New Inks: Elixir Colorist Collection

[Michael R.]

Ok, I will upload pictures here on FPN again as soon as I get home :-)

[Tom Kellie]

Ok, I will upload pictures here on FPN again as soon as I get home :-)

 

~ Michael R.:

 

Thank you very much!

Tom K.

[Michael R.]

on the left: Elixir Pourpre, Violet & Azure

on the right: Turquoise (vintage), Dandy Turquoise, Ink of Friendship & Unicef Blue

 

So basically Elixir Azure is a little bit lighter and less saturated than the Unicef Blue.

 

 

on the left: Elixir Pourpre, Violet & Azure

on the right: Violet (vintage 1960s), Violet (vintage 1980s), Psychedelic Purple, Lavender Purple & Violet (2000s)

 

Elixir Violet is a lot less saturated and maybe a hint lighter compared to Psychedelic Purple.

 

 

on the right: Elixir Pourpre, Violet & Azure

on the left: Pink, Dark Saffron, Burgundy (1990s) & Burgundy (2000s)

Elixir Pourpre is similar to Dark Saffron in terms of color but less saturated and slightly lighter. Burgundy has more brown tones. Lavender is much more towards an eggplant purple and darker and more saturated.

 

I've tried the Pourpre in a pen only so far (vintage 1970s Montblanc 221 with a BB nib) and it performs very well so far with a good ink flow and nice shading. It is a little watery and has a matte, almost vintage appearance on most papers.

 

 

 

...not home yet, but small break :-)

 

Cheers

 

Michael

Edited May 8, 2018 by Michael R.

[Tom Kellie]

I've tried the Pourpre in a pen only so far (vintage 1970s Montblanc 221 with a BB nib) and it performs very well so far with a good ink flow and nice shading. It is a little watery and has a matte, almost vintage appearance on most papers.

 

...not home yet, but small break :-)

 

~ Michael R.:

 

You're a prince!

Thank you so much for posting these.

It will directly affect which one I might order from Montblanc China.

Tom K.

[Ghost Plane]

Infidel

I’m expecting a visit from the Ink Brotherhood any day now.

[amcityink]

How do they justify this price? Is the ink made differently? With more expensive material?

[Kalessin]

How do they justify this price? Is the ink made differently? With more expensive material?

 

Unless someone from MB marketing or product development tells us, there's no way to know how they justify the price.

 

However, it's pretty obvious that other major makers have come out with luxury lines of ink priced higher than their ordinary ink and that they're having success with the strategy. Pelikan Edelstein and Pilot Iroshizuku come to mind.

 

Montblanc probably didn't want to be left behind, and since their desired corporate image is to be at the top of the luxury market, they apparently wanted a luxury line of ink to place above their regular line, and priced it sky-high because that's how you get to be known as the most luxurious.

They're still selling their basic line of inks at somewhat ordinary prices.

[Michael R.]

Those inks contain natural colorings (e.g. plant or animal based extracts) according to Montblanc. Those colorings are also used in foodstuffs.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

[invisuu]

Pelikan Edelstein is 12EUR and Iroshizuku are 16EUR, so that’s really not a comparable price, when there’s a 500% difference.

[EclecticCollector]

... on the long run, it will cost less tout buy a Mercedès than a Mazda ...

Maybe this was true 30 years ago, but current reality is the exact opposite.

[Ghost Plane]

Maybe this was true 30 years ago, but current reality is the exact opposite.

Have to agree. Maintenance costs are why I finally traded in my beloved Mercedes for a Lincoln.

[Chrissy]

How do they justify this price? Is the ink made differently? With more expensive material?

 

Not sure how they justify the price, but I don't think the ink is made differently with more expensive dye and water. The bottles and boxes might be more expensive though.

[Kalessin]

Pelikan Edelstein is 12EUR and Iroshizuku are 16EUR, so that’s really not a comparable price, when there’s a 500% difference.

 

 

At Goulet Pens, a popular site for ordering ink:

 

Pelikan 4001 ink: US$13.80

Pelikan Edelstein: US$23.80

 

Namiki (which is Pilot) Blue: $12.00

Pilot Iroshizuku: $19.99

 

So if the manufacturers are using much of the same components, they're making a lot more on the luxury lines.

[jmccarty3]

Thanks for posting these. None of these inks appeals to me personally, although the packaging is very nice.

[Tom Kellie]

Thanks for posting these. None of these inks appeals to me personally, although the packaging is very nice.

 

~ jmccarty3:

 

My initial reaction was similar to what you've commented.

I've looked at the images Michael R. has kindly posted, thinking about such colors on paper from a broader nib.

The question swirling in my thoughts is:

Were one to purchase a single Elixir Colorist ink, which one might see the most use?

I'm uncertain, looking at the Pourpre, wondering if it would write well in an OBBB.

Dunno...

Tom K.

[Mew]

 

 

At Goulet Pens, a popular site for ordering ink:

 

Pelikan 4001 ink: US$13.80

Pelikan Edelstein: US$23.80

 

Namiki (which is Pilot) Blue: $12.00

Pilot Iroshizuku: $19.99

 

So if the manufacturers are using much of the same components, they're making a lot more on the luxury lines.

Importing anything will almost always make it more expensive. Check the price in respective local markets to see how overpriced these inks are.

[invisuu]

At Goulet Pens, a popular site for ordering ink:

 

Pelikan 4001 ink: US$13.80

Pelikan Edelstein: US$23.80

 

Namiki (which is Pilot) Blue: $12.00

Pilot Iroshizuku: $19.99

 

So if the manufacturers are using much of the same components, they're making a lot more on the luxury lines.

You’re comparing apples to oranges. You can almost buy the entire edelstein line for the price of one bottle of this ink. Prices from Appelboom, “a popular site for ordering inks”, a comparable listing price since you know, they actually sell all of these inks, unlike Goulet who doesn't sell Montblanc and obviously has a massive markup on these, since the 4001 line can be had over here in Europe at local Müllers for 3-4 EUR a bottle.

 

Honestly, I've paid the equivalent of full MSRP price of a bottle of this ink for a bottle of Pelikan Edelstein Amethyst, since it's discontinued and hard to find. So I don't have an issue with paying such a price for a bottle of ink. The issue I do have is that these inks seem to be worse than their regular line at a fraction of the cost. Which is a shame, because generally, I find Montblanc inks the best. At least those that I've tried. Inks like Corn Poppy Red, Lavender Purple, Toffee Brown, Irish Green, Lucky Orange, Exupery, etc have all been amazing. These inks here look like water with a drop of dye added.

Edited May 10, 2018 by invisuu

[Michael R.]

 

 

 

...just a few quick iPad pictures...

[Chrissy]

Importing anything will almost always make it more expensive. Check the price in respective local markets to see how overpriced these inks are.

 

Yes, often the key is where you are in the world. For me in the UK, I can buy Montblanc Elixir 50ml inks for £50 per bottle. That's £1 per ml. Expensive.

 

However, I can only buy Sailor Kingdom Note inks on ebay and they currently cost £22.13 for a 20ml bottle. That's £1.11 per ml. Therefore here in the UK Sailor KN inks are more expensive.

 

It's horses for courses. You have to make your own decision what you can buy for the price you are prepared to pay.

[Kalessin]

Importing anything will almost always make it more expensive. Check the price in respective local markets to see how overpriced these inks are.

 

 

The reason I was posting the prices wasn't about the absolute price of each bottle in any given country, but that the manufacturers are finding sales success with luxury lines of ink, at higher prices than their regular ink.