Diamine Evergreen Review

[geoduc]

I have been looking at dark green inks for a while and obtained samples of a number of them to see which I liked. Diamine Evergreen was one that I liked well enough to buy a bottle, although there are some minor (in my opinion) issues with it. All of the notes below are based on my experience.

 

Writing samples

The following samples were written with a variety of pens chosen to show the ink with different nib widths and wetness. Writing excerpts are from the short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog" by Mark Twain, and were written on Rhodia 80 g/m² paper. As can be seen from the samples, Evergreen shows as a nice deep green in a broader nib, but goes to nearly black in a wet fine nib.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5379334967_408007fb3e_b.jpg

 

Link to larger writing sample: 300 dpi

 

Behavior

Flow: Relatively high; I would characterize this as a wet ink.

Lubrication: Good. Felt smooth in all the pens I've tried.

Saturation: One of the more highly saturated Diamine inks that I've used.

Feathering: Insignificant on Rhodia & HP32 laser paper, slight on cheap copy paper.

Showthrough: None on Rhodia or HP32 laser paper, moderate on cheap copy paper.

Bleedthrough: Slight on cheap copy paper, especially with wet nibs.

Smear: None once dry.

Shading: Slight. You can see it when writing with a broad nib that isn't too wet, but it doesn't exactly jump out at you. Essentially nonexistent with finer nibs.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5379937424_b815f93b17_b.jpg

 

Dry time: Relatively slow. Sample below is on Rhodia paper. On copy paper, dry time is between five and ten seconds.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5247/5379937364_d85efc7f36_b.jpg

 

Water resistance: Poor. Writing is barely visible after a 15 minute soak in a sink full of tap water. Look elsewhere if water resistance is important to you.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5379334499_614f34219e_z.jpg

 

Cleanup: Reasonably quick cleanup in all pens. No staining noticed.

Comparison with other colors: Swab samples of several dark green inks are shown below. This ink has been proposed as a possible replacement for Montblanc racing green, but I don't see it (special thanks to a kind FPN member for the sample of MBRG). Evergreen is a nice color in its own right, though.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5379334465_6c4102d789.jpg

 

Conclusion

Another good ink from Diamine, but not without faults. It is a nice deep green color that can fill a page without frying your eyes. It looks good on bright white and off white papers, and I consider it suitable for both business and daily use. Behavior is generally good, even on cheap paper, although the slowish dry time and lack of water resistance may be an issue for some. There are plenty of nice dark green inks out there. My advice to anyone looking for one of these is to obtain samples and decide which best fits your needs.

 

 

edited to add link to larger sample

Edited January 23, 2011 by geoduc

[Alice L]

A well done and helpful review, Geoduc! Thank you for sharing your observations and your penmanship with all of us. And thanks for showing up at Pen Club, too. I'm looking forward to more reviews from you.

[freewheelingvagabond]

Nice review! Thanks a lot for the colour comparison. How is flow and lubrication compared to MB Racing Green?

[Faulkner]

Thanks, for the comparison. I was eagerly waiting for it

[reprieve]

This is a great review! Thanks for showing how Evergreen can look very different in different nibs.

[ThirdeYe]

That ink looks beautiful in the Lamy 1.1. It's a shame about the water resistance and the dry time. Aren't most Diamine inks pretty vulnerable to water?

[Surfbits]

Thank you GeoDuc for the great review. The Diamine Evergreen is my current go-to green. You hit the nail right on the head with your comment that a fine tip nib makes the Evergreen almost black. I too use it in a broad to Med size nib and love the shade. I am really happy with my Evergreen and my Syrah and my Twilight all from Diamine. Three solid shades and handling inks.

[geoduc]

A well done and helpful review, Geoduc! Thank you for sharing your observations and your penmanship with all of us. And thanks for showing up at Pen Club, too. I'm looking forward to more reviews from you.

 

 

Thanks, Alice. The penmanship still needs a lot of work, but it is slowly improving.

 

The Seattle Pen Club is a nice group of people. I'm sure that I'll see you at more meetings.

[geoduc]

Nice review! Thanks a lot for the colour comparison. How is flow and lubrication compared to MB Racing Green?

 

I have only had a chance to use MB Racing Green in a couple of pens since I'm working from a sample. Based on my limited experience, I'd say that Evergreen has higher flow and lubrication than Racing Green.

 

Racing Green is a nice ink. I would happily buy a bottle if I could find one.

[corniche]

Hello Geoduc,

 

EXCELLENT REVIEW! Very well done! :clap1:

 

I've been looking for a nice, deep green and Diamine Evergreen looks like it may be EXACTLY the shade I've been looking for.

 

Thanks again.

 

All the best,

 

Sean

Edited January 23, 2011 by S. P. Colfer

[geoduc]

Hello Geoduc,

 

EXCELLENT REVIEW! Very well done! :clap1:

 

I've been looking for a nice, deep green and Diamine Evergreen looks like it may be EXACTLY the shade I've been looking for.

 

Thanks again.

 

All the best,

 

Sean

 

Thanks, Sean (and the rest of you), I appreciate the feedback.

 

I've been impressed with the Diamine inks that I've tried so far. Send me a PM if you want to try a sample of it. I'll share.

[inkspot]

Great review! I love the format and the format of the information. This ink changes so much in different pens - definitely one to add to my must-try list.

[kathleen]

Thanks for the great review. I love using Diamine Sherwood Green, I may also want to give this Evergreen a try. In your comparisons I like the look of that Private Reserve too. I know many like the Mont Blanc Racing Green but to by eye it looks like an army jeep and is not very attractive. It is wonderful that there is such an array of hues, there is something to please everyone.

Surfbits mentions Diamine Twilight, FPN member LisaN shared a sample of Twilight, I loved it and it is my "next to buy".

Edited January 23, 2011 by kathleen

[corniche]

"...Surfbits mentions Diamine Twilight, FPN member LisaN shared a sample of Twilight, I loved it and it is my "next to buy".

 

Hello Kat-Dot,

 

I also love Diamine Twilight- I chose it as my signature color for signatures. It's a great ink and a great color.

 

All the best,

 

Sean-TCL

[bookworm2109]

Really good review. I was looking to buy a darker green. Is there is much of a difference in color and behavior between Diamine Evergreen and Diamine Sherwood Green? They look very similar online.

[MicheleB]

Hi ya Geoduc!

 

Must pause first cause your screen name just conjures up nasty images so I have to get over that.

 

Great review! Suprisingly nice shading for such a saturated ink.

 

Have you done a comparison with PR Fast dry Sherwood green alongside? I got some sample of that I can provide next mtg. Also is the Noodler's Sequoia really that close to MBBRG as it seems on my monitor - swab to swab anyway? Thanks again for the contribution. I love a good dark green, but it seems that dry time is just as bad as my Penman Emerald which I adore and PR Ebony green - the modern runner up for me.

[Horseknitter]

Bought Evergreen as my Christmas green but I've liked it so well I continue using it. Right now I have it in my Parker 75 Cisele with a fine nib. It's conservative but not as high contrast as black on white. I'm enjoying it - a lot.

 

Great review! If I hadn't already bought it I would from your comparisons. Review comparisons are the most helpful for me as I'm considering options because I know they are at least in sync with each other if they are slightly off on my monitor. Or am I missing a fallacy in my thinking?

[geoduc]

Really good review. I was looking to buy a darker green. Is there is much of a difference in color and behavior between Diamine Evergreen and Diamine Sherwood Green? They look very similar online.

 

Sorry, I haven't used Sherwood Green so I can't speak to that. Perhaps someone else can help answer your question?

 

Great review! Suprisingly nice shading for such a saturated ink.

 

Have you done a comparison with PR Fast dry Sherwood green alongside? I got some sample of that I can provide next mtg. Also is the Noodler's Sequoia really that close to MBBRG as it seems on my monitor - swab to swab anyway? Thanks again for the contribution. I love a good dark green, but it seems that dry time is just as bad as my Penman Emerald which I adore and PR Ebony green - the modern runner up for me.

 

Hi Michele,

 

The shading is more apparent on screen than it is in real life. I think it is a combination of the text being magnified and transmitted vs. reflected light. You can see the shading from a broad nib on paper, but you won't notice it unless you're looking for it.

 

Noodler's Sequoia seems very close to MBRG on the swabs - Sequoia is a bit greener. I just bought a sample of that one and haven't put it in a pen yet so I'm curious to see how it looks and behaves once I get it loaded up.

[kathleen]

Really good review. I was looking to buy a darker green. Is there is much of a difference in color and behavior between Diamine Evergreen and Diamine Sherwood Green? They look very similar online.

 

My most used ink, in my daily writer, and fast becoming my signature color is Diamine Sherwood Green. I can vouch for Sherwood and say it has the same properties described in the review of Evergreen. I find it free flowing and non feathering, even on cheap school paper and just the slightest show through on cheap paper.

 

Here it is compared to vintage Sheaffer's Skrip Washable Emerald.

 

 

 

Edited January 24, 2011 by kathleen

[geoduc]

Bought Evergreen as my Christmas green but I've liked it so well I continue using it. Right now I have it in my Parker 75 Cisele with a fine nib. It's conservative but not as high contrast as black on white. I'm enjoying it - a lot.

 

Great review! If I hadn't already bought it I would from your comparisons. Review comparisons are the most helpful for me as I'm considering options because I know they are at least in sync with each other if they are slightly off on my monitor. Or am I missing a fallacy in my thinking?

 

I like comparisons as well, but they are flawed in that that swabs only give you a general idea of how an ink will look, plus they don't tell you anything about how an ink will behave. I generally choose three or four inks that are close to the color I want and then try to get samples before I actually buy a bottle.