New Montblanc Inks

[lapis]

I just had a chat with Hamburg, and it looks like this...

 

... Midnight Blue has been taken off the market (even if it's still listed in the US-MB-site). Apparently because they -- and/or enough of us -- have found that it is not permanent enough. That Midnight Blue (which is in the process of being discontinued) is now to be replaced by three newer versions:

 

 

● "Permanent Ink Blue" (a better document-ink),

● "Permanent Ink Black" (ditto), and

● "Midnight Blue" but which is now aimed at being less water-resistant.

 

We are not aware of any improvements e.g. in regard to flow or lubrication, but, these three do attempt to reach an even better maintenance-free level. We'll just have to wait until October drops by.

 

Mike

 

[cybaea]

Nice! Thank you for this update. Can't wait for their new document inks. I hoped they might do something like this:

 

My guess it that it is a minor adjustment (I am hoping more blue, less black) but if it is a bigger one then my guess would be to move from iron-gall to a more modern set of chemicals for permanence and to align with the ISO standards for ballpoint inks.

Edited September 11, 2013 by cybaea

[Sandy1]

* Runs to corner the market on Midnight Blue *

[hari317]

Mike, the better document inks will still be IG based?

[lapis]

Yup, the two "perms" are to be iron-galls, the upcoming Midnight blue is to have much less, or maybe even zero iron-gall in it, I forget.

[hari317]

Thanks! it will be interesting to see the difference between the two inks once they have cured on paper.

[wallylynn]

Yup, the two "perms" are to be iron-galls, the upcoming Midnight blue is to have much less, or maybe even zero iron-gall in it, I forget.

That would be awesome if it had even more IG. I really hope its true that they're not switching to cellulose-reactive type inks. We have enough noodlers but not enough IG.

[Chrissy]

Thanks for letting us know.

[RudyR]

So in order to get a better version of a highly regarded ink (because of its color and water resistance) they are giving us 2 colors we didn't really ask for and ruin the one we like. REALLY, I have never ever seen on this forum anyone ever bemoaning the fact that Montblanc does not offer a IG Black or Blue. The preference has always seemed to me to have a IG Blue/Black. An IG Blue does seems interesting though, but the degradation of Midnight Blue makes me a sad fountain pen user. And that is not good. Except now it gives me a excuse to buy ANOTHER bottle of MBMB....... and that makes me glad .

[wallylynn]

I do wonder how they're going to make a more IG blue...

[The Good Captain]

I shall await the Octoberfest with inky interest. I've one bottle of midnight Blue in use and two unopened bottles to be going on with but I'll have to try the new ones out. Just hope the volume and prices will be the same at Wheeler's!

Thanks for the info, Mike.

[hardyb]

Could the change decision be brought on by a lack of precious reason?

[hardyb]

Could the change decision be brought on by a lack of precious reason?

[1962falcon]

Lapis ..... thanks for bringing this to our attention...... Whilst this is an interesting move by MB I have taken the precaution of supplementing my near empty bottle of MBMB by acquiring a couple from www.websterspenshop.co.uk ‎.... no affiliation.

 

Falcon

[MisterBoll]

Could the change decision be brought on by a lack of precious reason?

 

Good one!

[lapis]

I shall await the Octoberfest with inky interest. I've one bottle of midnight Blue in use and two unopened bottles to be going on with but I'll have to try the new ones out. Just hope the volume and prices will be the same at Wheeler's!

Thanks for the info, Mike.

 

Cap'n, mein Freund, thanks for the kind words. Seriously, if you do consider joining the staff at the Oktoberfest, then we have considered that -- in contrast to the present-day price of an MB bottle of ink making 11.00 quid per 60 ml (= 0.18 quid/ml) -- a good ol' Oktoberfest beer (6.0%) comes in at as little as 9.40-9.85 Euro per litre (which is only 0.01 Euro/ml), haven't we? Of course, Your Voraciousness May Vary.

 

Mike

[hharry]

So in order to get a better version of a highly regarded ink (because of its color and water resistance) they are giving us 2 colors we didn't really ask for and ruin the one we like. REALLY, I have never ever seen on this forum anyone ever bemoaning the fact that Montblanc does not offer a IG Black or Blue. The preference has always seemed to me to have a IG Blue/Black. An IG Blue does seems interesting though, but the degradation of Midnight Blue makes me a sad fountain pen user. And that is not good. Except now it gives me a excuse to buy ANOTHER bottle of MBMB....... and that makes me glad .

WELL SPOKEN!

Love Midnight Blue. How long would a closed bottle last??

[The Good Captain]

Lapis ..... thanks for bringing this to our attention...... Whilst this is an interesting move by MB I have taken the precaution of supplementing my near empty bottle of MBMB by acquiring a couple from www.websterspenshop.co.uk ‎.... no affiliation.

 

Falcon

I would suggest that you buy it if you still can.

[The Good Captain]

 

Cap'n, mein Freund, thanks for the kind words. Seriously, if you do consider joining the staff at the Oktoberfest, then we have considered that -- in contrast to the present-day price of an MB bottle of ink making 11.00 quid per 60 ml (= 0.18 quid/ml) -- a good ol' Oktoberfest beer (6.0%) comes in at as little as 9.40-9.85 Euro per litre (which is only 0.01 Euro/ml), haven't we? Of course, Your Voraciousness May Vary.

 

Mike

You are most welcome and the relative price of consumables hadn't escaped me. Also, the first and last time I imbibed in Munich was in 1977. Such fun.

[RudyR]

WELL SPOKEN!

Love Midnight Blue. How long would a closed bottle last??

That's a good question. I have tried (with a glass dip pen) old Blue/black Iron gall ink that had sludge in the bottom and it still performed admirably. On my recent purchase of MBMB it says that the expiration date is Sept 2017 (at least that's what I would assume the little sticker is meant for). That would mean that its safe for ..... um...... carry the 2......... square the product............adjust for windage....... yes, 4 years. But I would bet it would be good quite a bit longer than that. Just don't suck up any sludge.