Diamine Oxblood

[carpedavid]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/4961228902_2802c1e051_b.jpg

 

Some inks are simply too appropriately named. Diamine Oxblood is one such ink. It is a well-behaved red-brown that falls firmly into the “dried blood” category. If you’ve ever brought a juicy steak home from the butcher and taken a look at the butcher paper, you know exactly what’s in store for you. Oxblood is highly saturated with a surprising level of shading. On both the off white of Moleskine paper and the bright white of Rhodia paper, this ink creates a bold, bloody line.

 

As with the other Diamine inks that I’ve tried, Oxblood flows easily, and provides a nice level of lubrication, allowing the pen to glide easily across the page. It is not as thin as J. Herbin inks, nor as thick as Noodler’s inks; it sits nicely in the middle. I noticed very little feathering on any of the papers I tested this with. It is a very strong color, but doesn’t exhibit much show-through. It also behaves well with regard to bleed though – I noticed no bleed through with an EF nib on Rhodia, Moleskine, and garden variety copier paper.

 

The drying time was very good. On Rhodia paper, on which ink often takes longer to dry, it took eight seconds. On standard copier paper, it was dry to the touch in three seconds.

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/4961225712_ca656461f7.jpg

 

Diamine inks are available in a 30ml plastic bottle and an 80ml glass bottle, both of which are utilitarian in appearance. The smaller plastic bottle has a neck that is very small in diameter. I found that some of my larger pens, like a Lamy 2000, would not fit all the way in, which made getting to the ink a bit of a challenge. My recommendation would be to go for the larger bottle.

 

Oxblood is an interesting ink – I like it, though I prefer the new Diamine Red Dragon. It’s not quite business appropriate, unless you specialize in exchanging limitless power for souls. It’s also a little too dark for use in highlighting and proofing. However, it works well for journaling and personal correspondence. In my judgment it is easy to read, pleasant to write with, and behaves very well on all of the papers I tested it with. If you’re partial to red-brown inks, I have no reservations at all recommending it.

 

Review Notes: for the wide strokes, I used a Lamy 1.9mm steel calligraphy nib on a Lamy Joy. For the narrow strokes, I used an EF steel nib on a Lamy Al-Star. The paper is Rhodia 80gsm from a No. 16 Rhodia Bloc Pad.

 

Note on this review: a sample of this ink was provided for review purposes by Diamine Ink.

[777]

Thank you very much for reviewing this ink. As usual, your calligraphy is great! It really helps show of the inks shading.

 

Of the new Diamine colors, Red Dragon, Asa Blue, and Oxblood were at the top of the list. As I've been on the hunt for a nice, deep, dark, red/burgundy ink - I think this might fit the bill very well. I do agree that the name might throw some people off, but it is very suiting. It really looks like, well... Ox blood.

 

It would be odd if someone came up and asked me "hey, what ink are ya' using there?". What would be even more strange is if you left out the company name in replying and simply said "oh, just some oxblood..."

 

Regardless of the name I think it's a wonderful looking ink and look forward to getting a bottle and trying it out!

 

Regards,

777

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

Many thanks for the Review! :clap1:

 

Now I am convinced its worth a go. And I am taking an interest in the Brown inks. (My ink shelf just let-out a groan.)

 

Would you care to comment on the colour when compared to Nooder's Tianamin? Both seem to share a bloody theme.

 

Bye,

S1

[Fuddlestack]

Thanks for the review, especially the comparisons. It's difficult to judge colours, though - on the Diamine site it looks much redder. That's why they make 30ml samplers, of course...

[Northwoods]

I have this in my pen right now, and love it. The scan looks pretty true on my monitor, perhaps a wee tiny bit darker than actual, but just barely.

[jbn10161]

Could you (anyone) provide some info on the ink's water resistance?

[carpedavid]

Could you (anyone) provide some info on the ink's water resistance?

 

Generally poor, according to my tests. At the very least, it turns into a big red mess.

[Thornton]

Great review! This is one of my new favorite inks. I currently have it loaded in my Conway Stewart Knightsbridge.

[hotrodz]

Thanks for the great review. I'm curious where Mont Blanc Bordeaux would fit in those comparison inks colorwise? I know the MB isn't quite as brown, but my MBB still looks like dried blood in a way...maybe "almost dried" blood. ha ha.

[lovemy51]

awesome review and penmanship! thx dave!

[drifting]

Thanks for another great review. I quite like this colour, though I'm disappointed with the lack of water resistance for some reason. Horses for courses, I suppose.

 

It’s not quite business appropriate, unless you specialize in exchanging limitless power for souls.

:roflmho:

 

Ryan.

Edited September 15, 2010 by drifting

[karinh]

Excellent review - I love the little pictures you add to your reviews!

 

I have this colour and it has become my favourite red to use in an italic nib (Pluminix/Plumix). I like the shading it exhibits and the very dark parts of that shading. I imagine it as being an ink that Renaissance villains would have liked - I don't know why but that's just the picture I get in my head when I use it. Or maybe vampires in an Ann Rice novel.

[Twoodi]

Fantastic review and the colour looks exactly like your scan I currently have it loaded into my Krone Boulder Broad and it is a firm favourite Well Done for your wonderful calligraphy as well!!

[Northwoods]

For what it's worth, I do use it for work. Just sayin'

[SnowLeopard]

Oxblood is a subdued burgundy with great flow in all Safari nib widths.It's just a tad brighter, reddish, with more punch, than the post on Claire. No signif shading with this one. Most of the new Diamine's are more saturated, as is the trend, at present ,with new issue inks, in general.

Edited September 15, 2010 by SnowLeopard

[Mephistosnib]

Very nice shade. My friends in Latvia will enjoy this. Latvia's flag sports a similar shade of red intended to resemble dried blood.

[bbs]

Thanks for the great review. I'm curious where Mont Blanc Bordeaux would fit in those comparison inks colorwise? I know the MB isn't quite as brown, but my MBB still looks like dried blood in a way...maybe "almost dried" blood. ha ha.

 

 

I tried both Oxblood and Syrah this week, and rejected Syrah because it was too similar to MB Bordeaux, which I already have. Oxblood was definitely browner, without the purplish tinges of MBB. An intriguing colour - and I bought some.

 

Great review, BTW - many thanks!

[Gandalfandula]

If you’ve ever brought a juicy steak home from the butcher and taken a look at the butcher paper, you know exactly what’s in store for you.

 

i found this unintentionally ominous!

 

great review though.

[axolotl66]

This is a great colour! I got both Syrah and Oxblood and also PR Black Cherry to find a dark red for daily notes etc. at work. I loved the Black Cherry but thought it too saturated, but now the Oxblood has arrived and it's just great! The Syrah is a nice colour, but there is definitely some blue there when comparing it with another red. The Oxblood is just right.

Graham

[adam11]

This Oxblood looks like my self mixed Parker Quink Red-Black. Nice ink.