Favorite Dark Blue Ink?

[Susanlouise]

I don't use black or blue-black ink, too boring IMHO. But I have managed to get my husband interested in using a fountain pen, as long as he doesn't have to have ink-stained fingers. so we are sort of looking at cartridges. He is using one of my Pilot VP's, and he likes the pen (click,click!) but he doesn't like the black ink in the Pilot cartridge I had. He says it's watery. I inked it with Noodler's Blue Eel, and he thought that was too light too. Guys... I don't have anything darker in inventory! What should I get for him? He wants a DARK BLUE ink - what say y'all? (cartridges would be ideal, but if I have to be his pen tech and keep the converter full with bottled ink, that's probably ok too!)

[myn]

Diamine Twilight and Midnight are favorites of mine. Diamine Eclipse, and Denim are also very nice. I'm not sure where you could find them in cartridges though. You could take a look at http://www.gouletpens.com/Diamine_Bottled_Ink_s/783.htm to see the particular colours I've mentioned. Also you can check for cartridges under the various ink makers on his site as well.

 

Edit: No affiliation - just a very happy repeat customer.

Edited September 29, 2012 by myn

[Laura N]

Diamine Midnight or De Atramentis Sherlock Holmes. Both are dark and wet and nicely behaved. I don't think either is available in cartridges, though.

 

A few points about the Sherlock Holmes. I think it's only carried by the Goulets, online. The ink is very popular and is often out of stock when I look. But it's in stock now. Shhh. Finally, if the Sherlock Holmes label is unimportant, the color is identical to some other De Atramentis inks: 2012 Year of the Dragon and I think Dark Blue.

[wastelanded]

If it must be cartridges, a shout out for Kaweco Blue Black. Great big packets of shading.

[P.A.R.]

Diamine Midnight Blue. A very dark but still true blue that writes smoothly and reliably. My personal favorite overall ink, despite slight feathering on some papers.

 

EDIT

 

Sorry- I meant to say Noodler's Midnight Blue

Edited September 29, 2012 by P.A.R.

[tisquinn]

I think Noodler's Bad Belted Blue Herron is great. It is almost black, cheap, and water resistant. It's also very readable and business appropriate. Good luck converting the loved one--it's can be a challenge!

 

Quinn

[mirosc]

For me the best dark blue is Private Reserve Electric DC Blue (unlike others it comes in cartridges), it's a dark blue with good drying time and overall good performance. I have searched and tried quite some dark blues and that one has turned out to be best for me.

 

Edit: sorry, stupid me, you are looking for Pilot cartridges, not international standard (like the PR comes in...)

Edited September 29, 2012 by mirosc

[GSteer]

Might be too Blue/Black but I found Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher worked very nicely in my VP. Good flow, good colour.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

It is unfortunate that the Pilot pens accept only the proprietary Pilot cartridges; and that the Pilot Blue-Black is not the colour you seek.

 

So, we have the bottled inks, of which there are many. I use mostly Medium Blue through Blue-Black inks, and the Dark Blue inks from time to time. The ones I prefer are those that have a bit of Indigo-Violet to give a bit more 'sparkle' than the low-chroma Blue-Blacks. There are also the dark Green-leaning Blue-centric inks, that are sometimes [inaccurately] considered Blue-Black, such as Diamine Twilight and R&K Verdigris, which are very fine inks indeed in their own right.

 

Of the few Dark Blue inks that I have spent much time with, I like the Private Reserve Midnight Blues and Black Magic Blue, and the Diamine Denim, which has a strong resemblance to the ancient Indigo dyestuff.

 

I would be remiss if I did not mention Pilot tsuki-yo, which seems to hold its own bit of ground in the inky pantheon, poised between the night sky and the moonlit sea.

 

I've found that for the colour of the Dark Blue inks to remain apparent, and not appear 'off-Black', in most cases the tone (density) the ink needs to be relatively pale from the narrow nibs; and as the paper's absorbency also influences ink tone, choice of paper should also be considered. Yet I found some Dark Blue inks are great from narrow nibs, such as the now-discontinued 'black box' version of OMAS Blue.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited September 29, 2012 by Sandy1

[alexander_k]

Diamine Midnight Blue. A very dark but still true blue that writes smoothly and reliably. My personal favorite overall ink, despite slight feathering on some papers.

 

In complete agreement: as often mentioned here it's the ink that soothes quite a few temperamental inks - and it's gorgeous.

[XiaoMG]

I also am going to throw in a vote for PR Electric DC Blue, if he can handle the dry times. One of my favorites is Noodler's Navy but it might lean a bit greenish.

[Trebster]

Hi,

 

Of the few Dark Blue inks that I have spent much time with, I like the Private Reserve Midnight Blues and Black Magic Blue, and the Diamine Denim, which has a strong resemblance to the ancient Indigo dyestuff.

 

I would be remiss if I did not mention Pilot tsuki-yo, which seems to hold its own bit of ground in the inky pantheon, poised between the night sky and the moonlit sea.

 

I've found that for the colour of the Dark Blue inks to remain apparent, and not appear 'off-Black', in most cases the tone (density) the ink needs to be relatively pale from the narrow nibs; and as the paper's absorbency also influences ink tone, choice of paper should also be considered. Yet I found some Dark Blue inks are great from narrow nibs, such as the now-discontinued 'black box' version of OMAS Blue.

 

Bye,

S1

 

+1 on S1's top drawer recommendations. I can heartily endorse Private Reserve Midnight Blues as a true very dark blue. Also chiming in on the old Omas blue, which now appears to be relegated to unobtanium (for all practical purposes).

[Susanlouise]

Thank you all for your suggestions! Now it's off to Dromgoole's.

[nana_kathy]

If you haven't decided, I'd like to suggest Parker Blue or Blue-Black... both are classic and dark, and available in cartridges.

[The Good Captain]

What about Diamine's new Blue-Black R2 which is really a great dark blue (or I have to say it, Blue-Black with attitude)? Or J Herbin Bleu Nuit, which I think is similar to Diamine Midnight, but just a tad darker.

[mooshi]

I'm a HUGE fan of Noodler's Legal Lapis.

 

I liked Noodler's Bad Blue Heron, but after inking up my Pilot Prera with it, I found it to be much too light. The Legal Lapis was wonderful, however.

[AlejoPlay]

Sailor Jentle Blue

Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher

PR Sonic Blue

LAMY Blue Black

 

I am still not 100% sold on Diamine Denim. I don't see enough blue in there. It's so dark it's almost black. But it's super well behaved. I do get a bit of shading on Clairefontaine/Rhodia with a dryish Medium Nib.

 

EDIT: Because of this post, I inked up a Sheaffer Imperial II that I NEVER use despite having one of the greatest Medium nibs in my collection. Diamine Denim on Staples 28lb laser paper works pretty well. It looks more blue than black, but it's dark and respectable looking.

Edited September 29, 2012 by AlejoPlay

[N2theBreach]

Are you headed to Dromgooles yet? If not, do you think he'll go along? He can try them and choose the one he likes. And... A byproduct of the visit is that he may get a bit more excited about FPs when he chooses his own ink, sees all the other colors available, sees all the pens, the whole environment.

 

Good luck.

[Susanlouise]

Hi - we went to Dromgoole's, he actually bought his own Pilot VP (blue with rhodium trim), and some Pilot Blue cartridges. I scored a bottle of Private Reserve Midnight Blues, based on the recommendations here. Dromgoole's does not carry Diamine! He really likes the VP but does not want to consider using the converter so he is going to live with the Pilot Blue color. I think in time I might be able to get him to use the converter. He sees me covered with ink when I am cleaning out several pens, and re-inking them, so he thinks that he would also be covered in ink if he used ink from a bottle. Baby steps! But he is really tickled with the VP. I put the Midnight Blues in my Delta Stealth, and it is a really nice color. Yesterday I had to sign some documents at the lawyer and the pen I had at hand had MB Seaweed Green in it, which is a great color but perhaps not ideal for signing documents. I probably need to use blue-black more.

[P.A.R.]

You might consider showing him how to refill cartridges with a blunt tipped syringe and capping them with hot glue.