Waterman Havana Brown Vs Noodler's Red Black

[DanielCoffey]

Having been seduced by Waterman Havana Brown recently, I was finding my Noodler's Red Black was languishing on the shelf. I wondered if there was any significant difference between the two of them so got out a fat dip pen nib (Brause Cito Fein 0.3) and did a side by side comparison. While the Noodler's Red Black as a slightly pinker hue, it is very similar to the Havana Brown in this small test.

 

Paper used : Antalis Communiqué 120gsm

 

I made sure both inks were well shaken as I know the Noodler's has a tendency for the Black component to settle.

 

 

WATERMAN HAVANA BROWN

http://www.dcoffey.co.uk/images/fountainpennetwork/havana.jpg

 

 

NOODLER'S RED BLACK

http://www.dcoffey.co.uk/images/fountainpennetwork/redblack.jpg

 

 

I looked at the shading under a 12x loupe and noticed that while the Havana Brown flowed back true brown (with a faint "Black Swan" edge) from a pen lift, the Red Black was slightly different. It seemed that the Bulletproof Black that it contains binds with the paper on contact and what flows back is a more concentrated red. It is particularly visible on the "c".

 

 

WATERMAN HAVANA BROWN

http://www.dcoffey.co.uk/images/fountainpennetwork/havanamacro.jpg

 

 

NOODLER'S RED BLACK

http://www.dcoffey.co.uk/images/fountainpennetwork/redblackmacro.jpg

 

 

Now I don't know if my Havana Brown has replaced my Red Black or not. They are similar... but different. The Havana is a truly lovely warm brown... but so is the Red Black and now I know it has a trick up its sleeve... but the Red Black settles in a pen and the Havana doesn't. Aargh! Decisions!

[Gobblecup]

My suggestion: Use Havana everyday, and use Noodler's if you need more permanence on occasion.

 

 

I too love Havana Brown!