Caran D'ache - Colors Of The Earth [R.i.p]

[visvamitra]

Located in Geneva since its inception in 1915, the Maison Caran d'Ache is committed to creating and developing writing and drawing instruments.

Caran d’Ache is the pen name by which Russian-born French illustrator, Emmanuel Poiré, achieved worldwide renown in the 19th century. The choice turned out to be a salient one, since “karandash” is the Russian term for “pencil” and in turn comes from the Turkish root “kara tash” which refers to black stone – the origins of graphite.

This natural material found in the mountains of Switzerland gave rise to the first Swiss pencil factory set up in Geneva in 1915. Nine years later, in the hands of its founder, the visionary Arnold Schweitzer, it took the name of the famous illustrator became known as Caran d’Ache.

http://imageshack.com/a/img908/4606/SPAv3p.png

Some time ago CdA introduced magnificient series od inks called Colors of the earth.

http://imageshack.com/a/img913/6141/IjM0jZ.jpg

The series offered nine inks inspired by colors of the nature. The concept was really nice, the execution flawless (I loved the bottles), only the price wasn't that thrilling. But hey, we're talking premium product here.

Colors of the Earth line that was discontinued in early 2013, and with time replaced with Chrtomatics series. .

Samples of Colors of the Earth series inks were kindly send to me by Michael R. Thank you a lot!

At the moment of making this comparison Ididn't have Carbon sample so it's not included. As I dislike black inks, that's not a problem for me. I have impression that some of the colors changed with age. Obvious example is Washed Out Ugly Something Formerly Known as Blue Night. As you see the sample looks everything but blue. It's sad and discouraging that premium ink behaves this way. I remember trying Sunset around two years ago and as I remember it was brighter.

Anyway let's takle a look at what I've got.

Colors of the Earth

http://imageshack.com/a/img909/538/AV8UPO.jpg

Ink splash

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/3751/vp1sWZ.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img905/987/MY85Jv.jpg

Swabs

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/1897/D6Yht3.jpg

Atrament na ręczniku kuchennym

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/936/Vm8qd1.jpg

GScribbles, my company paper, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

http://imageshack.com/a/img911/7872/QkHWfc.jpg

Notatnik z Leclerca, Kaweco Classic Sport ze stalówką w rozmiarze B

http://imageshack.com/a/img909/8435/hUa0A0.jpg

Calendar, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/1708/k3A0Kv.jpg

Calendar, Hero 5028, stub 1,9

http://imageshack.com/a/img903/9162/SMzhuj.jpg

TeNeues notebook, Hero 5028, stub 1,9

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/757/M0zzrk.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/9620/KUOU7F.jpg

Waterproofness

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/9391/9xkzi0.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/332/wW4eNI.jpg

Summary

Blue Night transformation is disturbing however I'll keep good memories of the series. As far as I'm concerned Colors of the Earth were much more intertesting than Chromatics. On the other hand I've tried only 4 Chromatics inks so far.

Amazon, Grand Canyon, Saffron i Storm were all unique and stunning colors. I wish they were still produced. The other inks don't impress me, well, maybe with one exception. Namely Caribbean Sea. This one made a hell of impression on me. I feel instant revilsion whenever I see it. It's one of the colors that hunt me in my nightmares.

Edited April 25, 2015 by visvamitra

[Cyber6]

  On 4/25/2015 at 7:21 PM, visvamitra said:

 

Caribbean Sea. This one made a hell of impression on me. I feel instant revilsion whenever I see it. It's one of the colors that hunt me in my nightmares.

 

LOL..You are so funny...

 

My favorites are: Caribbean Sea, Saffron, Sunset, Canyon and Storm. I am only missing a bottle of each Canyon and Storm.

 

I do have Blue Night.. the blue version of it. Is an OK blue/black for me.

 

Thanks for the comparison Vis...

 

 

C.

[lgsoltek]

Great review. Amazon is my dream green...

[I like mango cheesecake]

Excellent. I have sunset and I agree it is more bright like a fuschia pink colour. I have saffron too.

[visvamitra]

At the moment I have only half of Amazon bottle left. I'm going to use it, there's mo point in keeping it for next generations

 

I used to have Saffron and Grand Canyon bottles but sadly they're already finished. And there won't be more :/

[Lorna Reed]

Caribbean Sea is my all time favourite ink. I still have a few bottles stashed away.

[cybaea]

visvamitra, on 25 Apr 2015 - 20:21, said:

  On 4/25/2015 at 7:21 PM, visvamitra said:

Amazon, Grand Canyon, Saffron i Storm were all unique and stunning colors. I wish they were still produced. The other inks don't impress me, well, maybe with one exception. Namely Caribbean Sea. This one made a hell of impression on me. I feel instant revilsion whenever I see it. It's one of the colors that hunt me in my nightmares.

 

It is the colour of Cthulhu, I am sure of it. :-O

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Cthulhu_and_R%27lyeh.jpg

[inkstainedruth]

I voted in the poll for Grand Canyon (it's the only Caran d'Ache ink I have). I picked up a bottle of it on clearance at Christmastime, when I was up in Boston and made a pilgrimage to Btomfield Pen Shop. It's a very nice ink, and a great color.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[saskia_madding]

I don't tend to like browns, so I gave Grand Canyon a pass. It's nice, but isn't as nice as MB SG 2005, in my opinion. And the Blue Night was so ugly, and then it turned gray, like yours. The Blue Sky was too insipid for me after all the amazing Sailor blues I've tried.

 

But Sunset and Caribbean Sea are among my all time favourite inks, EVER, and Saffron and Amazon, are a close second, with Storm pulling up in the rear of all time favourite inks. Before they went out of stock I bought at least 7 bottles of each, more of some. I think I have something like 10 bottles of Carribbean Sea and Sunset.

 

Thanks for this detailed comparison!

[Chrissy]

Diamine Steel Blue is the closest ink I have found as a replacement for Caribbean Sea.

 

I would buy Sunset though, if I ever found it.

 

They have Carbon Black, Blue Sky and Blue Night in stock in my local pen shop

Edited April 27, 2015 by Chrissy

[I like mango cheesecake]

I'm bought my Sunset last year from a Canadian online / bm store. Not the common ones but has to search quite some time for it. They might still have

[Cushy Butterfield]

Chrissie, Amazon UK have sunset, Caribbean Sea and Amazon, £19.99 each free P&P.

[Chrissy]

  On 4/27/2015 at 4:08 PM, Cushy Butterfield said:

Chrissie, Amazon UK have sunset, Caribbean Sea and Amazon, £19.99 each free P&P.

Yes I know of those. I wouldn't pay that much for any of them though.

I should have added 'at a reasonable price' to my post.

 

I'm not at all worried about Caribbean Sea. I'm happy to stick with Diamine Steel Blue at less than half the price for twice as much.

Edited April 27, 2015 by Chrissy

[VivienR]

I only have Blue Sky, Blue Night and Carbon. I love the Carbon the most from the three... although your Blue Night review is bit surprising to me, in my fine nibs its more like Diamine Prussian Blue. Well, Diamine Steel Blue seems a good match, I have that, sadly not own Caribbean See. Even they are pricey ones, I think they worth the price with packing and everything. They are really good inks.

[mhosea]

Sometimes comparisons from memory can be misleading, but that scan of Caribbean Sea sure does remind me of Kaweco Paradise Blue. I thought I was OK with it the day I took a pen to work with a Paradise Blue cartridge in it. A few hours later, I was changing inks. Probably a love it or hate it kind of color.

 

I also remember CdA Sunset differently, more flamingo less rose.

Edited May 2, 2015 by mhosea

[nicholasyeo]

The Colours of the Earth series is prone to this kind of issue - I remember my bottle of Carribean Sea became washed out too!

[amberleadavis]

Thank you Vis, these comparisons take a lot of time, and I appreciate the effort!