Montblanc Leonardo - Red Chalk

[Bigeddie]

Hi all,

 

First, let my say my flickr photo-stream is a mess of photos from work trips, random street abstract things and ink reviews. I like it, but it must confuse people from 'the real world'.

 

 

Packaging is the now standard 30ml bottles (same as Winterglow, ink of XXX, Hitchcock, Einstein and Diamond), I do like them, they are deep and quite nice to fill from. The box is grey with a da Vinci illustration of a wing on the front, with rose gold and silver embossing. Ident number 109357.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7070/6863503337_0770c4000a_z.jpg

Montblanc ink bottles by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

(2 of the 30ml bottles pictured on the left)

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/10680101854_3ea09959fe_z.jpg

Montblanc Red Chalk by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

The performance is good, it's a little on the dry side. There is no bleed even on the cheapest of paper, although it does spread on pulp as expected. Lubrication is a little below average, probably owing to the lower flow, this is only really noticeable on the more textured Conqueror Bamboo.

 

The colour is a red brown, no chalky tones. It's very similar to Carlo Collodi with just a little more red. On the cream coloured paper there is very little visible difference. It remains a brown though, it lacks the punch of a red - to me this makes it a contender for writing as well as note making where I find reds too distracting for anything more than a sentence.

 

Samples attached:

 

Rhodia Bloc Pad

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/10680061535_f78538e5ba_z.jpg

Montblanc Red Chalk by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

 

Conqueror Bamboo

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2892/10680123914_90684f7eca_z.jpg

Montblanc Red Chalk by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

 

Copy paper (pulp)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7311/10680117816_242197c671_z.jpg

Montblanc Red Chalk by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

 

Ink on a tissue after filling (the difference in colour is more evident here)

Collodi on the left, Leonardo on the right.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/10680280335_169750db5a_z.jpg

Montblanc Leonardo Red Chalk by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

Comparison Swabs:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3738/10680943043_d250078ecc_z.jpg

MB ink comparison - Red browns by Bigeddie100, on Flickr

 

 

Looking at the blotches on the tissue it looks like the Leonardo has more saturation, but this seems to be compensated for with the reduced flow to achieve a similar appearance.

 

Conclusion:

I liked Collodi, and I regret not buying a couple more bottles, so this tweak is a good result for me. This ink is very similar to Collodi and I would be hard pressed to tell them apart on tinted paper. Performance is good and the colour is going to make it suitable for my drafting and personal writing, but also of use as an alternate to more established blues and blacks. I like it, although I would like something a little different from the quite recent offering. (Also, MB, please bring back Ink of Joy!)

Edited November 5, 2013 by Bigeddie

[MisterBoll]

Thanks for the review and images. Looks like a really nicely toned red.

[lapis]

Nice review, nice ink, I know I can buy it immediately but I haven't yet had the time to do so (due to Frank Zappa). I was expecting something more like the Galileo but this shift towards a red may not at all be any decrescendo. Soo... we'll soon see.

 

Mike

[Joane]

Very nicely done review and nice ink. Thank you. I can hardly wait till my order arrives!

[Cyber6]

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!... When I heard Montblanc was releasing a Leonardo DaVinci ink... I knew I need to have it.. I don't even care about the color.

 

But... now, after seeing the color.... I am even more PSYCHED!!!!! ... I love it... It looks like his red chalk for sure... I am also glad I never cared much about the Collodi ink...

 

THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!!!!!!!

[Renfield]

How does it compare with the likes of Diamine Ochre and Burnt Sienna?

 

 

For £12.50 for 30ml, it looks a bit "Meh" to me to justify the price.

[Bigeddie]

How does it compare with the likes of Diamine Ochre and Burnt Sienna?

 

 

For £12.50 for 30ml, it looks a bit "Meh" to me to justify the price.

 

Alas, not two I have. It is just a little less yellow than Ancient Copper though. I'll upload some more comparisons tomorrow if I get a chance.

 

It's steep at £11.00 for 30ml direct from MB, but you do tend to get very good performance with the vast majority of their range. No doubt the short production periods also add a little to the cost.

Don't get me wrong, I'd be delighted if they made it half the price

[Poeticnook]

Thank you for the great review! I was hoping it would have more sheen or shading and more on the red side just like in this one:

 

http://www.penexchange.de/forum_neu/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8174

 

I guess MB Alfred Hitchcock is still my go to red ink from montblanc

[bernardo]

Nice color!

[Joane]

It may be on the expensive side but once the ink is used up you are left with a classy reusable inkwell worthy of any desk setting.

[Renfield]

 

Alas, not two I have. It is just a little less yellow than Ancient Copper though. I'll upload some more comparisons tomorrow if I get a chance.

 

It's steep at £11.00 for 30ml direct from MB, but you do tend to get very good performance with the vast majority of their range. No doubt the short production periods also add a little to the cost.

Don't get me wrong, I'd be delighted if they made it half the price

How about a trade?

 

You send me 2 ml of it and I will send you 4ml of both the Diamine inks?

 

Makes up the cost difference. I am in the UK so postage is easy.

 

PM me if interested. No worries if your not

 

Ren

[mephisto.chu]

Thanks for the sample and review!

Very helpful for me to make my mind to have one!

[The Good Captain]

I don't think I'll be splashing out...

[Sailor Kenshin]

GREAT review, and fast on the trigger, lol. The only thing keeping me away from this ink (possibly!) is dryness.

[cybaea]

Also on Doc Brown's Inkcyclopedia: http://fpgeeks.com/inkcyclopedia/inkcyclopedia-montblanc-leonardo-red-chalk/

[KJY]

Thank you for the review.

I received two bottles of this ink and filled it today.

My first impression/thought was the same. It really looks like Collodi brown.

 

Wonderful review!

[Mainecoon]

Nice review and fast as always . Keep up the good work! The comparison between inks is very helpful. I'm sure now: I'll stick to the Collodi; still 2 bottles left.

[alv_23]

Hi!

 

anyone who have this montblanc ink and the diamine sepia ink can ask me if are similar?

 

regards

[Renfield]

Hi!

 

anyone who have this montblanc ink and the diamine sepia ink can ask me if are similar?

 

regards

 

 

I would imagine not. I dont have the Montblanc Ink, but Diamine Sepia is much more yellow to me light.

 

it does look similar to Diamine Ochre in Video's

[alv_23]

 

 

I would imagine not. I dont have the Montblanc Ink, but Diamine Sepia is much more yellow to me light.

 

it does look similar to Diamine Ochre in Video's

ok, thanks.

 

I like this ink but it's too xpensive for me...