De Atramentis Sherlock Holmes

[visvamitra]

De Atramentis is german manufacturer of calligraphy and writing inks. The inks are hand made (the entire production process is done manually in their manufacturing center) by it's founder - Dr. Franz-Josef Jensen. I believe he uses high quality dyes from well established European companies like BASF and Bayer.

The ink comes in nice glass bottle that contains 35 ml of ink. I like DA bottles. They're solid and interesting.

Sherlock Holmes ink is, in reality, relabelled Night Blue ink. While it's not most inspiring ink ever created, it's a solid dark blue ink that can be used in all situations. It flows well. It's also got some water resistance. And some pretty shading. Drying times could be better, but they're acceptable (5-8 sec on absorbent papers, >15 s on Rhodia and alikes).

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Color ID

Color range

Midori, Jinhao x750, M

Rhodia, Aurora Ipsilon, Italic 1.2

Midori, Hero 5028, stub 1.9

Water resistance

[ENewton]

Thank you for another attractive, informative review.

 

What are your thoughts about using De Atramentis inks in vintage pens?

[visvamitra]

I don't really use vintage pens. I can't answer this question as I have zero experience in pairing DA inks with vintage pens. They shouldn't be agressive but I can't promise they won't "eat" silicon sacs with time,.

[Fermata]

I wonder why Blue for Sherlock Holmes?

 

I agree with you on the uninspiring, it looks to be a rather ordinary blue.

[Flaxmoore]

I wonder why Blue for Sherlock Holmes?

 

I agree with you on the uninspiring, it looks to be a rather ordinary blue.

I wonder that myself. Scarlet, copper, violet, crimson. There’s a quick four that would be better for keeping in the Holmes mythos- A Study in Scarlet, The Case of the Copper Beeches, the violet ink from a number of mentions, and crimson from The Case of the Second Stain.

[inkstainedruth]

I tried a sample of this ink several years ago and the color didn't wow me. It's one of the few De Atramentis standard (i.e., non-Document Series) inks I've tried which I DIDN'T like enough to get a full bottle of, being a little bit teal-toned a blue-black for my taste.

As for Flaxmoore's question of "Why this color for Sherlock Holmes?" Not a clue. The decisions seem to be somewhat arbitrary; and, in at least one instance, have changed -- the ink for Albrecht Dürer USED to be "Silver Grey", but my bottle of Dürer is "Anthracite" (a shading black which is also -- unusually for the brand -- a very dry ink).

But thanks for the review. Some people might really decide this ink is right up their alley. There are inks which I can't stand, but which other people think is PERFECT. And vice versa.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[lapis]

Either I like a colour or I don't (who cares?) but what puzzles me is not why a certain person is chosen to represent a certain colour (usually stated on the DE A label and in their site) but why the person-named ink is usually less expensive (e.g. 12.00 Euros) than the representative colour-named ink (12.50).

[inkstainedruth]

Either I like a colour or I don't (who cares?) but what puzzles me is not why a certain person is chosen to represent a certain colour (usually stated on the DE A label and in their site) but why the person-named ink is usually less expensive (e.g. 12.00 Euros) than the representative colour-named ink (12.50).

 

Is that the case? I hadn't noticed. I haven't ever ordered anything directly from off their website. And the fluctuation in prices at US retailers I had presumed was simply based on the exchange rates from when each batch of inks had been ordered.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Edited January 14, 2018 by inkstainedruth

[TSherbs]

I tried a sample of this ink several years ago and the color didn't wow me. It's one of the few De Atramentis standard (i.e., non-Document Series) inks I've tried which I DIDN'T like enough to get a full bottle of, being a little bit teal-toned a blue-black for my taste.

As for Flaxmoore's question of "Why this color for Sherlock Holmes?" Not a clue. The decisions seem to be somewhat arbitrary; and, in at least one instance, have changed -- the ink for Albrecht Dürer USED to be "Silver Grey", but my bottle of Dürer is "Anthracite" (a shading black which is also -- unusually for the brand -- a very dry ink).

But thanks for the review. Some people might really decide this ink is right up their alley. There are inks which I can't stand, but which other people think is PERFECT. And vice versa.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

well put

 

meh color, for me

 

but that means nothing for others

 

these reviews are awesome

[ca49reber]

I really like this ink & have purchased a couple of backup bottles of it. I have also gifted it & it became a favorite of a friend of mine.

[Fermata]

I wonder that myself. Scarlet, copper, violet, crimson. There’s a quick four that would be better for keeping in the Holmes mythos- A Study in Scarlet, The Case of the Copper Beeches, the violet ink from a number of mentions, and crimson from The Case of the Second Stain.

 

 

Reds and coppers seem to be a theme, JM there is also the Red Headed League.

 

Study in Scarlett would be a great name for a Sherlock ink, especially if it was the color of fresh blood, perhaps the bottle could have a tight silk band around the neck, the band would be speckled of course.

Edited January 15, 2018 by Parkette

[jmccarty3]

I really like this ink, but it tends to get lost among all the other dark blues of my collection, such as Montblanc JFK or Sailor Shosaikan Seiran. I also have a couple of backup bottles, since there have been times when it was unavailable, and I've never seen plain Night Blue anywhere.

 

I admit to being a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, which probably is what led me to try this ink in the first place. The color doesn't seem to be related to Holmes in any way. DA has a red that is relabeled Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. IIRC, the Holmes ink is the only one named for a fictional character--some of us are guilty at times of imagining that Holmes is real.

[lapis]

 

Is that the case? I hadn't noticed. I haven't ever ordered anything directly from off their website. And the fluctuation in prices at US retailers I had presumed was simply based on the exchange rates from when each batch of inks had been ordered.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Just to collect puzzles....

{A} Many of the old comparisons have kicked the bucket, e.g. either the Person-named ink or -- more often -- the color-name ink is no longer to be found, at least in their sites. Sometimes only in German, sometimes only in English, sometimes in both. E.g. Jane Austen (Dark Green = Dunkelgrün),

{B} As said above, the color-named ink was usually more expensive than the Person-named ink. But recently they may both have the same price, especially among new inks like Madama Butterfly (Dark Blue =Dunkelblau).

Of course, whatever you happen to find at your own friendly neighborhood seller may be quite different....

[Fermata]

The crowds outside 221b Baker Street every day may have an issue with the thought that Sherlock does not exist.

 

A local bank on Baker Street has a designated person to answer the mail each day day which invariably begins - 'Dear Sherlock, my cat went missing last week from our central London home, he has come home but now meows with a Scottish accent, what does this mean?'

Edited January 15, 2018 by Parkette

[TSherbs]

Ha!

[Mech-for-i]

I figure they should name this ink Dr. Watson instead

[lapis]

Okay, I give up, what does it mean?

[Fermata]

Okay, I give up, what does it mean?

.

It’s quite simple, as simple as a pale lemon door.

 

Cats are attracted by bright colors, the cat went looking for something different and found such a door where he waited until it was opened by a Scottish lady who, being a cat lover already, fed your cat pawridge and haggis along with her own cat, MacTiddles. She made your cat very welcome. Unfortunately the good lady had to return to Edinburgh and returned your cat whence it came. Your cat has simply picked up the Scottish accent from MacTiddles.

 

Another description for the attractive door is a lemon entry, my dear Watson Lapis.

[lapis]

What? She fed your cat her own cat??

[NicolausPiscator]

Hmm... this seems to be a case for Sherlock Holms I suppose... The only solutions I can think of is that of Schroedinger's cat which would lead us just to another ink.

 

But thank you, dear Visvamitra for your review! Jup, the hue is more standard than exciting but for everyday writing I think it could be nice. I love midnight blue and blue black respectively. Yes, the labelling, no. For Holmes I would have expected green.