Ink Review: Diamine Majestic Blue

[Chrissy]

Today I'm reviewing Diamine Majestic Blue

A medium to dark blue ink from the standard range, Diamine Majestic Blue seems to be discussed more frequently than most other Diamine inks.
Many love it's strong blue colour and red sheen, while some report problems like it stains hands and pens. I must admit I haven't written with it for ages and am guilty of letting my half full, old style 80ml bottle, sit around, unused, in a box.
I took it out and examined it carefully. First I tipped it upside down and can report there was no sign of any sludge in the bottom of the bottle. Then I turned it up and removed the cap. No signs of any sludge there either.
I filled my Lamy Al-star converter with it. Then left it on my table for a few days. When I went back to the pen, it started writing straight away. No hard start. It didn't skip once, nor did it blob anywhere.
It was neither particularly wet nor dry, and it felt smooth and lubricated on my Xerox smooth Colour/Mono laser 100gsm paper.
It's very attractive red sheen was really obvious, as was it's saturated blue colour.
Don’t have any concerns about not being able to get Parker Penman Sapphire ink. Diamine Majestic Blue is just as good!
I will take a photo to show the red sheen, and will report back on whether or not the converter is stained when the pen is emptied.

• Flow Rate: Good. Neither particularly wet nor dry in the pen & paper combinations I used.
• Lubrication: Good with all 3 Lamy nibs I used.
• Nib Dry-out: Not noticed.
• Start-up: Immediate.
• Saturation: Very saturated.
• Shading Potential: Some seen.
• Sheen: Red sheen noticeable.
• Show-Through:
  • Clairefontaine Crokbook Paper.
  • Hobonichi Techo paper.
  • Oxford paper.
  • Midori paper.
  • Field Notes.
  • Cheaper generic 80 & 90gsm printer papers & lined pads.
• Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Not seen even on Field Notes.
• Nib Creep / “Crud”: Not seen, even after over 1 week in the pen
• Staining (pen): Not seen after several days - easy clean-up
• Staining (hands): Two washes with bar soap. More required with liquid soap.
• Clogging: Not seen. Seems unlikely.
• Water resistance: Not sold as waterproof, but shows a little water resistance.
• Availability: Available from Diamine Inks web-site and many other outlets.

[NicolausPiscator]

Thank you for your wonderful detailed review! The test on different papers is very interesting, especially on the Midori-Paper. ... I am still contemplating whether I like the Majestic blue or not...

[Chrissy]

Thank you for your wonderful detailed review! The test on different papers is very interesting, especially on the Midori-Paper. ... I am still contemplating whether I like the Majestic blue or not...

 

You're welcome I suggest you try a sample first.

[lapis]

Nice review. I have always liked this blue -- for me rather a "dark" blue and not a "medium" blue. But that is secondary if not completely subjective. I might even go all the way and call it a "reference" dark blue of mine, along with Visconti and Montblanc, you know.... The only thing which has ever peeved me here is that it smudges. I.e. it does dry "to a certain extent", of course, but then, just lying round in a drawer for months, it still isn't always really 100% dry, and can get smeared simply by a light whisk of my hand (which, no, is not wet or oily). Maybe the contents of my old bottle (of the 80-ml sort) has been revamped within the last 10 years....

[Chrissy]

Nice review. I have always liked this blue -- for me rather a "dark" blue and not a "medium" blue. But that is secondary if not completely subjective. I might even go all the way and call it a "reference" dark blue of mine, along with Visconti and Montblanc, you know.... The only thing which has ever peeved me here is that it smudges. I.e. it does dry "to a certain extent", of course, but then, just lying round in a drawer for months, it still isn't always really 100% dry, and can get smeared simply by a light whisk of my hand (which, no, is not wet or oily). Maybe the contents of my old bottle (of the 80-ml sort) has been revamped within the last 10 years....

 

You're welcome. You're right: maybe I should have referenced it as a dark blue. - I can change that. I think of navy blue type blues that aren't blue-blacks when I think dark blue. i.e. Montblanc JFK, Diamine Midnight, & Oxford Blue.

 

I have heard that some users find it smears and smudges. One of my experiments was to try and make it smear or smudge. After it was dry on every paper, I rubbed my first 3 fingers of my right hand across it several times in different directions. Then I did the same with a cotton pad. It didn't smear or smudge. In fact, when writing on the Rhodia Graph paper, I forgot to rule the pencil margin first, and did it immediately after I finished writing. I assumed that would be smudged, but no it wasn't. Not even when I looked under a loupe.

 

Therefore I must have a great bottle.

[bobje]

Chrissy, those paper tests are terrific. Looks great on Apica.

[dcwaites]

One of the nice features of Diamine Majestic Blue is that it can take dilution with water quite well. Quite a lot of water, up to equal parts DMB and water, and still give you a very nice, very well behaved, blue.

It's reputed cousin, Akkerman #5 Shocking Blue has the same ability.

[Orange25]

Many thanks for the review, Chrissy. It's a lovely colour and one that I've managed to overlook.

 

Has anyone tried to mix this with a waterproof/bulletproof ink to increase its water resistance?

[Chrissy]

Chrissy, those paper tests are terrific. Looks great on Apica.

 

Thank you. It dried quickly on Apica too.

[Chrissy]

One of the nice features of Diamine Majestic Blue is that it can take dilution with water quite well. Quite a lot of water, up to equal parts DMB and water, and still give you a very nice, very well behaved, blue.

It's reputed cousin, Akkerman #5 Shocking Blue has the same ability.

Thanks. That is worth knowing.

[Chrissy]

Many thanks for the review, Chrissy. It's a lovely colour and one that I've managed to overlook.

 

Has anyone tried to mix this with a waterproof/bulletproof ink to increase its water resistance?

You're welcome. Yes, it's a great colour. I would be careful about mixing a standard dye based ink with a waterproof/bulletproof ink and if Noodler's is the brand you're considering, it's unlikely to work.

[The Good Captain]

As I mentioned on your review on FPG, you are lucky that you've had no smearing experiences. I still prefer Akkerman's Shocking Blue though - ever-so slightly!

[lgsoltek]

Looks great. (I thought I had it, but turns out I don't. I may need to grab a bottle. )

[RoyalBlueNotebooks]

Bleedthrough on Rhodia and Clairefontaine... what. I haven't gotten around to use the only cartridge I have of this blue since I've already got Asa Blue and it's so vivid and saturated that I don't feel the need to pop that cartridge yet.

[Jan2016]

one of my favorite blues! and it has a great red sheen!

[Orange25]

You're welcome. Yes, it's a great colour. I would be careful about mixing a standard dye based ink with a waterproof/bulletproof ink and if Noodler's is the brand you're considering, it's unlikely to work.

 

Thanks for coming back to me. Ah, that's a shame . Was looking to mix it with a waterproof Noodler's blue.

 

No worries, though. Still a great colour that I'll be adding the next time I order a batch of ink !

[dcwaites]

 

Thanks for coming back to me. Ah, that's a shame . Was looking to mix it with a waterproof Noodler's blue.

 

No worries, though. Still a great colour that I'll be adding the next time I order a batch of ink !

 

If you want a waterproof-ish ink, in the same colour family as DMB, then you need to look at Noodler's Liberty's Elysium.

[TSherbs]

I'll end up with a sample of this, likely

[Chrissy]

Bleedthrough on Rhodia and Clairefontaine... what. I haven't gotten around to use the only cartridge I have of this blue since I've already got Asa Blue and it's so vivid and saturated that I don't feel the need to pop that cartridge yet.

 

I didn't see show through or bleed through on my Rhodia Graph paper, that was part of my PIF sample from Amberleadavis

Because I am currently using that paper for my ink reviews, I didn't try it in my ordinary Rhodia Dot Pad as well. Are they are the same paper?

[Chrissy]

We had a bright day today so, as promised, here is a photo I took showing the shading and red sheen of Diamine Majestic Blue ink from my Hobonichi Techo planner (Tomoe River paper) Lamy Al-star with M steel nib.: