Diamine Sapphire Blue

[MikeLip]

Yeah, I know my handwriting isn't the best, and no the inks don't feather this badly. I'm at work with a miserable excuse for a scanner and no Photoshop to get the levels just right. The paper is Office Max cheapie stuff. The other colors are for reference. I normally use Lux Blue because it's supposed to be bulletproof. However, I did a rinse test under warm running water after letting the ink dry for a while, pretty much overnight. The Diamine didn't budge. The Herbens stuff faded a bit. Of course the two Noodlers shrugged it off. But the Diamine might just be my new go-to ink. The blue is intense and saturated, and it performs well in my finicky Conklin. The Conklin Cushion Point writes like a dream when it writes. but Noodlers inks always seemed to skip and stall. The Diamine works just fine.

Edited March 5, 2008 by MikeLip

[CharlieB]

Hmmm.... I did not realize that the Diamine Sapphire Blue was as saturated as it shows on your scan.... and I am surprised to hear that it is water resistant.

 

The Sapphire Blue appears to be about the same color as PR Lake Placid Blue. Am I correct, or is the scan giving me a false impression?

[MikeLip]

Hmmm.... I did not realize that the Diamine Sapphire Blue was as saturated as it shows on your scan.... and I am surprised to hear that it is water resistant.

 

The Sapphire Blue appears to be about the same color as PR Lake Placid Blue. Am I correct, or is the scan giving me a false impression?

 

I don't really know, since I don't have that color to compare it to. I was quite surprised at how saturated it is. It may be that the Conklin is a very wet writer, but I also tried it in a Pilot 78G with a medium nib, and it looks also quite saturated. In fact I was a little disappointed in that I was looking for a wimpier ink that though shows some line color variation. Tain't happenin' with this stuff in this pen. I'll have to try some other pens.

 

As for the resistance of the ink, I don't have bleach handy. But out of curiosity I did squirt the wet paper with some Clorox Cleanup, which is a very aggressive surface cleaner with bleach in it. The color did lighten somewhat, but did not go away by any means. The J Herben does mostly fade away although there is some blue left behind - it is also still pretty legible, but not nearly as much as the Diamine.

 

I guess that the lesson here for me is to give non-bulletproof inks a chance. Given plenty of time to dry completely, the two I used in this test are still quite legible after some serious mistreatment.

Edited March 5, 2008 by MikeLip

[MikeLip]

Just as an update;

 

I had a Pilot 78G with a fine nib sitting here uninked. So I loaded it up with the Sapphire and tried it. The Pilot has been a wonderful writer with a VERY fine nib (I can't imagine using anything finer) and despite the fine line it is STILL quite saturated looking.

 

I also looked at my hands. In playing with it last night I of course got some on my fingers. Generally the ink on my hands goes away after several washings and a shower, but as of this morning it's still there. Stubborn stuff!

[CharlieB]

Does the ink show a purple undertone, similar to Aurora Blue? Your scan doesn't show it, but I seem to remember that, of the non-greenish Diamine blue inks, Sapphire was the purplish one and Royal Blue was the light blue color.

Edited March 5, 2008 by CharlieB

[MikeLip]

Yes, it does. It's not a pure blue. In fact it has roughly the same violet tinge as Baystate Blue, which is also not exactly blue No doubt that is what makes it pop off the paper.

[PenTieRun]

Mike, a slight change of subject. Does the Sailor actually write that fine of a line, or is it something to do with the cheap paper and the pressure you use? The line almost looks XXF. I've been thinking of buying a Sailor, and with that gorgeous line, my interest grows.

 

Oh, and thanks for using work time to engage in serious concerns :roflmho: Hope the boss doesn't catch you.

[MikeLip]

Mike, a slight change of subject. Does the Sailor actually write that fine of a line, or is it something to do with the cheap paper and the pressure you use? The line almost looks XXF. I've been thinking of buying a Sailor, and with that gorgeous line, my interest grows.

 

Oh, and thanks for using work time to engage in serious concerns :roflmho: Hope the boss doesn't catch you.

 

The Sailor writes what seems to me to be a VERY fine line. The scan doesn't show it, but the Noodlers Black isn't all that black looking with this pen. It shows the greenish-grey undertones reported elsewhere. I am considering changing to a much more saturated and free flowing ink in it - possibly the Diamine Sapphire It is a lovely pen though. The nib has some tooth which is to be expected with a nib this fine. That seems to help control my otherwise, umm, flamboyant (yeah, that's the word!) handwriting, unlike the Conklin, which is like writing on roller skates. I have to be very careful with it to keep my writing even vaguely legible.

 

I don't know if nibs are interchangeable, do you by any chance? I might go with a medium in this guy if so.

 

As for work time, well, I *am* the boss of my department, I have put in two 11 hour days so far this week and today looks like another. So using a little time for FPN is OK as far as I'm concerned!

[PenTieRun]

Mike, a slight change of subject. Does the Sailor actually write that fine of a line, or is it something to do with the cheap paper and the pressure you use? The line almost looks XXF. I've been thinking of buying a Sailor, and with that gorgeous line, my interest grows.

 

Oh, and thanks for using work time to engage in serious concerns :roflmho: Hope the boss doesn't catch you.

 

The Sailor writes what seems to me to be a VERY fine line. The scan doesn't show it, but the Noodlers Black isn't all that black looking with this pen. It shows the greenish-grey undertones reported elsewhere. I am considering changing to a much more saturated and free flowing ink in it - possibly the Diamine Sapphire It is a lovely pen though. The nib has some tooth which is to be expected with a nib this fine. That seems to help control my otherwise, umm, flamboyant (yeah, that's the word!) handwriting, unlike the Conklin, which is like writing on roller skates. I have to be very careful with it to keep my writing even vaguely legible.

 

I don't know if nibs are interchangeable, do you by any chance? I might go with a medium in this guy if so.

 

As for work time, well, I *am* the boss of my department, I have put in two 11 hour days so far this week and today looks like another. So using a little time for FPN is OK as far as I'm concerned!

 

It's good to be the boss, except for those 11 hour days. Thanks for the nib info. I'm not sure about interchangeability, but there are a ton of Sailor fans around here, so someone should know.

 

Here's wishing you're out of the salt mine before dark!

 

[girlieg33k]

Thanks for the review, Mike. I use Diamine Sapphire Blue often because I happen to really like it. It's right up there with Waterman Florida Blue, Diamine WES Imperial Blue, Aurora Blue, and Sailor Blue as reliably well-behaving, good-flowing blue ink.

 

This week, I have it filled in an Aurora Mini-Optima with an F nib. It's hitting the page darker than the Waterman Florida Blue filled in an Omas Bologna with an M nib. As I'm flipping through several pages in the Moleskine and Apica (where I've been using Sapphire Blue in the last week), I also notice that whatever purple tinge this ink has initially is usually gone in several days.

 

Your exemplar does make it look a lot more saturated than I've ever seen before though. The scan almost looks like one of the dark PR inks (given its saturation). May I ask how you've been storing your bottle?

[MikeLip]

It's good to be the boss, except for those 11 hour days. Thanks for the nib info. I'm not sure about interchangeability, but there are a ton of Sailor fans around here, so someone should know.

 

Here's wishing you're out of the salt mine before dark!

 

The way it looks outside right now, I might just stay here until spring!

[MikeLip]

Thanks for the review, Mike. I use Diamine Sapphire Blue often because I happen to really like it. It's right up there with Waterman Florida Blue, Diamine WES Imperial Blue, Aurora Blue, and Sailor Blue as reliably well-behaving, good-flowing blue ink.

 

This week, I have it filled in an Aurora Mini-Optima with an F nib. It's hitting the page darker than the Waterman Florida Blue filled in an Omas Bologna with an M nib. As I'm flipping through several pages in the Moleskine and Apica (where I've been using Sapphire Blue in the last week), I also notice that whatever purple tinge this ink has initially is usually gone in several days.

 

Your exemplar does make it look a lot more saturated than I've ever seen before though. The scan almost looks like one of the dark PR inks (given its saturation). May I ask how you've been storing your bottle?

 

I haven't been storing it I just got it last night and used it this morning. So it's not like it's been sitting around or anything. As for how my inks are stored in general, the bottle live in the box they were shipped in, and they are on my desk at room temperature. So they are out of the light and in well controlled conditions.

 

The Pilot 78G fine also lays down a saturated line. Not as much as the Conklin, but more so than anything I've seen out of that pen.

 

Interesting point about the color shift. I'll have to pay attention to that! Thanks.

 

[Toulouse]

As I'm flipping through several pages in the Moleskine and Apica (where I've been using Sapphire Blue in the last week), I also notice that whatever purple tinge this ink has initially is usually gone in several days.

 

I've also noticed this color shift. It is especially noticable with my wet writing Visconti Opera medium point. When the ink is first laid down, it is very purple, but as it dries it loses the purple tinge and after a few days, the purple seems to be completely gone.

 

Todd

 

[fjf]

Nice color AND waterresistant!. Very similar to baystate blue!. I may have to try it!.

[Ann Finley]

When writing with 0.9 - 1.1 italic nibs, Diamine Sapphire, Noodler's Baystate Blue, & Herbin Eclat de Saphir are very close in color. The Baystate looks just a tad brighter when used right next to the others, but if they're a paragraph apart, if you didn't know for sure which was which it would be hard to tell.

 

Best, Ann

[BobR]

Using Sapphire Blue with a wet writer, I enjoy watching the ink change from purplish to bright blue before my eyes in the few seconds after it's laid down. I wasn't aware that it continues to turn bluer after that, I'll have to check some old writings. If you're a fan of blue ink, you gotta have this one!

[MikeLip]

I have to admit, the more i use it the more I like it. I'm beginning to think I've found *the* ink!

[rmccarty4]

Recently, I happened to get a sampler set from Pear Tree Pens containing Diamine Sapphire Blue & J. Herbin Eclat de Saphir, and was able to test them against Waterman Florida Blue, Private Reserve Lake Placid Blue, PR American Blue, Visconti Blue, and Aurora Blue. Sorry, no photos or scans -- I'm kind of a lame-ass with graphics. If I were competent in this regard, I'd post my own comparison, instead of replying here. But here I am. :embarrassed_smile:

 

But FWIW, I see the hues ranging thusly, from blue w/ a note of green to blue w/ a note of violet:

PR Amer Blue - Visconti Blue - PR Lk Placid Blue - W'man FL Blue - JH Eclat de Saphir - Diamine Sapphire Blue - Aurora Blue.

To my eyes, Lake Placid is right about at pure blue -- R0G0B255, maybe R0G0B230. I'd call Diamine Sapphire about half way between PRLPB & Aurora Blue in hue. The distinctions in hue between PRLPB, W'man FL Blue, JHEdS, & the Diamine are very subtle, although W'man FL Blue is noticeably darker (more black), as is Aurora Blue. PRLPB, JHEdS, and Diamine Sapphire Blue are all quite vivid (saturated & low black levels), tho the PR inks are a touch more saturated than the Diamine or J Herbin.

Edited March 6, 2008 by rmccarty4

[Viseguy]

... FWIW, I see the hues ranging thusly, from blue w/ a note of green to blue w/ a note of violet:

PR Amer Blue - Visconti Blue - PR Lk Placid Blue - W'man FL Blue - JH Eclat de Saphir - Diamine Sapphire Blue - Aurora Blue.

To my eyes, Lake Placid is right about at pure blue -- R0G0B255, maybe R0G0B230. I'd call Diamine Sapphire about half way between PRLPB & Aurora Blue in hue. The distinctions in hue between PRLPB, W'man FL Blue, JHEdS, & the Diamine are very subtle, although W'man FL Blue is noticeably darker (more black), as is Aurora Blue. PRLPB, JHEdS, and Diamine Sapphire Blue are all quite vivid (saturated & low black levels), tho the PR inks are a touch more saturated than the Diamine or J Herbin.

Have you had occasion to compare Sapphire Blue with Diamine Imperial Blue (a/k/a W.E.S. Imperial Blue)? Sapphire looks much lighter than Imperial Blue on the Writing Desk's Col-o-rama blue page, but about equally dark (but less purplish) compared to the scan in the first post of this thread. It would be nice to have side-by-side writing samples.

[Mannenhitsu]

I am going to have to order a bottle of Sapphire Blue, the next time I place an oder with Michelle or Sam at Pendemonium. This looks like a very nice shade of blue, which rivals Waterman's Florida Blue. However, the newest bottle of Florida Blue I opened up, likes to clog my Phileas. So I am going to wash it out and let the nib soak overnight.