Stipula Calamo - Ferro Dell'elba

[Gazcom]

For some reason that I cannot understand, I never wished to try Stipula inks.
That was a terrible mistake.
The next two inks that I'm going to review (Notturno Giannutri and Ferro dell'Elba) are two gorgeous inks, very classy and work appropriate.

The ink I'm going to review now is Ferro dell'Elba (Elba's Island Iron).

 

This ink is one of the most brilliant ink I had the pleasure to try. This inks name recalls iron rusted near the sea, and the colour of the iron rusted by the sea you get.

Ferro dell'Elba is a grey ink with lovely warm rust brown undertones, that seems thinked to be absolutely work appropriate, without losing interesting details.
If I've to define this ink with a single word, it would be "clever": good for the eyes of the passionate, good for the everyday use.
On cheap copy paper, Ferro dell'Elba behaves just fine, a bit of feathering and bleedthrough, not particular shading, nice flow and fast drying times. The colour looks quite dark, a mix between a dark gray and sepia.

On schizza e strappa this ink really begins to show it's full potential. No feathering nor bleedthrough, gorgeous shading with nice lighter grey lines that ends in darker grey brown inkpools, especially on broader nib. Inkpools and swabs look and reflects like velvet. Drying times are a little longer.

On tracing paper this ink behaves just as on schizza and strappa, with a little more shading and longer drying times.

Unfortunately, this ink as no water resistance.
As you may notice from my soaking test, the ink simply vanishes in the water, so it's no waterproof at all (but also really easy to clean from fountain pens).

 

Is this ink worth it?
I always wanted an ink which could substitute black ink at work and after a few letters written with Ferro dell'Elba I realized that my search was over. I know it's subjective but in my opinion if you like grey inks, you should give this ink a try. For around 16€ you get a nice big 70ml bottle, and for me is worth every cent. Highly recommended!

 

COPY PAPER

SCHIZZA & STRAPPA PAPER

TRACING PAPER

SOAKING TEST

CROMATOGRAPHY

 

INKDROP

Edited December 6, 2016 by Gazcom

[Gazcom]

15 MINUTES SOAKING - BEFORE AND AFTER

 

Edited December 6, 2016 by Gazcom

[Barkingpig]

Thank you for introducing me to another ink I did not know; Among the 8 colors of Stipula ink I have seen, this was not among them. I would very much like to add it to my favorite Verde Muschiato, Sepia & Saffron, but there doesn't seem to be any listed for sale in my search of the usual US sources for Stipula ink.

 

One US retailer has a Stipula "Dark Grey" listed as a new arrival, but it's name is listed as "DARK LAVA," which seems different from Ferro del Elba, which suggests the iron mineral deposits of Elba. I will obviously need to "dig" a bit for the correct name before ordering, because I want the ink you have shown us.

 

Many thanks for a new ink search; it will be worth it if I can find this ink!

[Ghost Plane]

Like it! Haven't seen it before.

[visvamitra]

That's an intiguing find. My google-fu is too weak to find any information about these inks. I'll be awaiting Notturno Giannutri's review impatiently. Can you tell us where have you found these inks?

[lapis]

Great review! Thanks for all that information. A grey? Yes! A rusty grey... all the better!! One really nice, rare, phantasy-full colour (e.g. not yet another teal....) Your soaking tests: does that mean that this ink is practically 100% water-soluble?

 

Mike

[Gazcom]

Hi Mike! On schizza and strappa, soaked in tap water for nearly 15 minutes, all the drawings dissolved completely. Not even a dot left behind.

[lapis]

Thanks for the "warning". But I bet that means it's all the easier to clean out of a pen, whih is more important for me than worrying about it raining outside on the way to the post office box!

 

Mike

[Behike54]

Wow, impressive finds, reviews, and drawing.

Grazie mille!