Sapphire Is Gone, What's Your Favourite Blue Ink?

[tonybelding]

Noodler's Blue is actually quite close to PPS, although it got reformulated at some point and is a smidge less dark than it was before. It still close enough that most people would be hard pressed to tell the difference without side-by-side comparison, and even then it can be tricky, depending on the pen and paper, etc.

 

However... My favorite blue ink is Noodler's Texas Blue Bonnet, which doesn't look at all like Sapphire, but is dark and shades fantastically, and is waterproof too. Blue Bonnet is an exclusive that's only available through Dromgoole's store in Houston Texas. However, Bad Blue Heron is another ink that's similar, just slightly less "blue" than Blue Bonnet.

[PAKMAN]

There is no substitute!!!! I may run out one day but not too soon.....

 

 

 

For those of you with a weak heart - don't scan down!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drmom777]

I have DC Supershow Blue, Electric DC Blue, used to have American Blue but gave it away. None of them seemed to have the look or feel of the Penman, which I also have a full bottle of. I have Noodler's regular blue, and blue eel, and neither resembles Penman Sapphire at all, being much lighter, and more toward the green side of blue. Then I recently bought Diamine Sargasso Sea. I wouldn't say the color was identical to the Penman, but the feel, crispness, and the "pop" on the page are very reminiscent of Penman. It's the closest I have seen yet.

[alexander_k]

Similarly to most of you, I haven't managed to find a direct replacement (haven't tried Asa Gao, through, because I consider it a bit too expensive). However, the search had its own joys and benefits. I have tried among others PR American Blue (diluted it worked reasonably well but otherwise troublesome) and Diamine Sapphire Blue (nice but not powerful enough) and on the way I collected the blue inks I'm going to use from now on: Visconti Blue (true blue), Diamine Midnight (dark blue), Diamine Denim (nice colour for note-taking) and Diamine Sargasso Sea (bright blue). So I started with one blue and ended up with four. I consider that to be an improvement, not only because of the more colours I can use but also because it gives me an excuse to have more pens (match the pen to the ink, the wise men say). Moreover, the four can easily become six, as I'm planning to check a few of the Califolio inks. So I look back at the days when my M600 and M800 were inked with Penman Sapphire with some amazement: how did I manage to live with so little?

[adyf]

There is no substitute!!!! I may run out one day but not too soon.....

 

 

 

For those of you with a weak heart - don't scan down!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you down to your last ten bottles?

[Genius]

There is no substitute!!!! I may run out one day but not too soon.....

 

 

 

For those of you with a weak heart - don't scan down!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I might have just died.

[tmenyc]

Are you down to your last ten bottles?

 

Perry, that picture is hilarious. Did you buy those to use or as an investment property?

 

Tim

[tmenyc]

Also, note that Suzy Paperskater has samples of PPS for sale -- in classifieds > ink now for those who haven't tried it yet.

 

Tim

[Sasha Royale]

I have been using Private Reserve's American Blue. It looks really nice in the

clear barrel of my TWSBI. Noodler's blue is a very similar color. Have you

looked at Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue or Diamine blue inks ?

[Chrissy]

There is no substitute!!!! I may run out one day but not too soon.....

 

 

 

For those of you with a weak heart - don't scan down!

 

 

And there was me wondering why on earth am I hanging onto my bottles of PPS and PPE when I know I will never use them?

[jgrasty]

Pelikan Edelstein Topaz is my favorite blue ink, though Noodler's Liberty Elysium is pretty good, too. Penman Sapphire does have that certain something that makes it a great ink, but that ink is, alas, extinct.

[PAC 1957]

Pelikan Edelstein Topaz is my favorite blue ink, though Noodler's Liberty Elysium is pretty good, too. Penman Sapphire does have that certain something that makes it a great ink, but that ink is, alas, extinct.

Finally someone Who fully appreciatesTopaz!! I'm not sure how many people realised that this is one the best current PPS heirs and therefore one of the best current alternatives to PPS (if not the best). Certainly better in my opinion than the Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue, which unlke PPS has purplish tones Topaz appears to me a real winner as a unique dark turquoise: nice, versatile and appropriate in any business or private situation. And scanned signatures are very nice ...

As Pakmanpony said, after all there is no substitute to PPS, however We have many more options in the blue range ( and in any other colour of course) today than We had in the late 80s' when PPS came out with the other the Penman line inks

 

So, to me, looking for new blue inks is a nice ongoing "game" .

 

Here is an updated photo of my current favourite blue inks. None of these inks are close to PPS tone, except for Topaz to some extent as I said above ( although Topaz is brighter).

 

Which one do You like most of these 5 inks?

 

Best

Piero

 

P.S.: the title in the photo is underlined with Pelikan Highlighter ink (Pelikan M205 Duo).

P.S 2 I think I'll have a look at these new Iroshizuku inks coming out in December/January. Two of them are in the blue range, i.e. a blue sky (pretty bright) blue and a deep sea blue black, besides an interesting charcoal / black ( not so black, but a very nice tone, according to the photos I saw on FPN's related post.

P:S.3 one ink missing in this photo is Caran D'Ache Caribbean Sea, the only real turquoise ink that didn't bore me after only a couple of days using it, as happened to me with all the other real turquoise inks

 

Best

Piero

[PAC 1957]

P.S 4: because of the so many choices today , I'm more and more convinced that if Parker started making PPS again, it would be great news of course, but I would add it to my favourite blue inks list (probably as first best) ;it wouldn't therefore replace my entire selection, also because, as others wrote on this post, this list gives me a good reason to use more pens..............

 

Best

Piero

[PAKMAN]

 

Are you down to your last ten bottles?

 

 

Perry, that picture is hilarious. Did you buy those to use or as an investment property?

 

Tim

Like gold in the vault! Could easily get $50 a bottle! I cheated just a little, there a one full six pack of unopened bottles, but the ones out front contain one bottle of Penman Mocha, one bottle of Sapphire almost empty , one fullish bottle, and one bottle that was empty but was refilled with Binder Blurple (faux tanzinite).

Edited October 20, 2012 by pakmanpony

[inky]

First, if you haven't tried PPS yet, don't -- why set yourself up for the grief?

 

Second, it's pricy, but MB Diamond Blue seems to be a nice sub. This ink made me fall in love with blue all over again.

[inky]

My supply of PPS? I won't be running out anytime soon either. If I were, Perry's pic would have made me cry.

 

I may need to pick up a few more bottles of the MB before it goes on the black market.

[Trebster]

Heck if I ever did decide on a "favorite" blue - or any other favorite. Yas, I have plenty of real PPS and am not likely to run out. Is PPS my favorite? Nope. I just don't have a favorite blue. Altogether Waterman and Skrip get a great deal more use than anything else among my various blues. Not much help, eh?

[Joe in Seattle]

+1 to Alohamora. The electric version really makes it for me!

[jgrasty]

Pelikan Edelstein Topaz is my favorite blue ink, though Noodler's Liberty Elysium is pretty good, too. Penman Sapphire does have that certain something that makes it a great ink, but that ink is, alas, extinct.

Finally someone Who fully appreciatesTopaz!! I'm not sure how many people realised that this is one the best current PPS heirs and therefore one of the best current alternatives to PPS (if not the best). Certainly better in my opinion than the Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue, which unlke PPS has purplish tones Topaz appears to me a real winner as a unique dark turquoise: nice, versatile and appropriate in any business or private situation. And scanned signatures are very nice ...

As Pakmanpony said, after all there is no substitute to PPS, however We have many more options in the blue range ( and in any other colour of course) today than We had in the late 80s' when PPS came out with the other the Penman line inks

 

So, to me, looking for new blue inks is a nice ongoing "game" .

 

Here is an updated photo of my current favourite blue inks. None of these inks are close to PPS tone, except for Topaz to some extent as I said above ( although Topaz is brighter).

 

Which one do You like most of these 5 inks?

 

Best

Piero

 

P.S.: the title in the photo is underlined with Pelikan Highlighter ink (Pelikan M205 Duo).

P.S 2 I think I'll have a look at these new Iroshizuku inks coming out in December/January. Two of them are in the blue range, i.e. a blue sky (pretty bright) blue and a deep sea blue black, besides an interesting charcoal / black ( not so black, but a very nice tone, according to the photos I saw on FPN's related post.

P:S.3 one ink missing in this photo is Caran D'Ache Caribbean Sea, the only real turquoise ink that didn't bore me after only a couple of days using it, as happened to me with all the other real turquoise inks

 

Best

Piero

 

I also have Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo. It is an excellent ink, especially in a fat, wet nib. See also Noodler's Navajo Turquoise, another dramatic blue ink.

[nana_kathy]

There is no substitute!!!! I may run out one day but not too soon.....

 

 

For those of you with a weak heart - don't scan down!

 

 

 

 

Indeed... all I can say is .. However my stash of carts will last me quite a while.