Camel Royal Blue

[freewheelingvagabond]

This is my second ink review, and once again I apologise for lousy photography and the lack of any scan. The review is not as objective as it should have been because of the aforementioned reasons.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5348364263_f67d2ba0ef_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5348364575_5d949d8e53_b.jpg

 

Camel Royal Blue is one of those few inks which I've seen around me all life long. Over here in India, this is the most likely bottle that one would get if one walked into any stationery store and asked for fountain pen ink. It's almost universally available here, thanks to a strong distribution network and a parent company which is apparently in good health. Camel blue and black are often the ink of choice among users, particularly the student community, ahead of other foreign ink brands due to availability and economy. I had not used this ink for a long time, but rediscovered it recently and fell in love.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5161/5348364875_178ea91a7a_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5348974834_1e365a69d7_b.jpg

 

A list of the salient features of this ink is given below:

 

01. This is a moderately bright shade of blue with a purplish tinge.

02. It doesn't show much shading.

03. I would say it is moderately saturated.

04. It doesn't feather on most papers. This improves economy as far as paper quality is concerned.

05. It doesn't bleed through on most papers. Again reduces paper cost.

06. It flows well, and lubricates well. Its flow and lubrication is similar to Waterman Florida Blue.

07. Drying time is good, around 7 sec at most when used in a broad-nibbed moderately wet-writing pen.

08. At best, it is moderately waterproof.

09. It is very resistant to smudging after drying completely.

10. It is a low maintenance ink. This can be attributed to lack of water resistance and not very high saturation.

11. The ink doesn't stain, and doesn't clog even after sitting in a pen for over ten days. Start-up is immediate.

12. I'm not sure if it is pigment based or dye based.

13. The company claims to have a solvent present in the ink which cleans the pen as one writes.

14. The ink has a mild smell. Some may love it, and some may not like it. I kind of like it.

15. It comes in 60ml bottles, and is very inexpensive.

 

Two snaps showing writing samples:

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5348363873_c6c84aeb1c_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5348973072_4dea60fd58_b.jpg

 

On the whole, I'm immensely satisfied with this ink. I'm wondering what to do with my bottles of Pelikan Royal Blue and Sheaffer Blue. And just a small personal note with respect to purple tinge in a blue ink. The most purplish blue I've used has got to be Aurora Blue, while Visconti Blue has absolutely none. Camel Royal blue is somewhat right in the middle, and with these three inks one probably has the full required range. On the downside, I don't think it is available outside India.

Edited January 12, 2011 by freewheelingvagabond

[pelman]

Nice review. I like this blue and will have to pick it up sometime.

 

BTW - I am not sure why you think it is not objective!

 

Looking forward to more reviews on these nice Indian inks.

[freewheelingvagabond]

Nice review. I like this blue and will have to pick it up sometime.

 

BTW - I am not sure why you think it is not objective!

 

Looking forward to more reviews on these nice Indian inks.

Thanks for your kind words. What I meant to say is that I'd try and make this review as objective as possible with my description in the absence of colour scans and good photographs.

 

Regards,

Anindya.

[hari317]

Nice review Anindya. camel needs more exposure, it is a perfectly good ink for everyday use and I use it without hesitation in all of my pens. it is Dye based ink.

 

best,

hari

[corniche]

Greetings Anindya,

 

Yes, I've been intrigued with the Camel brand; I visited Camel's website a few weeks ago; Camel inks are very hard to find in the States. I've thought about buying a bottle direct from India, but I'd like to know a little more about them- you're review is a good step in that direction. Thank you.

 

BTW, I'm a blue-black man, are you at all familiar with Camel's blue-black? Perhaps that could be your next review.

 

Best regards,

 

Sean

[pelman]

Nice review. I like this blue and will have to pick it up sometime.

 

BTW - I am not sure why you think it is not objective!

 

Looking forward to more reviews on these nice Indian inks.

Thanks for your kind words. What I meant to say is that I'd try and make this review as objective as possible with my description in the absence of colour scans and good photographs.

 

Regards,

Anindya.

- No issues. Nice job of the review without the aforementioned.

 

Nice review Anindya. camel needs more exposure, it is a perfectly good ink for everyday use and I use it without hesitation in all of my pens. it is Dye based ink.

 

best,

hari

Hari - I am waiting to try these inks. This is all I used as a child so now to find it as an adult...

Greetings Anindya,

 

Yes, I've been intrigued with the Camel brand; I visited Camel's website a few weeks ago; Camel inks are very hard to find in the States. I've thought about buying a bottle direct from India, but I'd like to know a little more about them- you're review is a good step in that direction. Thank you.

 

BTW, I'm a blue-black man, are you at all familiar with Camel's blue-black? Perhaps that could be your next review.

 

Best regards,

 

Sean

 

Agree with above as well. Blue-Black for work is necessary. I am pushing the boundaries with browns and greens but a nice inexpensive blue-black will be welcome.

[freewheelingvagabond]

Greetings Anindya,

 

Yes, I've been intrigued with the Camel brand; I visited Camel's website a few weeks ago; Camel inks are very hard to find in the States. I've thought about buying a bottle direct from India, but I'd like to know a little more about them- you're review is a good step in that direction. Thank you.

 

BTW, I'm a blue-black man, are you at all familiar with Camel's blue-black? Perhaps that could be your next review.

 

Best regards,

 

Sean

 

Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately Camel doesn't have a blue-black, and I don't know why. I also like blue-blacks, so far Pelikan has been my favourite in terms of the colour.

 

Regards,

Anindya.

[hari317]

They used to have a Blue Black, it was Iron Gall 0.1% iron content, conforming to IS1221.

[freewheelingvagabond]

They used to have a Blue Black, it was Iron Gall 0.1% iron content, conforming to IS1221.

Do they still have it now? I have never seen it, and it's not listed on their website as well.

[hari317]

I am not sure if it is still being made. Best,Hari

[corniche]

They used to have a Blue Black, it was Iron Gall 0.1% iron content, conforming to IS1221.

Do they still have it now? I have never seen it, and it's not listed on their website as well.

 

Greetings all,

 

When I visited Camlin's site a couple of months ago; a blue-black ink had been featured there, along with the five other colors- when I looked today, it's no longer mentioned. They must have discontinued it in the meantime.

 

Camlin (Camel) Pens & Inks

 

All the best,

 

Sean

[sriramoman]

We don't get blue-black inks in Camel, but we get a better brand named "Chelpark". I'd be reviewing the ink soon. Its a real smooth writer, wonderfully formulated and I use it for daily writing. The color is comparable to the Waterman Florida Blue. Priced at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Indian_Rupee_symbol.svg/7px-Indian_Rupee_symbol.svg.png15, thats just quarter US dollar.

Greetings Anindya,

 

Yes, I've been intrigued with the Camel brand; I visited Camel's website a few weeks ago; Camel inks are very hard to find in the States. I've thought about buying a bottle direct from India, but I'd like to know a little more about them- you're review is a good step in that direction. Thank you.

 

BTW, I'm a blue-black man, are you at all familiar with Camel's blue-black? Perhaps that could be your next review.

 

Best regards,

 

Sean

[pk_gt1]

Greetings Anindya,

 

Yes, I've been intrigued with the Camel brand; I visited Camel's website a few weeks ago; Camel inks are very hard to find in the States. I've thought about buying a bottle direct from India, but I'd like to know a little more about them- you're review is a good step in that direction. Thank you.

 

BTW, I'm a blue-black man, are you at all familiar with Camel's blue-black? Perhaps that could be your next review.

 

Best regards,

 

Sean

 

 

Since u are a blue-black man , i would ask u get ready to make your hands dirty.

Use Camel royal blue and camel permanent black for this (BLACK IS NOT PERMANENT THOUGH:P).

Proportion depends upon your requiremets.

I use 60% royal blue with 40% perm black.

 

Both 50 ml bottle will cost you 30 Indian rupees (much less than 1 USD.)