Pen And Message Cigar - On Many Papers. Warning, Photo Heavy.

[catalyst]

This ink has been reviewed before, and I share the sentiments of most that have tried this ink and say that it is truly amazing, but I thought I would approach it a little differently. First of all I would recommend checking out previous reviews of this ink down at the Sailor section under Pen and Message here. I dont really know anything about Pen and Message the company, except that Sailor makes inks for them. I have previously purchased Pen and Message Saku which I reviewed here, and Shu-Urushi which I have not yet reviewed. Needless to say I love all three inks.

 

I got a wood Platinum Izumo which reminded me of a cigar and this ink can have a cigar color on some papers so I thought about combining them all for a review. Also for an added bonus I thought I would compare it with its dizygotic twin: Sailor Rikyu-Cha. The inks are definitely made from the same dyes, but their concentrations are not the same concentration, as overall I feel like Cigar flows a little better and is a touch more saturated, I tried to show that as well.

 

 

 

 

This is Tomoe River Paper 52gsm. I think the difference between Cigar and Rikyu-Cha are apparent, but minimal. Also on the bottom right for reference other Sailor made inks I have to compare: Kobe #15, Kobe #28, Sailor Tokiwa-Matsu, Kingdom Note Tanna Japonesis, Sailor Waka-Uguisu, Sailor Epinard, Kobe Van Gogh Green, Bungubox Dandyism and Bungubox Tsuyuhikari.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This next one is Clairefontaine 90gsm paper. I was surprised to see the feathering as I don't remember Clairefontaine Triomphe Feathering ever.

 

 

Edited January 22, 2018 by catalyst

[Barkingpig]

Thank you for a wonderful presentation of a very beautiful ink!

 

I bought mine prior to Rikyu-Cha's "reintroduction" & agree with your statement that although similar, they are different & glad I now have both inks; your advice is however good advice for a "new user" trying to decide & hesitant about the price for a bottle of Cigar. I like to use both these inks in a TWSBI Micarta, which has had the Pendleton Brown treatment for it's broad nib.

[crahptacular]

Wow, what an extensive display! Thanks for all the effort put into this. This reassures me that Rikyu-Cha is a "close-enough" substitute for Cigar, saving me from the temptation of chasing down the latter.

[white_lotus]

I have never bought Cigar, which Pen and Message has been out of it for quite a while. I'm sure there will be more once P&M needs to order more of their inks overall. But I still won't seek out a bottle. I have Rikyu-cha and it's close enough for me. I must admit that I don't buy backup bottles of ink, but Rikyu-cha is the exception.

 

But thank you so much for the extensive comparison including the use of a dip pen. Very lovely.

[catalyst]

Wow, what an extensive display! Thanks for all the effort put into this. This reassures me that Rikyu-Cha is a "close-enough" substitute for Cigar, saving me from the temptation of chasing down the latter.

 

 

I have never bought Cigar, which Pen and Message has been out of it for quite a while. I'm sure there will be more once P&M needs to order more of their inks overall. But I still won't seek out a bottle. I have Rikyu-cha and it's close enough for me. I must admit that I don't buy backup bottles of ink, but Rikyu-cha is the exception.

 

But thank you so much for the extensive comparison including the use of a dip pen. Very lovely.

 

 

I Agree, they are close enough. Once I am out of Cigar I will just keep buying Rikyu-Cha and putting it into the Cigar Bottle

[catalyst]

Thank you for a wonderful presentation of a very beautiful ink!

 

I bought mine prior to Rikyu-Cha's "reintroduction" & agree with your statement that although similar, they are different & glad I now have both inks; your advice is however good advice for a "new user" trying to decide & hesitant about the price for a bottle of Cigar. I like to use both these inks in a TWSBI Micarta, which has had the Pendleton Brown treatment for it's broad nib.

 

 

Wow I have never heard of the Micarta, and I love it! I actually did not like the Izumo due to the nib being so scratchy and I sent it back. That was supposed to be my grail pen, but it was a fail instead. Still yearning for a nice giant pen with a unique finish. I love the look of that TWSBI though!

[migo984]

Great review, with wonderful pictures. Thank you.

I agree about the difference between Cigar & Rikyu-cha. The dye proportions are different, something most homestyle chroma tests posted can’t demonstrate well. To my eyes these two inks definitely don’t look the same, and in my experience the difference does increase over time, as the wet-to-dry colour change continues slightly with both inks.

I’m pleased to have bottles of both.

 

Also, nice use of “dizygotic”; I’m a dizygotic twin myself :-)

[Jan2016]

Thank you very much for this review!! Some of my most favorite colors, they are very interesting!

[Chrissy]

Thank you for your excellent review.

 

I happen to believe that Cigar and Rikyu cha are basically the same ink recipes, but that there can be subtle differences in each batch that Sailor produces.

For me it's not worth having both and trying to find a tiny difference.

[Mew]

Thank you for the review. Haven't used my cigar in over a year now, need to use it soon.

 

There are other inks, similar to cigar, offered by sailor:

Rikyu-cha - part of the 4 seasons line

Kjellmaniella - from Ishida Bungu, located in Hakodate

Doujima gold - from styledee, located in Osaka

Baikoucha - from Mitsukoshi

Bakke - the most memorable one for me as I visited them personally, and perhaps the most beautiful variant of this colour. From tomiya Akita, located in Akita.

[migo984]

Thank you for the review. Haven't used my cigar in over a year now, need to use it soon.

 

There are other inks, similar to cigar, offered by sailor:

Rikyu-cha - part of the 4 seasons line

Kjellmaniella - from Ishida Bungu, located in Hakodate

Doujima gold - from styledee, located in Osaka

Baikoucha - from Mitsukoshi

Bakke - the most memorable one for me as I visited them personally, and perhaps the most beautiful variant of this colour. From tomiya Akita, located in Akita.

I really appreciate the subtleties of these variants - I’m fond of StyleDee Doujima Gold.

[biancitwo]

Hearing this unreserved praise for Cigar, which I have not tried, and Rikyu-cha, which I have, puzzles me. I was just unable to clean a Pelikan 400 that had been filled with Rikyu-cha for three to four months. The pen had been sparkling clean when loaded, yet the ink congealed within the pen. The piston, and the nib collar were frozen in place when the ink ran out and I tried to clean it. I have sent it off, because I could not get it clean. I risked the mechanism by twisting so hard to free the piston. There were clumps in the ink chamber, and stains to the lower end of the barrel. And, by the way, I did not see any of the beautiful characteristics described and shown in the above review. Even on Tomoe River, my five-year-old granddaughter said, "I like your brown ink." Only brown was evident. I have asked numerous times, and have received only one possible explanation. My pen contained a contaminant. The barrel glistened when I filled it. Hard to imagine it was something in my pen. I tried to see an LED flashlight through the bottled ink. No light penetrated the ink. I guess I will have to pour it into another container to determine what, if anything, is in the ink. Count me puzzled with so many others' special ink.

[catalyst]

Great review, with wonderful pictures. Thank you.

I agree about the difference between Cigar & Rikyu-cha. The dye proportions are different, something most homestyle chroma tests posted can’t demonstrate well. To my eyes these two inks definitely don’t look the same, and in my experience the difference does increase over time, as the wet-to-dry colour change continues slightly with both inks.

I’m pleased to have bottles of both.

 

Also, nice use of “dizygotic”; I’m a dizygotic twin myself :-)

 

Haha thats awesome, it was the first thing I thought of when I first inked it up.

 

Thank you for the review. Haven't used my cigar in over a year now, need to use it soon.

 

There are other inks, similar to cigar, offered by sailor:

Rikyu-cha - part of the 4 seasons line

Kjellmaniella - from Ishida Bungu, located in Hakodate

Doujima gold - from styledee, located in Osaka

Baikoucha - from Mitsukoshi

Bakke - the most memorable one for me as I visited them personally, and perhaps the most beautiful variant of this colour. From tomiya Akita, located in Akita.

 

 

I have Baikoucha on the way, I cant wait to try it.

 

Hearing this unreserved praise for Cigar, which I have not tried, and Rikyu-cha, which I have, puzzles me. I was just unable to clean a Pelikan 400 that had been filled with Rikyu-cha for three to four months. The pen had been sparkling clean when loaded, yet the ink congealed within the pen. The piston, and the nib collar were frozen in place when the ink ran out and I tried to clean it. I have sent it off, because I could not get it clean. I risked the mechanism by twisting so hard to free the piston. There were clumps in the ink chamber, and stains to the lower end of the barrel. And, by the way, I did not see any of the beautiful characteristics described and shown in the above review. Even on Tomoe River, my five-year-old granddaughter said, "I like your brown ink." Only brown was evident. I have asked numerous times, and have received only one possible explanation. My pen contained a contaminant. The barrel glistened when I filled it. Hard to imagine it was something in my pen. I tried to see an LED flashlight through the bottled ink. No light penetrated the ink. I guess I will have to pour it into another container to determine what, if anything, is in the ink. Count me puzzled with so many others' special ink.

 

 

I should note that I take macro photos to try and emulate what I can see with my eyes, and not everyone will be able to see the same level of details with their eyes. In addition, lighting is everything, if you do not see the same colors that people post on here you can try adjusting your lighting. I use a couple desk lamps equip with some very bright daylight bulbs so I can see the beauty of fountain pen inks in real time as I write and as they dry.

 

Of course under dim lighting most of the beauty will be gone. Also like I said in the other review this is not a permanent ink, I cannot image what could have jammed your pen, but it is hard for me to believe it is only the water-soluble dye.

[Mew]

 

 

I have Baikoucha on the way, I cant wait to try it.

 

 

I wanted to order baikoucha but already have too many inks in this shade so skipped. Have all the inks I listed above except baikoucha. Maybe later.

[biancitwo]

I asked above about Rikyu-cha clogging a pen. I was certain that was the ink. Looking at my ink journal I find that I had removed Rikyu-cha and filled it with Pelikan Smoky Quartz. I apologize for my error.

[chingdamosaic]

Amazing review! Thanks for sharing😍