Blue Black - Diamine

[visvamitra]

Manufacturers since 1864, Diamine Inks relocated to this purpose built 'state of the art' factory in Liverpool in 1925, where they successfully carried on using the traditional methods and formulas for ink production. Over the years the company has changed hands and are now located close to the world famous Aintree Race Course

http://www.diamineinks.co.uk/images/DimaineFactory.gif

http://www.diaminein...uk/AboutUs.aspx

As I've mentioned few times I have mixed feelings about Diamine inks, however I tend to use them from time to time. They have some amazing colors. Last year Diamine inks introduced their 150th anniversary inks in triangle bottles:

http://www.diamineinks.co.uk/images/BB_TerracotaL.jpg

http://www.stilografica.it/writable/Oggetti/Inchiostro%20boccetta/Diamine%20150th%20Anniversary%20Collection%20Ink.jpg

There are eight colors in this series of inks:

1. Blue Black
2. Blue Velvet
3. Carnival
4. Regency Blue
5. Safari
6. Silver Fox
7. Terracota
8. Tropical Green

It's darkest BB I know. I dislike it.

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/9797/Fc69y8.jpg

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/5605/Uc9N7n.jpg

Software ID:

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/694/gFLuSn.jpg

Color range

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/7256/xDnsii.jpg

Oxford recycled - Kaweco Sport Classic, eyedropper, B

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/788/avvS8V.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/9849/7RQJpl.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/6762/WPOZcT.jpg

Comparison

http://imageshack.com/a/img907/7575/sG7wAg.jpg

[Cyber6]

I don't like Black... but I LOOOOOOOVE Blue/Blacks.... This one is sooo dark, it makes me feel like I will be suck into the depth of the universe.... Lovely Color...

 

 

(I guess we really disagree on this one Vis)

 

 

 

C.

[OakIris]

I must agree with Cyber6 - I don't have any black inks, but blue blacks...oh yes! I think this ink looks very nice indeed AND it has shading!

 

What don't you like about the ink, visvamitra? Is it just too dark for you?

 

And, if you are willing to share this with us, what in general has you doubtful (having mixed feelings) about Diamine Inks? I know about problems associated with Private Reserve, Noodler's and other so-called "boutique" inks, but haven't read of any similar criticisms of the Diamine brand, but perhaps I am living under a rock.... True, I pretty much stick to Waterman, Parker, Sheaffer inks for my vintage pens, but thus far have had no qualms about, and no problems with, using the "boutique" inks for my modern pens, especially CC filling pens....

 

Holly

[visvamitra]

@Oakins

 

Ancient Copper says hello from my nib

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img833/8135/uprn.jpg

Kelly Green, Meadow, Jade, Ancient Copper, Sherwood Green cause nib crud. Syrah and many other Diamine inks cause nib creep. Many of them have starting issues and tend to clog and / or stain pens (Denim, indigo).

 

I use them but given choice I would pick Noodler's inks rather than Diamine. Private Reserve is worst and this is sad because they offer stunning colors. I've just tried sepia and my thoughts were like: is it ink or mud? Nicely colored mud but still.

 

And when it comes to blue/blacks I just don't like them. Ity may change with tiome but for now I can't start liking them

[OakIris]

Wow, you have indeed had some issues with Diamine Inks! If I had that many problems with so many inks from the same manufacturer, I don't think I would still be willing to chance trying another one!

 

I have read about the nib crud from Ancient Copper, but nothing about problems with the other inks you listed. I don't have that many Diamine inks, but I do have Syrah, Twilight, Sherwood Green, Green Black and, yes indeed, Blue Black (though not from the 1864 series so I don't know if it is the same ink,) and haven't had any problems with any of them in the pens I have used with them - perhaps I have been lucky.....

 

So you haven't found a blue black ink that you like? Must not be in the range of colors that appeal to you; good thing that there are hundreds of other choices out there!

 

Holly

Edited January 16, 2015 by OakIris

[inkstainedruth]

Vismamitra, is that the 1864 Blue Black? You may not like it but your review has put it onto my short list of "try a sample". It looks a tad lighter than Eclipse (an ink I also really like), and appears to have a bit of shading, It also looks to be a little less teal than Denim, which I also really like and which *doesn't* shade much if at all.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Barkingpig]

I didn't know I would like blue black until I tried S T Dupont's Nuit Bleu which I only bought to try in a Dupont pen. After finding it was a nice ink & good color I ordered the JFK Montblanc & liked it so much I ordered the second bottle! Just finished using it for most of the after Christmas notes in a Targa stub. This ink reminds me of the JFK & although I already ordered the Terracotta & Safari I think I may have to try this one as well. Maybe the right pen can make me like ALL colors of ink! ...........But I have my doubts about black.

[The Good Captain]

This 1864 Blue-Black, to give it its full title, is one of my three joint favourites from this series. The other two being Safari and Blue Velvet.

A proper dark blue black ink. What more can or ought to be said? If it had a bit more water-resistance, it could well be perfection!

Of course, that's just my opinion!

[hilsedwards]

This 1864 Blue-Black, to give it its full title, is one of my three joint favourites from this series. The other two being Safari and Blue Velvet.

A proper dark blue black ink. What more can or ought to be said? If it had a bit more water-resistance, it could well be perfection!

Of course, that's just my opinion!

I totally agree with your 1864 Blue-Black comment, this is a stunning ink and I am not usually a big fan of blue-black ink.

'Nuff said about it by me!

 

Now what about that delightful 1864 Tropical Green......... heavenly

[amberleadavis]

Sorry to see the crud. We should make a list of cruddy inks.

[I.M.]

@Oakins

 

Ancient Copper says hello from my nib

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img833/8135/uprn.jpg

Kelly Green, Meadow, Jade, Ancient Copper, Sherwood Green cause nib crud. Syrah and many other Diamine inks cause nib creep. Many of them have starting issues and tend to clog and / or stain pens (Denim, indigo).

 

I'm now very curious. I've never seen nib crud this bad before. How long does it take before the crud appears? Do you leave the pens inked up for long before using them?

[Lazarus Long]

Diamine Sherwood Green is my main ink, I have never had nib crud. Syrah feathers a little more than I would like, but has had no other issues. Oxblood has been well behaved. Majestic Blue dried out in a pen once that had been left idle for a couple months. It is also slow drying.

[Arkanabar]

Most of my writing for the past year or two (or three) has been Noodler's Bad Black Moccasin diluted 1:1 in a variety of Indian pens that I can knock completely down to scrub the feed with a toothbrush. (The difficulty I had in removing BBM residue from a Nib Creaper after my wife let it dry out in the pen has made me ... cautious.) But Sherwood is my Essential Green Ink, and I've never had nib crud either. I usually need at least a week or two to write a pen out.

[RJS]

Ive had no ink crud from any inks, and I cant think of any significant creep, even when Ive mislaid a filled pen for a few months. That includes Ancient Copper, though that wasn't easy to clean out. Ive had other issues with Diamine inks, but at about £2 a pop I can experiment widely with them! 10 small bottles for less than one fancy Japanese bottle isnt bad. My issues, when Ive had them, have been hard starts, skipping and drying out, usually in saturated reds and purples. For me, Diamine inks work better in European pens that demonstrate some drag. (I like pens with feedback as well as buttery smooth pens)

 

Edit: I do use apostrophes, honestly, but this forum doesnt recognise them when inputted on a mobile device.

Edited September 20, 2020 by RJS

[I-am-not-really-here]

Ive had no ink crud from any inks, and I cant think of any significant creep, even when Ive mislaid a filled pen for a few months. That includes Ancient Copper, though that wasn't easy to clean out. Ive had other issues with Diamine inks, but at about £2 a pop I can experiment widely with them! 10 small bottles for less than one fancy Japanese bottle isnt bad. My issues, when Ive had them, have been hard starts, skipping and drying out, usually in saturated reds and purples. For me, Diamine inks work better in European pens that demonstrate some drag. (I like pens with feedback as well as buttery smooth pens)

 

Edit: I do use apostrophes, honestly, but this forum doesnt recognise them when inputted on a mobile device.

On iOS, you could turn off Smart Punctuation. Whether that has unwanted effects elsewhere I don't know.

 

written on an iPad.

[lapis]

Many thanks to both of you (RJS and I-am-not-really-here)! I checked it out on this iPhone 5S and it works. I hope there won't be any other calamities elsewhere. Funny that I'd never yet noticed that in the (very few) replies I'd sent from my phone....

[RJS]

Thanks for the suggestion. Let's see if that does or doesn't work...

On iOS, you could turn off Smart Punctuation. Whether that has unwanted effects elsewhere I don't know.

 

written on an iPad.

[RJS]

It worked great! Thanks.