Midnight Blue - Montblanc

[visvamitra]

It seems that in 2010 Montblanc changed the manufacturer of their ink as well as the design of the bottle. The company's issued a new, larger (60 ml vs 50 ml) bottle. To be honest I find Montblanc bottle not only nice but also practical, much better than Iroshizuku or Sailor.

 

The new colours launched in 2010 include:

 

1. Burgundy Red
2. Irish Green
3. Lavender Purple
4. Mystery Black
5. Midnight Blue
6. Oyster Grey
7. Royal Blue
8. Toffee Brown

 

Midnight Blue is supposed to be a permanent ink with ferro-gallic content. Ferro-gallic ink typically flows onto the paper in a lighter shade than becomes darker when it dries. I like the color and the general performance of the ink. The colour ranges from a blue-black to an almost black.

 

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Software ID

Tomoe River, kaweco Classic Sport, B

Tomoe River, Omas Emotica, M

Leuchtturm 1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

Oxford, kaweco Classic Sport, B

Water resistance

Comparison

Edited April 6, 2016 by visvamitra

[OCArt]

I always enjoy your very good reviews. But, I don't think the current version of midnight blue has any iron gall content-- at least not in the U.S.A.

I'd be happy to be wrong as I loved the old MB MB.

[visvamitra]

I'll need to check this Thanks.

 

@Edit - MB changed inks again after 2010 ?

Edited April 6, 2016 by visvamitra

[akustyk]

I always enjoy your very good reviews. But, I don't think the current version of midnight blue has any iron gall content-- at least not in the U.S.A.

I'd be happy to be wrong as I loved the old MB MB.

Unfortunately, You are right. The new version is not iron-gall. I am sorry about that, too.

[akustyk]

I'll need to check this Thanks.

 

@Edit - MB changed inks again after 2010 ?

Yes, the did. They changed Midnight Blue to a non-iron-gall formulation, and soon thereafter released the permanent blue and black inks.

[visvamitra]

Thanks for update guys

[DrDebG]

Thank you for the great review, Vis.

 

I am not enamored with the color of this ink. I much prefer GvFC's Cobalt Blue.

[carlos.q]

The old IG MB Midnight Blue was my everyday use ink. Wonderful stuff!

Now I regularly use MB Permanent Blue for my waterproof ink needs.

[wastelanded]

For a non iron-gall ink, not bad with the water test.

 

The old MBMB was my favourite ink: I considered it white tie and tails in a bottle. I have 3/4 of one bottle left, and I'm saving it for...I don't know really. I should try the new one some time.

[Tas]

Like others have said this looks a lot like the old version, especially seeing the water test results.

 

I really like this ink and was a little deflated after trying the new non IG version but I have come to like that too. Nothing stays the same etc etc

 

(Let me know if you'd like some of the new version to compare)

[rudyhou]

this is real nice. i didn't expect the ink to have a lot of grey tone to the dark blue, which i prefer. i'm not a big fan of blues, but this i like.

[lapis]

A good way to differentiate these things is to keep an eye on MB's Ident. No. (printed on the box, but not on the bottle).

 

The last "blue-black" (iron-gall, manufactured until 2009, 50-ml shoe) had the Ident. No. 12574.

The first Midnight Blue (iron-gall, first issued in January 2010, 60 ml shoe): 105194

The second Midnight Blue (non-iron-gall, September 2013, also 60-ml shoe): 109204

 

Note that the boxes also indicate whether or not the ink is an iron-gall-ink, by stating (or not stating) "permanent for documents", e.g.

 

Mike

[thygreyt]

^^
Good post.

 

Op. Magnificent review. I have a bottle of this and i think its just a lovely color.

[Quink1977]

Great post. Thanks. Is it true that the pre 2010 formulation is identical to Lamy Blue Black?? Just a rumour that I've picked up... Can anybody confirm?

[visvamitra]

I know nothing about it but I doubt Lamy does / used to do inik for Montblanc. I may be wrong, though.

[jean]

Great post. Thanks. Is it true that the pre 2010 formulation is identical to Lamy Blue Black?? Just a rumour that I've picked up... Can anybody confirm?

 

While rummaging through my trials of ink I found an answer to this question.

From the top down

1. Pelikan blue-black (2008)
2. Montblanc blue-black 2008
3. Purple Waterman
4. Lamy blue-black 2008

The Montblanc blue-black is darker, a grey-black, or a soft black. Lamy is clearer and more blue.

http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/662802mtblancvslamy1.jpg

 

 

The following picture shows the variation of an inkwell to another. From experience, these variations in color from gray to blue-gray was both for Lamy as well as for Pelikan. The paper quality can vary much the color of these ferrogallics inks for foutainpens.

http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/996768bbvar2.jpg

[georgeb]

If it wasn't for the extra texture I would be tired of midnight blue.

[Erik Dalton]

Thanks for a great review and informative thread.

[tmenyc]

Good to see this thread again...the IG MBMB is my 149's almost-always drink, and I love it, but this reminds me what a special ink it is. Royal Blue or Permanent Blue will probably be the candidates for its successor when it's gone, since I'm not an ink hoarder, but this is a great one.

 

Tim

[namrehsnoom]

Thanks for the review - that's a really nice dark blue. Looks great on the various papers you used. This convinced me to get a bottle - just got my paws on it, I'll give it a try in the coming weeks.