Ink Shoot-Out : Pelikan Edelstein Aquamarine Vs Pilot Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku

[AFewGoodPens]

Good review. I love the way bottled ink looks, but I'm a messy writer so I won't usually crack a bottle open on my own.

 

 

 

I'm surprised that the Edelstein ink has better water resistance. I once spilled Kujaku on my fingers, and it took more than a week of soaking and scrubbing to get the last trace off of my thumb!

 

 

I would expect the same thing! I really don't like inky fingers, and I once had an iroshizuku ink under my fingernail for four days after trying a friend's newly filled pen..

[namrehsnoom]

Is it blue... is it green ? To really find out, I did a quick chromatography of both inks:

• pelikan edelstein aquamarine : has a grey-greenish base with very water-soluble blue components
• pilot iroshizuku ku-jaku : has a solid blue base with very water soluble green components

Although they have very different chemical signatures, the net effect is about the same. But still - ku-jaku looks a bit more blue-ish to me.

 

[tanalasta]

Thank you for a most useful shootout and comparison! Much appreciated as ku-jaku is an old favourite ... and I was seriously considering the Edelstein which is available in standard long carts.

 

Having Edelstein and Iroshizuku, think the properties of the inks you describe are quite inherent in their style. Iroshizuku has always tended to being more saturated, smoother (perhaps more surfactant) ink with beautiful shading.

[DrDebG]

Thank you for the great comparison! I love the colors, but I agree with you. I like Ku-Jaku more.

[Bill P]

Thank-you for taking the time to create the comparisons and the review..

 

Your sense of humor is wonderful...

[amberleadavis]

FAB comparison. Thank you.

[Erik Dalton]

What a great shootout / review. Thorough yet creative and interesting to read. Thank you.

[mauckcg]

I really really like them both. Since Aquamarine came out I have that and Ku-Jaku inked up in pens and they are glorious.

[Tinjapan]

Nicely done.

[clazbill]

Way back when I made my first order of bottled ink, having no experience, Ku-Jaku was one of my selections. It has never fallen from it's preferred status and I'm glad to see it ranking well with most everyone else as well. A rare occasion of getting it right from the start.

[HalloweenHJB]

Thank you for the great comparison! I love the colors, but I agree with you. I like Ku-Jaku more.

 

 

Agreed. Ku-jaku is my choice of the two. There's a certain richness to the Ku-jaku, while the Aquamarine —at least with the bottle I have— is murky but not intense. If that makes any sense...