William Shakespeare Velvet Red - Montblanc Le Ink

[visvamitra]

I believe Montblanc company doesn't need introduction here. Each year Montblanc offers few LE inks. Their evil-minded marketing team creates interesting colors that soon become unavailable. Not all of them are great but almost all of LE ink become sought after after they're gone and are sold for outrageous prices.

 

Personally I have mixed feelings about idea of LE inks but I enjoy some of them a lot. Montblanc LE red inks were great (Winter Glow can easily concur with Maruzen Nihombashi Akane; it's not the same and but still amazing). When I heard the name Velvet Red and Shakespeare I thought it might be something amazing and was eager to try it. Nikaa gave me a sample so here's what I think based on short adventure with this ink.

 

Velvet Red has nice and dark color but I expected redder ink. Personally I thing that Corn poppy Red is better ink - it has deeper color, better flow and lubrication and more depth. That doesn't mean I dislike Velvet Red. Quite the contrary - I think it's interesting color, kind of deep Blood - red shade leaning toward brown. It writes ok in mosr pen but is rather on drier side. It can cause some feathering on bad quality paper (and on new Leuchtturm 1917 frid paper - sadly it seems Leuchtturm paper quality went really down).

 

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Software ID

Color range

Tomoe River, Kaweco Sport Classic, B

Leuchtturm 1917, Kaweco Sport Classic, B

Leuchtturm 1917 grid paper, Senator Windsor, M

[Beechwood]

Excellent and informative review and I agree with you on Cornpoppy red, the Shakespeare ink is also very difficult to buy at least in London shops, any stocks are reserved for buyers of the pen.

[namrehsnoom]

Thank you for the very informative review - and for the great colour presentation. Now I now what to expect from the bottle I have on order for later this month. Corn Poppy Red is definitely more of a true red - but I'm a sucker for the more subdued colours, so I like Shakespeare's colour. That feathering doesn't sound good though... I'll find out for myself when the ink arrives.

[lapis]

I find it absolutely repulsive the way that MB fools around with the sale of their LE inks. I most cases they say you have to buy the pen too or at least wait till all (of those LE) pen freaks get the ink along with their pen first, but worst off whether or not and/or when they'll ever cough the darn stuff out, e.g. here in Krautland remains unknown or a secret which even the sellers here won't divulge. Friends on far-off continents have been able to buy the stuff for the last 3 months! Sooner or later, I might just stop looking for their LE inks. That won't ruin MB but it also won't won't make me unhappy anymore.

 

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/smile/evil-look-smiley-emoticon.jpg

[visvamitra]

Hmmm - I didn't know it works this way. Definitely not cool :/

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks for the review. Not a color for me. And I agree with lapis over the whole "LE" thing.
I just saw a review of the accompanying LE pen (the Shakespeare 1597) and didn't much like *it* either....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Kenlowe]

I find it absolutely repulsive the way that MB fools around with the sale of their LE inks. I most cases they say you have to buy the pen too or at least wait till all (of those LE) pen freaks get the ink along with their pen first, but worst off whether or not and/or when they'll ever cough the darn stuff out, e.g. here in Krautland. Friends in on far-off continents have been able to buy the stuff for the last 3 months! Sooner or later, I might just stop looking for their LE inks. That won't ruin MB but it also won't won't make me unhappy anymore.

 

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/smile/evil-look-smiley-emoticon.jpg

 

 

Interesting use of the word describing your country, that word would be regarded as almost an insult in England to describe Germany.

[lapis]

I think it was actually a dear old friend of mine in Liverpool -- or was it a Yankee or a Canuck I know ? -- who once introduced me to that term. In any case, I did refrain from using any derogatory designation for those engaged in working for the MB Foundation in Hamburg.

 

http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/peli46/1_ani.gif

[Ghost Plane]

Love the color, but loathe dry-writing inks, so you saved me.

[Uncial]

It's a slightly different colour wet than it is dry - or at least it is on Rhodia, Clairefontaine and Tomoe. When dry it's actually pretty close to Diamine's Burgundy Rose, especially in the shading characteristic. There is a slight difference, but it is only very slight. This made me wonder if it was actually just a re-release of Hitchcock (sadly I don;t have that to compare) but I haven't noticed any sheen and as far as I know there is a much less 'pink' aspect to Hitchcock's shading. I find it a very attractive ink and I've been using it for the last month non stop, which is quite unusual for me.

[thygreyt]

weird... i walked into my local boutique and bought 3 bottles without any problem whatsoever...

 

I have a small stockpile of LE inks.

-blue hour

-Leonardo

-Shakespeare

-Meisterstuck Grey

-Tolstoy

 

And i'm probably leaving one or two forgotten

[Behike54]

Love the color, but loathe dry-writing inks, so you saved me.

 

 

My first MB purchase is imminent and I feel the same way. I have been looking for a red.

 

GP, I DO have Diamine's Oxblood & Pilot Iroshizuku's Yama Budo.

 

Which of course begs the question, do Iroshizuku inks do well in MB pens?

 

 

OMG.......I was looking at my inks and EUREKA! At the very back I found a bottle of MB's "Daniel Defoe!"

 

 

I totally and completely SPACED that I even bought this! (as in NO RECOLLECTION, WHATSOEVER!)

[Ghost Plane]

Of course they do. I'm a Ku-Jaku woman by default with splashes of Fuyu-Gaki.

[encremental]

Beechwood, Penfriend in Fleet St had four bottles today (I bought the fifth!)

 

Also Tolstoy, Blue Hour and that black one, whatever it's called.

 

(and none of that 'you've got to buy the pen' nonsense)

 

John

Edited September 5, 2016 by encremental

[jasonchickerson]

I also dislike LE inks, and this one won't change my mind.

 

The splash looks pretty nice, but I agree that Corn Poppy red looks nicer. Thanks for another awesome review!