Twenty Blue-Blacks

[daTomoT]

Thanks very much for posting this wonderful comparison Daisy, and linking to my Blue Black thread!

[smk]

Thank you for a very useful comparison Daisy.

 

Although I like Parker Quink Blue-Black I agree there's not much black in it. I remember it being darker from ages ago (in the 70's and 80's) but that might be just my memory playing tricks on me :-)

 

Maybe not; I've seen samples from some vintage bottles that were way darker than this. I was actually really surprised to see it come out this light.

 

So maybe you're not just getting old and losing brain cells like me, SMK!

 

I just realized I have some old letters from my mother and she always used Quink Blue-Black. I'll check to see if the ink was a darker shade and report back.

 

Salman

[The Good Captain]

Thank you for a very useful comparison Daisy.

 

Although I like Parker Quink Blue-Black I agree there's not much black in it. I remember it being darker from ages ago (in the 70's and 80's) but that might be just my memory playing tricks on me :-)

 

Maybe not; I've seen samples from some vintage bottles that were way darker than this. I was actually really surprised to see it come out this light.

 

So maybe you're not just getting old and losing brain cells like me, SMK!

 

I just realized I have some old letters from my mother and she always used Quink Blue-Black. I'll check to see if the ink was a darker shade and report back.

 

Salman

Modern Quink BB is definitely lighter than the older Solv-X stuff, and if my bottle is right, the Super Quink was even darker. Personally the new version is OK but a bit too 'teal' for my liking.

[lapis]

Thanks! IMO one of the best ink comparisons of all time. A: 20 all at once on 1 or 2 pieces of paper!! B: All next to each other on one screen page eliminating lots of scrolling.

 

More, please... http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/peli46/Applause.png

[OrganicsStudio]

No Organics Studio Manganate V in there hahah

[SUNIL GARG]

Thank for such a detailed review. 20 different blue-black yet the two I

like most are missing:

My No.1 Sailor Yama Dori (simply fantastic) and Mont Blanc Midnight Blue.

[ethernautrix]

I love these comparison posts. Thank you for doing this.

 

Wow, such a range of shades in the blue-blacks.

[Daisy]

The ones I haven't got are the two Pilots, the Sailor pigment one and the two Nooder's Bad Belted. BUT I've also got Monteverde Blue-Black and three vintage Quink or super-Quink Solv-X versions too.

I love this colour and thanks again Daisy. As for the R2 Diamine identification sticker: mine has it inside the box, on one of the bottom flaps. Things may have changed though.

 

I recently had the opportunity to acquire some Monteverde BB but didn't pull the trigger because so many people called it "underwhelming" and frankly I already have plenty of blue-blacks. Since it seemed like a fairly straightforward BB in the pictures I concluded that it must be a muddy color in person to get that kind of response. How do you like yours?

 

I did look, but I still can't see the R2 sticker anywhwere on my two Diamine BB boxes, so they're either under the big stickers underneath or just not there at all...

[bizhe]

Fantastic!

[Daisy]

If you look at the very first post again, I have added the original scan as columns so you can see more detail. Still not as much as I'd have liked, but definitely more than what you can get by just clicking on the original image.

 

Thanks very much for posting this wonderful comparison Daisy, and linking to my Blue Black thread!

 

No problem! And in regard to your original BB thread, it was the very least I could do, considering I not only hijacked that thread but managed to hijack it more than once, doing everything but demanding a ransom to give it back... just call me D.B. Cooper. Some days I truly amaze myself in what I accomplish through complete ignorance and inattention. :roflmho:

 

Thanks! IMO one of the best ink comparisons of all time. A: 20 all at once on 1 or 2 pieces of paper!! B: All next to each other on one screen page eliminating lots of scrolling.More, please... http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/peli46/Applause.png

 

Well, there's lots of scrolling there now; hope that's not a problem.

 

You know, if people want to send me samples I'll do another. I just don't have any more BB inks on hand! 1 ml should be plenty for a comparison since I won't be filling a pen with it, and I can put it right next to the existing multi-review.

 

No Organics Studio Manganate V in there hahah

 

No Organics Studio Manganate V in my personal sample stash, either, though you're welcome to correct that if you'd like to see it up there with the others.

 

Thank for such a detailed review. 20 different blue-black yet the two Ilike most are missing: My No.1 Sailor Yama Dori (simply fantastic) and Mont Blanc Midnight Blue.

 

I have long wanted to try MB Midnight Blue, but as far as I know nobody does samples of it. I don't think Yama Dori ever caught my eye, to be honest, but I'll be sure to try some now. And if you want to send me a ml of each for comparison, just PM me.

 

I love these comparison posts. Thank you for doing this.Wow, such a range of shades in the blue-blacks.

 

No problem -- well, other than my feline friends.

 

It's amazing the variation, isn't it? I used to totally ignore the blue-blacks and now I write with almost nothing else. They are really expressive for being what I might not have considered a very expressive color!

[Daisy]

http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y323/daisy-be-true/File023.jpg

[PaulT00]

That's a really nice comparison - and it is pretty shocking how many 'blue-black' inks really aren't anything of the sort. There does seem to be quite a lot of green on display in that lot! However, I have to take issue with your classification of Iroshizuku Kiri-Same - I'd call it a grey and not even a particularly dark one - Fuyu-Syogun I might agree is a blue-black, but Kiri-Same always comes across as a silver grey to me.

[Daisy]

Paul, I agree with you on the Kiri-same; it was included because it had been a while since I used it and it *looked* kind of blue-black sloshing around in the sample bottle. I couldn't remember which of the two was the BB and I was trying to "git 'er done!" so I just did both.

 

You're absolutely right; that grey tint is as far as the blue-black aspect of Kiri-same goes! :roflmho:

[Federalist Pens]

Well Done!

 

Been trying to compare some BB inks myself- trying to find the "darkest" possible!

Would you say that both Noodler's Air Corps and Diamine Eclipse are the darkest shades you have seen??

 

Frank

[Daisy]

Would you say that both Noodler's Air Corps and Diamine Eclipse are the darkest shades you have seen??

 

Hi Frank!

 

Not exactly. And I'm glad you asked! Weird things happen under scanner lights, and those are actually not the only dark blue-blacks, IMO.

 

I'm looking at the actual page right now, and the darkest blue-black choice on the page is actually Diamine Denim. Diamine Eclipse is about as dark, but it is actually a purple-black, not a blue-black -- something that doesn't contrast well in a scan but is all too evident on the page.

 

Both Noodler's Blue-Black and Air Corps Blue-Black are very dark, just about equally so, to the point I can't actually pick which one is darker! The biggest difference there is that NBB is a true blue-black and ACBB is actually a rich teal black. So take your pick.

 

Going back to the Eclipse, it about matches the Noodler's for darkness and might be just the tiniest hair lighter.

 

Beyond those four, the only other truly dark ink on this page is the Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite, and while it's clearly not as dark as those four it is very surprisingly not far behind, either.

 

Fortunately, samples of all five are easily had! And keep in mind that there are many saturated dark blues that did not make it into this review that could easily be as dark as these are, even though they are not technically blue-blacks.

 

I hope this helps some. Good luck with your hunt!

Edited December 18, 2012 by Daisy

[amberleadavis]

WOW - very nice!!!

 

If you ever want to subject them to the sun, let me know, I'll put 'em in the caboose for you!

[Letterman]

Exquisite! Does your ink shelf need reinforcing?

[Daisy]

Exquisite! Does your ink shelf need reinforcing?

 

Naw, I wish it did. All but three or four of these are samples -- and I just gave away three of the samples, so it's now even lighter than it already was.

 

See, it all started when someone inadvertently sent me a writing sample of The Perfect Blue Black... and it turned out to be a vintage ink. I've been looking for the modern equivalent ever since. Hence the number of samples!

 

If you ever want to subject them to the sun, let me know, I'll put 'em in the caboose for you!

 

Well, thank you! But anything I care about is kept well out of the sun. I even keep my inks and samples in a lightfast photo storage box, just because. I know you meant it kindly, but I actually cringed a little at the thought...

 

 

Thanks all the same, though!

Edited December 18, 2012 by Daisy

[amberleadavis]

If you ever want to subject them to the sun, let me know, I'll put 'em in the caboose for you!

 

Well, thank you! But anything I care about is kept well out of the sun. I even keep my inks and samples in a lightfast photo storage box, just because. I know you meant it kindly, but I actually cringed a little at the thought...

 

 

Thanks all the same, though!

 

 

While I doubt that I'll ever write anything as important as the Declaration of Independence, and I hope I never live in such interesting times, fading happens. I looked at my diaries that were locked away and closed - the inks have faded.

 

Anyway, the offer was for the samples you created not the actual inks. (Seems like a shame to try and fade the inks).

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/charters/images/fadi-comparison-l.jpg

 

 

 

John Hancock's famous signature dramatically reveals how much the original Declaration (top) has faded versus the Stone Engraving made in the 1820s.

[Daisy]

I looked at my diaries that were locked away and closed - the inks have faded.

 

Yes, I expect mine will too.

 

Anyway, the offer was for the samples you created not the actual inks.

 

Yes, it was pretty clear that's what you meant. God forbid I should find myself sending anyone all my inks for any reason, much less for the purpose of deliberate destruction! :roflmho:

 

But as much as tests like yours have to be done for the betterment of mankind and all I'm just not the one who will be doing them. I'm far too wimpy to destroy something so pretty and I really like having the original around as a reference. Since I actually do treat all my pen and ink stuff as I would a crop of growing mushrooms, sun tests are kind of anathema to me. I know they have to be done -- just not by me!

 

Thank you all the same, though.

 

(Seems like a shame to try and fade the inks).

 

Oh, the HORROR!!!

 

 

See, you made me cringe again!

Edited December 18, 2012 by Daisy