Ink Review: Diamine Earl Grey

[Chrissy]

Today I’m reviewing a sample of the increasingly popular new ink from Diamine called Earl Grey

Inside the box lid is a label that says “This ink colour was chosen by the members of r/fountainpens, a wonderful Reddit community of fountain pen enthusuiasts.”

It’s a grey ink that has some purple tones, but it doesn’t particularly lean towards the purple or blue edge of the colour spectrum

I found it a quite wet and well flowing ink. I didn’t experience any ignition or clogging problems with it. It had good lubrication with the pens I tested it with and it wrote with a smooth glide across the papers I used.

It has some very nice shading and looks more saturated with broader nibs than with finer nibs.

I had no problem cleaning it out of pens using cold water or off of skin using soap and warm water.

It showed through on some of the papers I used.

It is not sold as a water resistant ink and it isn’t particularly water resistant.

The comparison inks were swabbed with a cotton bud and their ink names were written with a glass dip pen.

• Flow Rate: Wet, very good.
• Lubrication: Wet, good
• Nib Dry-out: Not noticed.
• Start-up: Immediate.
• Saturation: Reasonably saturated for a grey ink. Too saturated and they look black.
• Shading Potential: Very good; shading can easily be seen.
• Sheen: None noticed
• Show-Through:
  • Tomoe River 52gsm.
  • Cheaper generic 80gsm printer papers & lined pads.
  • Field Notes
  • Rhodia Dot Pad
  • Clairefontaine Crok Book
• Spread / Feathering: Not seen except on Field Notes
• Nib Creep / “Crud”: Not seen, even after over a week in the pen
• Staining (pen): Not seen - easy clean-up
• Staining (hands): Not seen - easy clean-up
• Clogging: Not seen. Seems unlikely.
• Water resistance: Has no water resistance.
• Availability: Available from Diamine Inks web-site and other outlets.

[lgsoltek]

I think I'm gonna get one. It looks quite nice.

 

And I love the chroma!

[Chrissy]

I bet no-one would guess the ink from that chroma test.

[Tas]

Spot on !

Been using this all day. Love it.

 

(. . . Diamine Chopin is simply gorgeous)

[Tas]

I bet no-one would guess the ink from that chroma test.

Might try a Syrah / Turquose mix now Ive seen it.

Thank you 😊

[lapis]

Thanks for this review of an ink that I'm going to order for sure!

Above all -- as you say -- the chromatography is stunning. I'd never have guessed that (either) but it does reinforce the compliancy that "a grey isn't just a grey"....

[Chrissy]

Might try a Syrah / Turquose mix now Ive seen it.

Thank you

 

You're welcome. I would be interested to know if you produce a grey ink.

[Chrissy]

Thanks for this review of an ink that I'm going to order for sure!

Above all -- as you say -- the chromatography is stunning. I'd never have guessed that (either) but it does reinforce the compliancy that "a grey isn't just a grey"....

You'll welcome

 

Indeed. When is a grey ink grey?

[Tas]

 

You're welcome. I would be interested to know if you produce a grey ink.

 

Erm . . . . no.

 

I have a small mess and yet another nondescript Blue Black ready to go into a collective vat

[lapis]

You'll welcome

 

Indeed. When is a grey ink grey?

When it's not one of these colours:

[Chrissy]

 

Erm . . . . no.

 

I have a small mess and yet another nondescript Blue Black ready to go into a collective vat

 

I haven't looked in my Quality Street tin full of chroma test strips, but as a complete guess I might consider something along the lines of Amaranth and Schubert. I will have a look at my chroma tests to see if I can come up with anything that might be better.

[Chrissy]

Spot on !

Been using this all day. Love it.

 

(. . . Diamine Chopin is simply gorgeous)

I always liked Chopin grey too. (Until now maybe.)

[namrehsnoom]

Thanks for the review, Chrissy. Anyone calling grey boring should take a look at all these recent Earl Grey reviews... might change their mind :-)

[white_lotus]

Thanks for the review, Chrissy. Anyone calling grey boring should take a look at all these recent Earl Grey reviews... might change their mind :-)

 

Nope never. If I want gray on a piece of paper I'll use a pencil.

[Chrissy]

Thanks for the review, Chrissy. Anyone calling grey boring should take a look at all these recent Earl Grey reviews... might change their mind :-)

 

You're welcome.

[PS104]

Definitely on my short list

[Chrissy]

Definitely on my short list

 

[minddance]

Definitely on my short list

I will get this ink.

 

Kirisame needs a wet pen to be legible.

Fuyu Syogun begs for an even wetter pen than Kirisame. And after its wish gets granted, it turns cold and frosty.

Cacoa du bresil (not a 'strict grey' and can be finnicky with pen-paper combinations for the look and colour I desire. Somiko B (after reading Sandy1's review) works for me.

Diamine Graphite: too dark a grey.

Diamine Grey: my staple in a Faber Castell Loom Med nib tuned wet to subdue shadings. Produces a meek sheen if left uncapped for a while)

Silver Fox: too shadey and distracting and can be too light. Fun, nevertheless.

Earl Grey could the next staple Grey ink for me (if the review pen was not primed or wrote wetter just after inking)

Edited November 1, 2017 by minddance