Ink Review: Kaweco Ruby Red

[Chrissy]

I have recently posted a review of the Kaweco AC Sport Red LE pen in the pen reviews forum. Here.

I am adding a separate review of the Kaweco Ruby Red ink that I used in that pen when I tested it. I used a cartridge, and the Kaweco AC Sport Red LE pen has a F black, steel nib. I also used a 1.1mm steel nib in the same pen as a comparison. It looks much more saturated with the 1.1mm nib.

This is an excellent red ink. It leans towards the red/pink end of the scale, which I much prefer, rather than those that lean towards the red/orange end of the scale. In fact some might suggest that Orchid Rose was a more apt description of it's colour than Ruby Red. I think it could even be described as a dark pink or cerise. It is a really well behaved ink and I can highly recommend it as a top quality ink.

I should mention here that you might still find some older bottles of Kaweco Ruby Red ink, maybe even some that are sold as Orchid Rose. The inks are a very similar colour. However, you can tell if you have one of the newest bottles because the name of the ink is now printed on the box. It's also on the cartridge packs. Ruby Red cartridges come in a darker red pack than the older ink, and they now have Kaweco branding on each cartridge.

This ink isn't waterproof, and it doesn't stain fingers.

Kaweco ink is made in Germany. It is available in 30ml bottles or packs containing 6 standard international sized cartridges.

[Clumsy_Penman]

Let's refresh this a little, since Kaweco Ruby Red is very cool looking red with some pink/magenta undertones. I completely agree with Chrissy that with wet nibs this inks looks very nice and saturated. With dryer, finer nibs the pink undertones are more obvious. These pink undertones play important role here, since Kaweco Ruby Red does some pretty shading, where colour gradually transforms from deep red to red-pink, which actually I quite like. Maybe this is not a 'screamy red' but rather more toned down, setlle red, however still quite distinct. It feels a bit watery but it flows well, and writing experience is pleasant.

 

For my full review, please check my blog.

For the meta-review of all Kaweco ink line, please visit our collaborative 'meta-review' at the United Inkdom.

 

Now some juicy pictures. Enjoy!

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-50.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-1-2.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-2-2.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-32.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-24.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-47.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-40.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-44.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-10.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-26.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-30.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-14.jpg

 

http://www.clumsypenman.com/wp-content/fpngallery/kaweco-ruby-red/untitled-13.jpg

Edited January 9, 2017 by Clumsy_Penman

[amberleadavis]

Amazing photos. Thank you.

[carola]

Wow... those pictures!

And that ink is a beauty!

[rodia77]

Am I getting the Golden Shovel award now?

 

I've found two more reviews of this ink here on TFPN:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/286940-kaweco-ruby-red-review/

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/291681-rubinrot-ruby-red-kaweco/

plus one kind of related with pics:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/358084-inkshift-kaweco-ruby-red-to-sunrise-orange/

 

The reason why I'm digging it out is yesterday I finally (ie after ~12 years) got around to using my Kaweco Ruby Red and it looks like this:

 

This is on some cheapo paper but it looks similar on other papers, too, I included the box for colour trueness check, the photo was taken in daylight.

 

Many reviewers, including the OP here, describe the colour as leaning towards pink, but to my eyes, in my sample it's going purplish? (Disclaimer: I can't 100% trust my eyes when it comes to colour recognition).

 

In basically all reviews I found online it looks different (the red seems richer), perhaps the sample looks a bit similar to mine in the last link I provided above (the 'ink shift'). I used it in a virgin feed/nib combo so no pollution was possible on my end. I checked it's Ruby Red by scanning the bar code from the box.

 

Does this colour I have look as it should or maybe could it have undergone some discolouration due to aging? (I don't mind the colour at all, I quite like it and will use it as it is, I just find it interesting why the difference from all the pictures I've seen elsewhere).

[AmandaW]

6 hours ago, rodia77 said:

I used it in a virgin feed/nib combo so no pollution was possible on my end.

 

Some pens do have blue ink in the feed from factory testing. (Lamy I have experienced myself, Kaweco, not sure. Someone else may be able to say.) It's a good habit to flush any new pen before inking.

[rodia77]

47 minutes ago, AmandaW said:

 

Some pens do have blue ink in the feed from factory testing. (Lamy I have experienced myself, Kaweco, not sure. Someone else may be able to say.) It's a good habit to flush any new pen before inking.

 

TIL, thanks!

 

That feed/nib assembly had also waited 12 years for its turn... but there may be something in what you're saying, after loading the cartridge I did experience flow breaks that I couldn't explain, then the flow stabilised.

 

I'll be keeping a close eye on this ink, my curiosity has been nudged.

[Doc Dan]

Thank you, @Chrissy. That helps to see what the ink is really like. The 1.1 stub seems to do it more justice as ruby red has a slight pink to it, anyway, whereas garnet red is very deep red.