EFNIR: De Atramentis Pearlescent Whisky Brown Copper

[LizEF]

Extra Fine Nib Ink Review: De Atramentis Pearlescent Whisky Brown Copper

This is review #67 in my series.  Here's the YouTube video:

 

Post-recording notes: The ink is brighter and yellower than the photos show.  Cleaning went quite well, but I did remove the nib and feed to clean.  Examination under magnification revealed a copper glimmer in the feed channels, so into the sonicator the feed went...and after one round, I couldn't find any more glitter.

And here is a screen of the final result, for those not interested in the video:

Scan of Completed Review:

Zoomed in photo:

Absorbent Paper Closeup (puzzle paper like thick newsprint):

Screenshots also available on Instagram: @zilxodarap

Previous Review: Diamine Indigo.

Want to influence the inky sequence?  Take the "next ink" poll.

Hope you enjoy.  Comments appreciated!

[Percy]

Just received a sample of this ink in a random assortment - such beautiful shimmer! Thanks for your review

[yazeh]

The only thing I liked about this ink was your review, Liz and Makbesh

[XYZZY]

45 minutes ago, yazeh said:

The only thing I liked about this ink was your review, Liz and Makbesh

 

Yes I second that comment.  I have yet to see a shimmering ink review that inspires me to try a shimmering ink.

 

But this review gave me a thought.  Before watching this I was thinking about color changes in IG inks, then this copper shimmer.  Put the two ideas together and...  What if the shimmer was actually raw copper so that over time it would develop a green patina?  I'm not sure what I'd want in a base color so that it works well with both copper colors, but the effect could be interesting.  Although it would need a lot more time than oxidation of IG.

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, Percy said:

Just received a sample of this ink in a random assortment - such beautiful shimmer! Thanks for your review

The copper is gorgeous, but I recommend you put it in a fat, wet pen.

 

32 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Makbesh

Makhabesh - careful it may not be safe to offend a tiny sphinx.    (The "kh" is pronounced like a "hard h" - like clearing your throat.  MAKH-a-besh - it might need an apostrophe: Makh'abesh.)

 

33 minutes ago, yazeh said:

The only thing I liked about this ink was your review, Liz and Makbesh

Thank you!

 

9 minutes ago, XYZZY said:

Yes I second that comment.  I have yet to see a shimmering ink review that inspires me to try a shimmering ink.

Thank you!  I would have said the same, but for one of those "ink every week" threads Amber started, I needed a shimmering ink, and a generous FPNer was kind enough to send me some samples, since I didn't have any, and I was shocked - shocked, I say! - by how much I liked Diamine Blue Lightning (review posting on New Year's Day!).  Of course, the only possible use I can think of for them is to send greeting cards or write letters to politicians...

 

13 minutes ago, XYZZY said:

What if the shimmer was actually raw copper so that over time it would develop a green patina?  I'm not sure what I'd want in a base color so that it works well with both, but the effect could be interesting.

That would be very cool!  You should write a letter to everyone who makes glittery ink - and Noodler's, just in case.

[inkstainedruth]

I tried a sample of De Atramentis Indian Blue Copper a while back, just to see what a *non* gold or silver shimmer was like.  It was, um, interesting.

I've now got a new Robert Oster Shake and Shimmer ink (called No Fixed Addres)s in a pen and at first I really liked the subtle blue-tinted shimmer against the pinkish red of the ink (made a very pretty lavender at times).  Then it got cloggy and is now starving the feed. 

At least it's the al-Star, and if push came to shove, I can pull the 1.1 mm nib easily enough.  But I would have at least liked to have finished the comparison with other inks FIRST.  

Wondering if I should ry refilling the pen again, just to get enough ink in ratio to the shimmer to finish that up at least.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[LizEF]

34 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

Wondering if I should ry refilling the pen again, just to get enough ink in ratio to the shimmer to finish that up at least.

This does seem to be one of the keys to getting glitter ink to work - the right ratios.  And to the disappointment of some, my experience is that super-glittery doesn't work well (in the average pen).

[inkstainedruth]

True.  Unfortunately, it was the only pen to hand that had a wide enough nib, was relatively easy to clean, in working condition, and wasn't already inked up with something else.  And didn't have a sac-style converter like the Pilot Metropolitan with the stub nib, or the cheap Chinese fude-nibbed pen (although I have used that pen for he original formula of J Herbin Rouge Hematite, with the big flakes of gold in it.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

ETA:  Hmmm.  Maybe I should invest in some Pilot Parallels after all. They're cheap enough and I can get them in a local art supply store (although I'm not sure what converters they take in them).

[chromantic]

This ink looks great, not that I'd try it myself. I, too, have been reluctant to try shimmering inks, partly because I sort of see them as just a bit too girly - I mean, I love pink but I have to draw the line somewhere.

That said, I have been thinking about trying Diamine Starlit Pearl in my new M405 as the combination of dark-ish blue with silver shimmer seems like it'd be a good match but I'm torn.

[LizEF]

31 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

ETA:  Hmmm.  Maybe I should invest in some Pilot Parallels after all. They're cheap enough and I can get them in a local art supply store (although I'm not sure what converters they take in them).

Parallels take the same cartridges and converters as other Pilot pens.  I'm not sure if a CON-70 would fit - depends on the taper, not the length - but I'm not sure I'd want glitter in a CON-70 anyway.  Glitter is a good candidate for refilling cartridges.

[LizEF]

3 minutes ago, chromantic said:

This ink looks great, not that I'd try it myself. I, too, have been reluctant to try shimmering inks, partly because I sort of see them as just a bit too girly - I mean, I love pink but I have to draw the line somewhere.

That said, I have been thinking about trying Diamine Starlit Pearl in my new M405 as the combination of dark-ish blue with silver shimmer seems like it'd be a good match but I'm torn.

  Well, I'd try the ink in a cartridge pen first, but tune in Friday when I review Diamine Blue Lightning - it might help you make that decision...

[I-am-not-really-here]

Looks like a Gold failure where "let's add shimmer to save it!" actually made things worse.

 

this is one ink where letting the shimmer settle and extracting just the liquid might result in a decent shading caramel.  I wouldn't be surprised if DeA actually has such an ink in their catalog.

[LizEF]

2 hours ago, I-am-not-really-here said:

Looks like a Gold failure where "let's add shimmer to save it!" actually made things worse.

 

this is one ink where letting the shimmer settle and extracting just the liquid might result in a decent shading caramel.  I wouldn't be surprised if DeA actually has such an ink in their catalog.

  Who knows.  De Atramentis do have lots of similar and even duplicate inks, so it could be.  But I still think this would work well in a broad, wet nib.

[Dimy]

Thanks for the review and I agree with Yazeh

 

I have several issues here....First name....at this stage calling it Whisky copper might be better, brown is downright misleading...sigh the names of product these days..

Second is well color in general and clogging, none of which are my favorites (F user here)..well all in all not for me this one..or any shimmer inks honestly, none really bring that "wow this is it, time to get one".

[LizEF]

21 minutes ago, Dimy said:

Thanks for the review and I agree with Yazeh

You're welcome!  

 

22 minutes ago, Dimy said:

I have several issues here....First name....at this stage calling it Whisky copper might be better, brown is downright misleading...sigh the names of product these days..

I have to agree with you here, "brown" is a stretch, even from a wet nib.  Perhaps "amber" would have been a better choice...

 

22 minutes ago, Dimy said:

Second is well color in general and clogging, none of which are my favorites (F user here)..well all in all not for me this one..or any shimmer inks honestly, none really bring that "wow this is it, time to get one".

Yeah, even a western F nib might not be fat enough for this ink given the pale base color.  As for clogging, I really think it's either a case of "my sample got all the extra", or it just needs a wetter nib/feed, or you can manage this by letting the glitter settle a little before inking.

 

IMO, unless one is attracted to glitter in general, I doubt they'd want it in an ink.  (Personally, I think glitter should be outlawed!  The dang stuff gets everywhere and is a pain to clean up - I just hate receiving cards / bags / envelopes / whatevers with glitter all over them, flaking off everywhere...  At least with the ink, it doesn't come off as readily as from other stuff...)

[chromantic]

9 hours ago, LizEF said:

  Well, I'd try the ink in a cartridge pen first, but tune in Friday when I review Diamine Blue Lightning - it might help you make that decision...

 

Thanks, I'll look forward to that. Have been enjoying these reviews as I started out gung-ho on EF but have gotten used to F-ish because Pelikan.

[yazeh]

13 hours ago, chromantic said:

This ink looks great, not that I'd try it myself. I, too, have been reluctant to try shimmering inks, partly because I sort of see them as just a bit too girly - I mean, I love pink but I have to draw the line somewhere.

That said, I have been thinking about trying Diamine Starlit Pearl in my new M405 as the combination of dark-ish blue with silver shimmer seems like it'd be a good match but I'm torn.

I've used several shimmer inks with no problem. 

Diamine Shimmering seas, is a very dark blue with gold shimmer I believe. Very well behaved ink. I enjoyed using it, not so for the shimmer but simply for the pleasure of writing with it. And I don't like dark blues.  

I used also Emerald of Chivor/ Rouge Hematite and a number of other Herbin shimmer inks (the latest iterations) with no clogging noticed. One I'm really tempted one is the VERT ATLANTIDE. I love those dreamy green colours....

I believe that as long as you can clean the nib and feed, you wouldn't have any problem. I would use them in my cheap pens though  

[Dimy]

11 hours ago, LizEF said:

 As for clogging, I really think it's either a case of "my sample got all the extra", or it just needs a wetter nib/feed, or you can manage this by letting the glitter settle a little before inking.

If that really happens, then I really pity the poor souls who bought it, probably for glitter

 

I agree with cleaning part, every shelf it was kept on, required entire shelf to be cleaned... eventually.

[LizEF]

10 hours ago, chromantic said:

 

Thanks, I'll look forward to that. Have been enjoying these reviews as I started out gung-ho on EF but have gotten used to F-ish because Pelikan.

  My m405 F is the only medium nib I own...

[Sailor Kenshin]

Maybe it's all that glitter making the ink look pale green.  Reminds me of the time I ruined a Preppy with glitter ink.

 

Love your reviews...but not glitter inks.  😑