This is the latest addition to Pelikan 4001 series. Dark green is a nice strong colour. Plus it shades nicely. It goes from a deep dark green to a vibrant grass green. The most enticing thing about this ink is the price. At only $4 per bottle, this is one of the most affordable and readily available inks around. I’m liking this ink quite a bit!
Similar Inks:
The Numbers:
Weight: 16g
Length (capped): 124mm
Length (uncapped): 123mm
Price: USD$380 on Pen Chalet
Body Material: Resin and cellulose acetate Nib Material: 14k Gold nib
Filling Mechanism: Piston filler
Colours: Various
Intro:
I’ve been lusting after the Pelikan M800 Brown Tortoise ever since I’ve laid eyes on one. I love the play of light and dark colours of the brown tortoise shell finish. However the price have always put me off buying one of my own. Maybe Pelikan has heard my prayers and launch the Brown Tortoise in M400 size this year. With a quick check on the price, I promptly ordered one for myself.
I’ve previously reviewed the M205 and I went into detail about what does the various model number mean in the Pelikan lineup. Do go over there to read about it, I won’t be repeating it here.
Packaging:
The M400 Brown Tortoise comes in a regular Pelikan box that can be open by pulling on the tab at the side. It also has the standard white faux leather pouch which holds the pen. There wasn’t anything particularly more fancy in terms of the packaging for this special edition fountain pen.
Performance:
The M400 is mostly made of dark brown resin and brown striped cellulose acetate for its barrel. It is accented with double rings of gold around the end of the cap and at the piston knob. The clip and finial is also gold. The pen looks very classy but the brown stripe barrel adds a flash of character to the otherwise standard looking Pelikan fountain pen. You can tell that this is a quality fountain pen, the fit and finish of the pen is flawless.
It takes slightly less than a single revolution to uncap the pen. The M400 being a pen on the smaller end of the Souveran lineup, the cap can be posted to extend the length of the barrel. The cap securely at the end of the barrel. Personally I found it comfortable enough without posting.
The grip section is relatively short and thin. I would say the M600 would be a comfortable size for most. Those with larger hands should try it out in person before buying. I had some issues with my M205 previously. Maybe this is a special edition fountain pen or the M400 series generally get better quality control, the threads that I found sharp on the M205 are smooth here.
Pelikan Souveran fountain pens are all piston fillers. Thanks to that, they have substantial ink capacity. The resin barrel is clear, while the stripes are opaque. It makes it easy to monitor the ink level of the fountain pen when you looked at it against light. The Pelikan M400 Brown Tortoise comes with a variety of nib options, going from EF to B and special for this particular release an Italic Board nib. Me being me, opted for the EF nib. It wrote well out of the box but personally I found Pelikan nibs does nothing for me. They wrote broader and wetter than usual of their nib size so I promptly handed it off to a local nibmeister to have it ground down into a Japanese EF.
The result is a nib with delicious feedback. It writes very finely as expected of a Japanese EF nib. Though this nib wasn’t modded for additional flex, with a little pressure I can get some line variation from the nib. The feedback can be a little much so this particular nib modification isn’t for everyone.
Before moddiing
Conclusion:
The Pelikan Brown Tortoise is one of my grail pen, I “settled” for the smaller sibling but the colour of the light and dark alternating stripes is just as beautiful to admire. Plus, I don’t believe any two Brown Tortoise pen is completely identical because of the stripes. As a standard M400, this isn’t the cheapest model you can find out there, but the Brown Tortoise finish is just too hard to say no to. Though the nib modification is an additional cost but it is also what makes the pen special to me.
Pros:
Cons:
Additional Reading:
There are affiliate links in this review. I may get a small amount of store credit if you purchase anything via the link(s). You are under no obligation to do so but if you would like to do something nice, do buy what you need via my links.
Congrats to Maxim Mee! You are the winner of the Wing Sung 698 fountain pen. Please contact me within 7 days (26th January 2017) to claim your prize. You can contact me via the contact form on the blog.
My thanks to Robert Oster for sending me this sample.
Another beautiful ink by Robert Oster. This is one ink maker to watch! The turquoise isn’t the bright blend of blue and green that I expected. Turquoise is way more green than turquoise inks of other brands. I think Robert Oster Signature Turquoise feels like it’s right on the line between teal and turquoise. Robert Oster Signature Turquoise shades nicely and flows well even in my Sailor fine nib.
Similar Inks:
The Lunar New Year is approaching and let’s assume you’ve been diligent in your spring cleaning. Your desk is now clean and free of clutter. You might be thinking, let’s put some pens in a pen stand and setup my work station, after all the desk is a vital piece of furniture for all fountain pen lovers. How about putting a bottle of ink on my desk for easy access? Of course we are working on the assumption your desk isn’t in direct sunlight and whatever ambient light won’t be damaging the ink in the bottle.
Let’s run through the different ink bottles that each brand provides. There are the basic ones from brands such as Noodler’s, Private Reserve, Sailor, Franklin Christoph, limited edition Montblanc, J Herbin and 30ml Diamine bottles. They are mostly made of glass except the 30ml Diamine bottles are plastic. Now these are no frills ink bottles, mostly cylindrical, rectangular or squarish in shape, some designs more useable than others but all not that attractive.
Then, there are bottles in the middle tier such as the older Bungbox vase shaped ones, Montblanc shoe shaped ones, Pelikan 4001, Maruzen Athena, OMAS and Pilot ink bottles. These are not just basic shapes. The Bungbox vases shaped ones and the Maruzen Athena bottles are among my favourites, the former for it’s functionality and the later for its shape. These are a step above the first tier of ink bottle attractiveness but these are not the best there is.
Up on the lofty heights of ink bottle attractiveness, there are the higher end inks such as the Pilot Iroshizuku, Graf von Faber-Castell, Pelikan Edelstein and Akkerman. These definitely look like and some actually cost a nice chunk of change. Personally the first three brands are what I’ll feel are the prettier brands of ink bottles while the Akkerman is a very different looking ink bottle. Plus it has that marble inside you can play with if you’re bored.
If all things being equal, regardless the kind of ink is in the bottle, regardless the price of the ink or the volume of ink contained, I will crown the Graf von Faber Castell bottle as the ink bottle for my table. Look at the elegance of the ribbed glass bottle and capped with a hefty metal cap. The label also looks like a blend of old world class and personal touch of the analogue world. I would buy the entire ink lineup they have just for the bottle.
Which ink bottle would you crown as the ink bottle for your desk? Tell me in the comments below.
My thanks to Robert Oster for sending me this sample.
Robert Oster Signature Jade is a nice blend of green and yellow. It looks really good and shades very well. This is one ink I really wish I have a full bottle of. Jade is a beautiful colour that goes from a light yellow-green to a strong dark green. This is defintely best paired with a nib to show off the shading Jade is capable of.
Similar Inks:
The Numbers:
Weight: 18g
Length (capped): 123mm
Length (uncapped): 115mm
Body Material: Italian resin
Nib Material: Stainless steel
Filling Mechanism: Cartridge only
Colours: Various
Intro:
My thanks to Sunny of Straits Pen for lending me this pen for review. The Visconti Van Gogh Mini is a pocket fountain pen that has already been discontinued. It is of a size in between a Kaweco Liliput or Supra (with used without the extender) and a full size fountain pen. The pen is shaped like an elongated bullet. The black resin body is accented with a traditional Visconti clip, centre band and drumrolls please screw to secure the clip. The screw thankfully is flush against the cap but it is quite an eyesore in terms of the aesthetics. Both ends of the pen is slightly pointed but just mildly so.
Packaging:
The small fountain pen came in a box bigger than it really needs. The box has a faux crocodile leather look. Opening the clam shell box reveals a suede like bed that holds the pen and a bottle of ink. The presentation is nice but I much rather a smaller box in general.
Performance:
The Visconti Van Gogh Mini is a simple pen especially this black resin version. The clip is the traditional Visconti bridge shaped clip. It is spring loaded for easy slipping over paper or fabric. The centre band feels slightly more chunky especially when comparing it to the size of the pen. The cap unscrews in about 1 and a quarter turn of the cap. The metal grip section is understandably short. Though on second thought the Kaweco Supra is able to provide me with a longer grip section. The metal grip isn’t very slippery because it is short. Plus it has a textured segment just before the nib. It helps to keep my grip on the pen. The threads are nice and smooth as well.
The Visconti Van Gogh is a fountain pen that takes only cartridges but I found it takes my tiny Kaweco squeeze converter though it was a loose fit. The converter still worked so I had wrote two converters worth. The stainless steel medium nib that came with the pen is smooth and not too much of an ink gusher. I do not have many European medium pens in my collection so I enjoyed the nib very much. Personally I think given that the Visconti Van Gogh Mini isn’t that small so it should be able to at least take the standard international cartridge or even the converter. Alas, it wasn’t to be.
Conclusion:
This discontinued Visconti Van Gogh Mini is a stylish small fountain pen with a number of colours. What’s with that exposed screw on the cap? I wished they have bothered to hide it inside the cap. This pen doesn’t really perform very well as a pocket fountain pen. There are smaller and cheaper fountain pens that exist plus it is already discontinued so it’s all a moot point.
Cons:
Pros:
Additional Reading:
Lemon Grass is a strange blend of green and yellow. It’s more subdued than I had expected. It shades but only subtly. Lemon Grass has a grey undertone to it. I think it looks pretty much like its name sake. However I would really prefer if the colour was brighter or more vibrant. Not my kind of green but interesting nonetheless.
Similar Inks:
This is one deep purple by De Atramentis. It’s so dark that at times you can even fool yourself that it is black especially with wetter nibs. De Atramentis Aubergine goes down dark but dries to a greyish-purple. It shade subtly and I think it would make for an excellent alternative to regular corporate black inks. This is an interesting colour by De Atramentis, I’m tempted to get a full bottle for myself.
Similar Inks:
The Numbers:
Weight: 18g
Length (capped): 123mm
Length (uncapped): 115mm
Body Material: Italian resin
Nib Material: Stainless steel
Filling Mechanism: Cartridge only
Colours: Various
Intro:
My thanks to Sunny of Straits Pen for lending me this pen for review. The Visconti Van Gogh Mini is a pocket fountain pen that has already been discontinued. It is of a size in between a Kaweco Liliput or Supra (with used without the extender) and a full size fountain pen. The pen is shaped like an elongated bullet. The black resin body is accented with a traditional Visconti clip, centre band and drumrolls please screw to secure the clip. The screw thankfully is flush against the cap but it is quite an eyesore in terms of the aesthetics. Both ends of the pen is slightly pointed but just mildly so.
Packaging:
The small fountain pen came in a box bigger than it really needs. The box has a faux crocodile leather look. Opening the clam shell box reveals a suede like bed that holds the pen and a bottle of ink. The presentation is nice but I much rather a smaller box in general.
Performance:
The Visconti Van Gogh Mini is a simple pen especially this black resin version. The clip is the traditional Visconti bridge shaped clip. It is spring loaded for easy slipping over paper or fabric. The centre band feels slightly more chunky especially when comparing it to the size of the pen. The cap unscrews in about 1 and a quarter turn of the cap. The metal grip section is understandably short. Though on second thought the Kaweco Supra is able to provide me with a longer grip section. The metal grip isn’t very slippery because it is short. Plus it has a textured segment just before the nib. It helps to keep my grip on the pen. The threads are nice and smooth as well.
The Visconti Van Gogh is a fountain pen that takes only cartridges but I found it takes my tiny Kaweco squeeze converter though it was a loose fit. The converter still worked so I had wrote two converters worth. The stainless steel medium nib that came with the pen is smooth and not too much of an ink gusher. I do not have many European medium pens in my collection so I enjoyed the nib very much. Personally I think given that the Visconti Van Gogh Mini isn’t that small so it should be able to at least take the standard international cartridge or even the converter. Alas, it wasn’t to be.
Conclusion:
This discontinued Visconti Van Gogh Mini is a stylish small fountain pen with a number of colours. What’s with that exposed screw on the cap? I wished they have bothered to hide it inside the cap. This pen doesn’t really perform very well as a pocket fountain pen. There are smaller and cheaper fountain pens that exist plus it is already discontinued so it’s all a moot point.
Cons:
Pros:
Additional Reading:
This is one ink sample that I’ve been putting off filling up with it for a long time. For no good reason other than I didn’t feel like it. However, Montblanc JFK Navy Blue is quite a pleasant surprise. It’s a rather wet ink, wetter than I am used to for Montblanc inks. It’s dark and saturated but it still shades rather nicely especially in broader nibs. The grey undertones surfaces prominently with broader nibs. Alas, this is one of Montblanc’s limited edition inks. Why did I wait so long before inking this up?
Similar Inks
I’ve written about my wish list for 2016 when Maybelline of On Fountain Pens requested that I write a guest post on her blog.
My list has:
I’ve purchased 2 out of the 5 on my wishlist, namely the Pilot Custom 742 with Falcon nib and the Nakaya fountain pens. I’ve not gotten around to doing a review of the Pilot Custom 742 because the falcon nib just doesn’t lend itself to daily writing. It’s sole purpose is just to do flex writing on my ink reviews.
Whereas the Nakaya fountain pen was also something of an impulse purchase. I didn’t expect myself to be placing an order for another Nakaya pen so soon after purchasing my first. However the news of the price hike prompted me into action. There is no regrets buying the pen.
Technically I did buy an OMAS fountain pen just not the Noir. I had a chance to handle a Noir but I found I didn’t enjoy the finish. I picked up an Arte Italiana in Liquid Green instead but I sold it in the end because of the slippery grip.
I had decided against buying the TWSBI Vac Mini but picked up a Pilot Custom 823 instead. Also a vacuum filler just not so mini. The only pen I didn’t buy or get something similar is the Edison Pearlette. I’ve not stepped into the realm of custom pen yet but someday I will. Meanwhile I shall be contented with the pens that are already or will be available in 2017.
Update: Apparently I wrote this blog post too early in advance that I've picked up the Edison Pearlette second hand from Leigh Reyes. So, I guess I am 5 for 5?
My wish list for 2017 will be:
I’ve been interested in Pilot’s speciality nib selection especially the Waverly nib. The Waverly nib is said to be smooth regardless you are pulling or pushing the nib across the page. It might mean as a lefty, the Waverly nib might be the perfect nib for me. I’m personally not keen on the pen body options for the Waverly nib so here’s hoping that a more interesting pen body comes along.
Maybe next year will be the year I’ll put money down on a custom fountain pen. It doesn’t have to be one from Edison, maybe I’ll order one from Shawn Newton or Scriptorium Pens? Who knows, in the world of custom pens the world is my oyster!
I have seen and caressed one. It was a great understated and classy pen. The EF nib that came with it was a lovely and almost sensual writing experience. I would love to get one in the Grendilla wood. Plus the wood box it comes in is just on point. Good job on presentation, Graf von Faber-Castell.
Now this pen might be a lost hope. The Montblanc 1912 is an interesting pen that has a retractable nib but it was launched quite a while back and locating one in a reasonable price might be tough. However, the nib that came with the pen I’ve tried is just a great writer. If I’m able to find it, it would be my first Montblanc pen!
Update: Remember the Singapore Pen Show that happened recently? I've seen the pen sold there so I've placed an order for this pen in EF but I've not picked up or paid for the pen so can I still leave it in the wishlist?
Another year another Nakaya pen, maybe? This is the next Nakaya pen I am eyeing. It is way more affordable than the one I got this year. The cracked finish has caught my eye from the start when I began browsing the Nakaya website. Maybe I’ll be able to afford one again next year?
Update: Remember the Singapore Pen Show? I've placed a pre-order for this pen but I've not fully paid up for the pen so I guess I can count it as a 2017 pen too?
What pens are on your wish list for next year? Tell me about them in the comments below.
My thanks to Robert Oster for sending me this sample.
Robert Oster Signature is an Australian made ink series. Burgundy is just one of the many colours found in the line up. Burgundy is not a particularly wet ink. When paired with my Platinum 3776 Century it performed well. It shades slightly, going from a dark maroon to a muted red. Burgundy goes down bright and vibrant and dries to a darker muted shade.
Similar Inks:
The Numbers:
Weight: 25g
Length (capped): 145mm
Length (uncapped): 134mm
Price: USD $19.99 from ebay.com
Body Material: Plastic
Nib Material: Stainless steel
Filling Mechanism: Piston mechanism
Colours: Demonstrator only
Intro:
My thanks to Sunny of Straits Pen for providing this pen for review. Look out for more details below to find out how to win this pen.
The Wing Sung 698 is a China made piston filling fountain pen. As far as I can tell it only comes as a demonstrator. It is a no frills fountain pen that does what it is made for. The pen is well balanced and it is sufficiently long enough for me to use without posting. However you can still post the cap if you prefer that.
Packaging:
The Wing Sung 698 comes in a plastic blister pack that reminds me of the Pilot Kakuno. In fact I’ll say that the packaging is a direct copy. Inside you would find something that resembles a Lamy converter but don’t be fooled. It is actually a sealed tube of silicone grease.
Performance:
The Wing Sun 698 is not a small fountain pen. In terms of height, it is just slightly shorter than the Pilot Custom 823. However, the plastic body ensures the pen isn’t overly heavy. The clear plastic body is accented with silver finial, clip, centre band and piston ring. I like the clean cut look of the pen. Looking at the way the pen looked, it was clearly made to compete against the TWSBI Eco. It looked similar to the Eco but not entirely copying it. That’s a plus right there.
The cap takes only one revolution to uncap the pen. The clear cap makes it very very obvious if you splatter any ink inside the cap. So if you are bother by such things, it is best to avoid demonstrators in general. The clip is super stiff so it takes a little effort to slip it over thicker things. The finial is a silver sun burst pattern that I thought looked really nice.
The grip section is narrower than I had expected given the size of the pen. The grip section is narrower than the barrel plus it tapers down towards the nib before ending with a slight flare. However, the grip section is long and could accommodate larger fingers than mine. My preferred grip for the Wing Sun 698 is right on the threads but they are nice and smooth so switching to a higher grip is no a problem as well.
The Wing Sung 698 has a large ink capacity. After inking it up for at least 3 weeks I hardly made a dent in the ink sloshing inside the ink chamber. At first when I was trying to fill my pen I found I couldn’t twist the piston knob. For a while I wondered if my pen was faulty. Then, it turned out that the piston mechanism has a trick to it. It has a locking mechanism that prevents the piston knob turning by accident. All you have to do is to pull the piston knob. That will extend the piston knob slightly and then twisting it. The piston operates smoothly and without trouble once it is unlocked. I think this is an interesting design. I think it should be incorporated into more piston filler fountain pens.
The Wing Sun 698 has a clear feed to match the clear barrel. It came with a stainless steel nib in EF. The nib is slightly on the drier side but not overly so. It writes smoothly and well. The ink flow kept up without any trouble. The nib is stiff and well suited to my writing style and quick notes taking. Also, the nib and feed is interchangable with the Pilot Kakuno, Metropolitan, MR and Prera but I've not tested it for myself.
Conclusion:
The Wing Sun 698 is an impressive piston filler fountain pen. For it’s price and reliability it is a really contender against the TWSBI Eco. Pick one up and check it out for yourself.
To have a chance to win this particular Wing Sun 698 fountain pen, please leave me a comment telling me what ink you would like to fill in a demonstrator pen. Please also include your email address so that I can contact you. I won’t be sharing your email with anyone else. It is collected only for the sole purpose to contact the winner. This giveaway is only open to anyone residing in Singapore. The giveaway has ended. The winner annoucement post is here.
Pros:
Cons:
This is the latest addition to Pelikan 4001 series. Dark green is a nice strong colour. Plus it shades nicely. It goes from a deep dark green to a vibrant grass green. The most enticing thing about this ink is the price. At only $4 per bottle, this is one of the most affordable and readily available inks around. I’m liking this ink quite a bit!
Similar Inks:
The Numbers:
Weight: 16g
Length (capped): 124mm
Length (uncapped): 123mm
Price: USD$380 on Pen Chalet
Body Material: Resin and cellulose acetate Nib Material: 14k Gold nib
Filling Mechanism: Piston filler
Colours: Various
Intro:
I’ve been lusting after the Pelikan M800 Brown Tortoise ever since I’ve laid eyes on one. I love the play of light and dark colours of the brown tortoise shell finish. However the price have always put me off buying one of my own. Maybe Pelikan has heard my prayers and launch the Brown Tortoise in M400 size this year. With a quick check on the price, I promptly ordered one for myself.
I’ve previously reviewed the M205 and I went into detail about what does the various model number mean in the Pelikan lineup. Do go over there to read about it, I won’t be repeating it here.
Packaging:
The M400 Brown Tortoise comes in a regular Pelikan box that can be open by pulling on the tab at the side. It also has the standard white faux leather pouch which holds the pen. There wasn’t anything particularly more fancy in terms of the packaging for this special edition fountain pen.
Performance:
The M400 is mostly made of dark brown resin and brown striped cellulose acetate for its barrel. It is accented with double rings of gold around the end of the cap and at the piston knob. The clip and finial is also gold. The pen looks very classy but the brown stripe barrel adds a flash of character to the otherwise standard looking Pelikan fountain pen. You can tell that this is a quality fountain pen, the fit and finish of the pen is flawless.
It takes slightly less than a single revolution to uncap the pen. The M400 being a pen on the smaller end of the Souveran lineup, the cap can be posted to extend the length of the barrel. The cap securely at the end of the barrel. Personally I found it comfortable enough without posting.
The grip section is relatively short and thin. I would say the M600 would be a comfortable size for most. Those with larger hands should try it out in person before buying. I had some issues with my M205 previously. Maybe this is a special edition fountain pen or the M400 series generally get better quality control, the threads that I found sharp on the M205 are smooth here.
Pelikan Souveran fountain pens are all piston fillers. Thanks to that, they have substantial ink capacity. The resin barrel is clear, while the stripes are opaque. It makes it easy to monitor the ink level of the fountain pen when you looked at it against light. The Pelikan M400 Brown Tortoise comes with a variety of nib options, going from EF to B and special for this particular release an Italic Board nib. Me being me, opted for the EF nib. It wrote well out of the box but personally I found Pelikan nibs does nothing for me. They wrote broader and wetter than usual of their nib size so I promptly handed it off to a local nibmeister to have it ground down into a Japanese EF.
The result is a nib with delicious feedback. It writes very finely as expected of a Japanese EF nib. Though this nib wasn’t modded for additional flex, with a little pressure I can get some line variation from the nib. The feedback can be a little much so this particular nib modification isn’t for everyone.
Before moddiing
Conclusion:
The Pelikan Brown Tortoise is one of my grail pen, I “settled” for the smaller sibling but the colour of the light and dark alternating stripes is just as beautiful to admire. Plus, I don’t believe any two Brown Tortoise pen is completely identical because of the stripes. As a standard M400, this isn’t the cheapest model you can find out there, but the Brown Tortoise finish is just too hard to say no to. Though the nib modification is an additional cost but it is also what makes the pen special to me.
Pros:
Cons:
Additional Reading:
There are affiliate links in this review. I may get a small amount of store credit if you purchase anything via the link(s). You are under no obligation to do so but if you would like to do something nice, do buy what you need via my links.
Congrats to Maxim Mee! You are the winner of the Wing Sung 698 fountain pen. Please contact me within 7 days (26th January 2017) to claim your prize. You can contact me via the contact form on the blog.
My thanks to Robert Oster for sending me this sample.
Another beautiful ink by Robert Oster. This is one ink maker to watch! The turquoise isn’t the bright blend of blue and green that I expected. Turquoise is way more green than turquoise inks of other brands. I think Robert Oster Signature Turquoise feels like it’s right on the line between teal and turquoise. Robert Oster Signature Turquoise shades nicely and flows well even in my Sailor fine nib.
Similar Inks:
The Lunar New Year is approaching and let’s assume you’ve been diligent in your spring cleaning. Your desk is now clean and free of clutter. You might be thinking, let’s put some pens in a pen stand and setup my work station, after all the desk is a vital piece of furniture for all fountain pen lovers. How about putting a bottle of ink on my desk for easy access? Of course we are working on the assumption your desk isn’t in direct sunlight and whatever ambient light won’t be damaging the ink in the bottle.
Let’s run through the different ink bottles that each brand provides. There are the basic ones from brands such as Noodler’s, Private Reserve, Sailor, Franklin Christoph, limited edition Montblanc, J Herbin and 30ml Diamine bottles. They are mostly made of glass except the 30ml Diamine bottles are plastic. Now these are no frills ink bottles, mostly cylindrical, rectangular or squarish in shape, some designs more useable than others but all not that attractive.
Then, there are bottles in the middle tier such as the older Bungbox vase shaped ones, Montblanc shoe shaped ones, Pelikan 4001, Maruzen Athena, OMAS and Pilot ink bottles. These are not just basic shapes. The Bungbox vases shaped ones and the Maruzen Athena bottles are among my favourites, the former for it’s functionality and the later for its shape. These are a step above the first tier of ink bottle attractiveness but these are not the best there is.
Up on the lofty heights of ink bottle attractiveness, there are the higher end inks such as the Pilot Iroshizuku, Graf von Faber-Castell, Pelikan Edelstein and Akkerman. These definitely look like and some actually cost a nice chunk of change. Personally the first three brands are what I’ll feel are the prettier brands of ink bottles while the Akkerman is a very different looking ink bottle. Plus it has that marble inside you can play with if you’re bored.
If all things being equal, regardless the kind of ink is in the bottle, regardless the price of the ink or the volume of ink contained, I will crown the Graf von Faber Castell bottle as the ink bottle for my table. Look at the elegance of the ribbed glass bottle and capped with a hefty metal cap. The label also looks like a blend of old world class and personal touch of the analogue world. I would buy the entire ink lineup they have just for the bottle.
Which ink bottle would you crown as the ink bottle for your desk? Tell me in the comments below.
My thanks to Robert Oster for sending me this sample.
Robert Oster Signature Jade is a nice blend of green and yellow. It looks really good and shades very well. This is one ink I really wish I have a full bottle of. Jade is a beautiful colour that goes from a light yellow-green to a strong dark green. This is defintely best paired with a nib to show off the shading Jade is capable of.
Similar Inks:
