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J. Herbin - Vert De Gris Mini Review

Intensity

By Intensity
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Intensity Collectors Item

Intensity

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Sometimes I get an ink and it exceeds all of my expectations. Everything clicks, and I love it immediately. That happened with J. Herbin's Vert de Gris. It was the last of 5 Herbin inks from my recent order that I opened and tested, as I thought "well, it's just a tealy gray, how special can it be?" I was wrong--it's very special! Vert de Gris, along with Bleu des Profoundeurs, are exceptional recent additions to the standard line-up of J. Herbin inks.

 

Most here are probably well-familiar with J. Herbin inks in one form or another--the brand has been around for a very long time and offers inks in all colors of the rainbow, even with shimmer. The standard line of J. Herbin inks has been known as safe and gentle to fountain pens, even vintage. Saturation tends to be lower (thus easy flushing), and the formulations are advertised to be pH-neutral, though whether all the colors are close to pH-neutral has been contested by some. In any event, I've never had any problems with J. Herbin inks from their standard non-shimmer line, and since I own a bunch of vintage pens, I tend to go for more gentle inks.

 

But gentle does not need to be boring! In fact, this ink is anything but boring. The interesting thing about it is how beautifully rich and matte it looks in high quantity (such as with a flex nib), and its beautiful hue in person. It looks especially good on ivory paper. Water resistance is very respectable--the tealy-blue components wash off leaving highly legible dark gray line, and water does not reduce writing to a smeary mess.

 

If I'm going to fault this ink in one thing, it's that on worse paper it's more feathering prone than some other inks. No problems with feathering on good fountain pen-friendly paper.

 

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“I admit it, I'm surprised that fountain pens are a hobby. ... it's a bit like stumbling into a fork convention - when you've used a fork all your life.” 

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senzen Antique

senzen

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Thank you, great review. I already enjoy R&K Verdigris but I am under the impression this Vert de Gris might be closer to what I get with Bleu Austral, except I need to hack an Ambition with cellophane to get there, and it wants to veer towards the blue green it is. I have it in a wishlist, trying very hard not to pull the trigger. I need several other small things way more than ink number 30!

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt."

 

B. Russell

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Intensity Collectors Item

Intensity

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I wish I could get Bleu Austral. I check periodically if any vendor ships it to USA for reasonable price, but no luck so far. Although I have a full bottle of KWZ Walk Over Vistula coming, after I loved my sample of it, so I think that will cover Bleu Austral-type color for me.

“I admit it, I'm surprised that fountain pens are a hobby. ... it's a bit like stumbling into a fork convention - when you've used a fork all your life.” 

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senzen Antique

senzen

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I lucked out for once, a friend went precisely to the one store that sold Bleu Austral at the time. Some of these inks require various somersaults to get them, turns out it's easier to get Équinoxe 6 online in the US than in France.

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt."

 

B. Russell

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namrehsnoom Collectors Item

namrehsnoom

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Thank you for a great presentation of a great ink. I like this one a lot too - one of my favourites. I’ve started to explore the J. Herbin Perles des Encres series, and am discovering that there is a lot to like.

-- inkxplorations.wordpress.com

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Honeybadgers Donor Pen

Honeybadgers

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The Rohrer & klinger version of this is way too saturated. I should dilute it and see if it comes ccloser to this.

 

I like the washed out look of many Herbin inks. They're so easy to clean from pens, too.

Selling a boatload of restored, fairly rare, vintage Japanese gold nib pens, click here to see (more added as I finish restoring them)

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Intensity Collectors Item

Intensity

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The Rohrer & klinger version of this is way too saturated. I should dilute it and see if it comes ccloser to this.

 

I like the washed out look of many Herbin inks. They're so easy to clean from pens, too.

 

The beauty of this ink is not just from the hue but also from its velvety matte appearance on the page once dried. It's just really nice all-around. Verdigris has fairly poor water resistance compared to Vert de Gris, and also I think it more vibrant than the Herbin ink.

“I admit it, I'm surprised that fountain pens are a hobby. ... it's a bit like stumbling into a fork convention - when you've used a fork all your life.” 

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rosmarinaus NOS (New Old Stock)

rosmarinaus

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Thanks - I just got a sample of this ink. I love teals, esp. more subdued versions. I'm thinking this has more of a grayish undertone than Syo-Ro?

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Intensity Collectors Item

Intensity

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Thanks - I just got a sample of this ink. I love teals, esp. more subdued versions. I'm thinking this has more of a grayish undertone than Syo-Ro?

 

Vert de Gris is more of a teal-tinted gray than a faded teal to me in person. Syo-ro is pretty different, a more clean and vibrant green-teal.

Edited by Intensity

“I admit it, I'm surprised that fountain pens are a hobby. ... it's a bit like stumbling into a fork convention - when you've used a fork all your life.” 

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Tas Donor Pen

Tas

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A lovely review of what I too feel is a lovely ink - a regular go to for correspondance on Tomoe River :wub:

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amberleadavis Pen Dust

amberleadavis

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Great review.

 

This is one of those colors that is too subtle for me, but I love yoru work.

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

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DrDebG Antique

DrDebG

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Excellent review! This ink is a surprise to me. I expected another boring blue-green color. This seems to have a bit of life to it. I may have to get a sample.

"Today will be gone in less than 24 hours. When it is gone, it is gone. Be wise, but enjoy! - anonymous today

 

 

 

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MsRedpen Extremely Rare

MsRedpen

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The beauty of this ink is not just from the hue but also from its velvety matte appearance on the page once dried. It's just really nice all-around. Verdigris has fairly poor water resistance compared to Vert de Gris, and also I think it more vibrant than the Herbin ink.

Oh you enabler...

(Why did I get just 10 ml bottle when above description was sooo accurate?)

LETTER EXCHANGE PARTICIPANT

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LobsterRoll Mint

LobsterRoll

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Thank you for this very nice review. I don't look for water resistance specifically, but that it has it is a nice feature. I suspect I will get a bottle of this in the near future...

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Tom Kellie Donor Pen

Tom Kellie

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~ Herbin Vert De Gris was recommended to me by Ghost Plane.



It was very nice of her to suggest it, as it's an outstanding ink.



Tom K.


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