Monteverde Topaz (Gemstone Collection)

[visvamitra]

Monteverde is part of Yafa company. Some time ago the company offered wide array of new inks with Ink ITF™ - new Ink Treatment Formula that's supposed to drastically improve ink-flow quality, extend cap-off time and improve ink drying time on paper. After trying two inks I can agree it's not just marketing - the inks behave very well.

New colors are divided into two series. The newest one is called GEMSTONES.

I admit I have a problem with this name as Pelikan started their Gemstone collection (Edelstein inks) years ago and was succesfull. I do realise that this name can't be copyrighted but I feel something's off. Sure, it's easy to base marketing on proven and succesfull ideas but I feel just a little bit of disapproval. I believe they could have created something new, especially that the colors are rather interesting and eye-catching.

Anyway the line has inks

1. 
   
2. Amethyst
   
3. Charoite
   
4. Erinite
   
5. Fireopal
   
6. Garnet
   
7. Moonstone
   
8. Olivine
   
9. Ruby
   
10. Sapphire
    
11. Topaz
    

I appreciate the fact that Monteverde posted on their website data about these inks ph:

Bottle

The inks can be bought in 30 (and 90) ml bottle. The bottle is made of lass, has simple design and id pretty functional - stable and with wide neck allowing to fill quite comfortably (as long as there's more than 60 % of the ink content in it) even monster fountain pens straight from the bottle.

Ink

The ink is well saturated and displays wide range of warm hues. The shading is strong and pleasant. TThe flow is smooth and the ink feels well lubricated even in dry pens. Some feathering and bleed-through will be experienced only on crappiest papers (hello Moleskine). Drying time is reasonable. Also, it's impressive that the ink doesn't dry out when you leave the pen uncapped. Even after three minutes the pen starts without any skipping when you put the nib to the paper. I enjoy this ink.

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Color ID

Color range

Leuchtturm1917, Kaweco Classic, BB

Copy paper, Kaweco Classic Sport, BB

Water resistance

[jmccarty3]

Very nice review. Love the shading.

[EBGBs]

Very nice and deep review as usually. you made Topaz shine!

it's a nice ink indeed; I have enjoyed using it too

[inkstainedruth]

Nice shading. But, well, it's orange.... So I can pass on this one.

Thanks for the review, as always.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[farazqamar]

very nice review like always vis!

[Honeybadgers]

it's like a worse fireopal. Definitely prefer fireopal's darker, more everyday use level of burnt orange with heavy shading (and fireopal has silvery sheen to boot!)