Diamine China Blue

[mhphoto]

Bottom line, I love this ink.

 

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh494/gunsandlights/DiamineChinaBlueReviewMedium.jpg

 

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh494/gunsandlights/DiamineChinaBlueReviewPensCloseup.jpg

 

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh494/gunsandlights/DiamineChinaBlueReviewObservationsCloseup.jpg

 

I particularly like it with dip pens.

 

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh494/gunsandlights/DiamineChinaBlueReviewBrauseCloseup.jpg

 

And the comparisons.

 

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh494/gunsandlights/DiamineChinaBlueReviewComparisonsCloseup.jpg

[DanielCoffey]

China Blue does have the interesting property of lightening significantly as it settles in over its first day. I find it restful on the eye and well behaved. The wetter the pen, the less the ink lightens after it has dried. My broad stub does not exhibit the same lightening that my Medium does because it puts down more of the colour when wet.

 

If you are ever looking for a Diamine Green that is as well behaved and as easy to look at, Diamine Umber would make a good pair with this one - a soft green that whispers "money" gently in your ear.

[terminal]

Funny the Ahab sample has so much more variation than the Brause sample.

 

Great review, thanks!

[Laura N]

Great review. I love this ink and think you've done a nice job capturing the color.

[wastelanded]

Fantastic review, you show this superb ink in all its glory.

[wastelanded]

The more I use this ink, the more I like it. It has become my #1 blue.

[mhphoto]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!

 

The more I use this ink, the more I like it. It has become my #1 blue.

 

Same with me. Oddly enough, my favorite paper to use it with is cheap notebook paper. It's so absorbent that there's no shading, so the entire letter is that beautiful, muted, two-shades-away-from-ashen blue.

[wastelanded]

exactly! It's very close to Herbin's Bleu Myosotis, and more economical.

[senzen]

That's a really cool loking ink! The shading is spectacular. Great review!

[whitelily]

Thank you for a wonderful review. I´m so tempted to get this ink...

[The Good Captain]

I bought a bottle today, along with one of their Royal Blue. I'll probably use the China first but I'm just waiting for a pen to become 'vacant'.

[Leftytoo]

Thanks for the nice review.

 

I just bought my first Diamine - Indigo - and like this blue-black ink a lot.

Bob

[The Good Captain]

Thanks for the nice review.

 

I just bought my first Diamine - Indigo - and like this blue-black ink a lot.

Bob

I was tempted with the Indigo as well but my wife suddenly came into the same shop! Let us know your thoughts on it if you will. I seem to have some other inks that are similar at the moment.

[attika89]

The more I use this ink, the more I like it. It has become my #1 blue.

 

Same here!

I love this ink! Honestly, this is the first ink so far what I'm going to buy in a 80ml bottle, because I know I'll use it.

[georges zaslavsky]

a very original blue which is also a lovely color, nice review thanks for sharing

[dannyboy]

I like many of Diamine's blues, especially their Royal Blue and Steel Blue. I bought a bottle of China Blue a week ago and have started to use it--very nice, interesting shading, and flows well. For a long time now I've been impressed with the quality of Diamine's inks!

[stevo]

Reminds me a lot of Florida Blue from Waterman - both in hue and in shading properties. Mine also tends to lighten as it dries.

[whitelily]

Reminds me a lot of Florida Blue from Waterman - both in hue and in shading properties. Mine also tends to lighten as it dries.

Really? IMHO I think this ink looks a lot lighter and "softer" than Florida blue? I think I´ll buy and try this ink in the future, and then I can do a comparison.