Rohrer & Klingner Dokumentus Ink - Schwarz (Black)

[visvamitra]

Rohrer & Klingner is one of my favourite Ink makers. They offer nice and reasonably priced (especially in Europe) standard inks as well as two gall inks (Salix and Scabiosa). It seems the company is a little underrated among fountain pens aficionados. I believe their products should receive more attention.

Few months ago the company’s introduced a line of six Dokumentus Inks sold in 50 ml glass bottle. Dokumentus ink is the world's first fountain pen ink that conforms to the requirements of DIN ISO 12757-2 (the standard that determines archival quality). Rohrer and Klingner Dokumetus inks has been certified for use by registrars on official documents, they’re ph-neutral, permanent and archival.

Some criteria of this certification require color to remain readable after a defined dose of sunlight and under the influence of water the ink may only extend so far that the text line remain visible. ISO 12757-2 requires legibility and the ability to be stored for long periods of time. These inks should show resistance to water, light, ethanol, hydrochloric acid, ammonia, and bleach. I’ve tried only water. Test was positive. Water won’t do any harm to the text written with one of Dokumentus inks.

The line consists of six colors:

1. Braun (Brown)
2. Dunkel Blau (Dark Blue)
3. Grun (Green)
4. Hellblau (Light Blue)
5. Magenta
6. Schwarz (Black)

Schwarz wasn't made for me but I believe it's good black ink, especially if you need waterproof black. Given the choice between few water resistant inks I've tried I would list them this way: Kiwa - Guro - Sailor > Darmstadt - Super 5 > Schwarz - Rohrer & Klingner > Carbon Black - Platinum > Black - De Atramentis.

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Software ID

Tomoe River, Kaweco Sport Classic, broad nib

Clairefontaine, Haolilai 908, M

Leuchtturm1917, Kaweco Sport Classic, broad nib

Oxford notebook, Hero 5028, stub 1,9

Water resistance

(white balance is slightly off - artificial light, shot taken 5 hours after putting this page into water)

[mehandiratta]

Thank you for the review....

as usual a great review....

 

Only black inks I use are Edelstien Onyx... and Pilot Black....

[amberleadavis]

Thanks for all your hard work!

[visvamitra]

Thank you for kind words.

[fplover01]

Thank you for this review. I am considering this for a "certified" black ink. Could you say how this behaves in comparison with Pelikan 4001 black?

[visvamitra]

@fplover01 - to be honest I dislike Pelikan 4001 inks (except for Brown and Violet which, for the price are really nice). I don't use black inks except for the time needed to prepare the review. I would say you can't really compare this two inks. Pelikan is standard, water and dye based ink, while R&K is pigmented. It writes well but you should pay close attention to FP hygiene (as don't leave it unused for longer periods of time). DOKUMENTUS INKS ARE GOOD BUT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THEY'RE SPECIAL INKS FOR SPECIAL TASKS . Of course they can be used on every day basis but in this case you should clean pen from time to time.

[fplover01]

Thank you, I fully understand what you say. Very informative.

Edited December 30, 2015 by fplover01

[amberleadavis]

Vis, are you now our most prolific reviewer? We may need to do a count and offer you a special badge.

[visvamitra]

Badges are always welcome

[lgsoltek]

Vis, are you now our most prolific reviewer? We may need to do a count and offer you a special badge.

He definitely is!

[ItwasLuck]

How is the R&K Schwarz for a Pilot Custom 823? I have to use the pen for lot of forms in the hospital that are such (bleep) quality, I mean the paper is so thin and so absorbent, I digress.

Is this one of the safer Iron Gall inks that don't really require that much maintenance and won't corrode 14K nibs/PMMA body? I tend to use my pen on a daily basis, use about 1ml a day and flush my pen every 2 weeks.

 

Thanks!

[ShortRound131]

Thank you for all of your wonderful reviews!

[visvamitra]

You're welcome.

[arellano81366]

Hello! Thanks for this review. Excellent like always. I have a question tho: What is the difference betweent this ink and R&K Salix which is iron gall ink and suppose to be water resistant? This ink is more expensive so I'm just wondering if there are any significative difference.