri (Dark Blue)
   
8. Rose (Sweet pink)
   
9. Rosso Fiorentino (Florentine Red)
   
10. Terra di Siena (Brown)
    
11. Verde Muschiato (Musk Green)
    
12. Verde Risorgimento (Bright Green)
    
13. Violet (Violet)
    
14. Zafferano (Saffron)
    

A sample of Dark Grey (Grigio Lava) was sent to me by Mmg112 - thank you a lot! I was interested in trying this ink.

The color is strange. I wouldn't call it's grey. It's not dark either. It looks strange. Funnily it's lighter than Fading Grey (Mmg112 sent me samples of both of them). The ink has average flow. It lacks saturation and lubrication. It can be used and I guess people who draw with inks may find it pretty nice.

For me it's not really usable ink. It was cool to try it but I would never buy a bottle.

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Software ID

Color range

Rhodia, Diplomat Depeche, broad nib

Leuchtturm 1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, broad nib

Copy paper, Hero 5028, stub 1.5

Water resistance

[lgsoltek]

Well that I can agree to calling it "grey", but that's by no means dark.

[Tas]

Well that I can agree to calling it "grey", but that's by no means dark.

 

I don't agree with either label . .. but I rather like it

[namrehsnoom]

I like the colour. But indeed light, especially given that your writing samples show it in B or stub nib. My guess is that it will be unusable in fine nibs.

[lgsoltek]

I think the Italian name actually translates as "lava grey". Maybe it's trying to be the colour of cooled lava?

[visvamitra]

Maybe

[PS104]

It looks like the Dark Grey and the Fading Grey could switch labels

[lapis]

IMO too it is a not at all a dark grey. The fleshy, reddish tint makes it look too hot. Lava is thus okay. IYAM 'skin' would fit, too. But a dead one.

[Tas]

 

I don't agree with either label . .. but I rather like it

 

I TAKE IT ALL BACK - (if indeed this is Grigio Lava and not Grigio Fumo)

 

It's yukky. Goes down grey but quickly dries up pinky and lifeless.