Ink Review: Cult Pens Deep Dark Blue (Diamine Inks)

[Chrissy]

Today I'm reviewing Cult Pens Deep Dark Blue ink.
Cult Pens Deep Dark Blue is one of the 6 inks in the “Deep Dark” range that are made for Cult Pens by Diamine Inks.
Deep Dark Blue is a very saturated ink that can show a little shading with finer nibs, and some great red sheen. I found it flowed very well with all of the pens I tried it in, felt quite wet, and it’s lubrication was really smooth across the page.
It’s a really deep, dark blue and lives up to it’s name very well. It’s darker than all of my dark blue comparison inks, only Diamine 1864 Blue-Black was darker. I predict that this ink will darken even more, if you keep your pens filled with it for a while.
My review was written on 100gsm smooth coated paper, that is not absorbent, and I saw no spread or show-through. I saw some nice red sheen though. The lines were crisp, but it took longer to dry on this coated surface than on some of the other papers I tried it on.
On Field Notes paper it didn’t spread or feather. Writing on the reverse side of all of the papers I used would be acceptable as show-through doesn't look as bad on paper than when it is scanned and shown on screen.
It's not sold as a waterproof ink but showed some water resistance.
It stained my hands, particularly near to my fingernails. It took me several washes with bar soap and a couple of days before my hands were clean again. It didn’t stain my pens or the insides of my converters that I rinsed out with warm water as usual.

• Flow Rate: Excellent - quite wet
• Lubrication: Very good - felt smooth across the page
• Nib Dry-out: Not noticed.
• Start-up: Immediate.
• Saturation: Very saturated
• Shading Potential: Some shading seen with F nib.
• Sheen: Fabulous red sheen on Tomoe River paper. Check it out on Seven Seas & Hobonichi papers even with this scanned image.
• Show-Through:
  • Oxford paper
  • Silvine Notebook
  • CiaK by InTempo
  • Field Notes
  • Hobonichi Techo paper.
  • Tomoe River 52gsm paper
• Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Not seen on any paper I used, even Field Notes
• Nib Creep / “Crud”: Not seen, even after several days in the pen
• Staining (pen): Not seen after several days - easy clean-up
• Staining (hands): This is a hand stainer. Use bar soap for several washes or Lava soap
• Clogging: Not seen.
• Water resistance: Not sold as waterproof, but shows some water resistance.
• Availability: Available in 80ml and 30ml bottles plus International sized cartridges from Cult Pens web-site.

[aardvarkbark]

When searching for a blue-black a couple years ago, I tried this, but settled on Denim since, to my eye using an EF nib, Denim has a very similar deep color but without the red sheen.

[Chrissy]

When searching for a blue-black a couple years ago, I tried this, but settled on Denim since, to my eye using an EF nib, Denim has a very similar deep color but without the red sheen.

 

I've very recently reviewed Denim, and didn't think of that one when I was looking for comparison inks. Doh! Yes, I think you're right they are similar dark blues.

[lapis]

Interesting. Most of your writing up top (between 'Writing Samples/Observations' and 'Dry Time') seem to indicate a lot of red in the blue. Not just a "red sheen", but a whole reddish dark blue. Wait... more of an aubergine (which is all the more reason to love it). Yes, on TR paper it looks like it's the reddest (which I don't need). But my sample (in an 80-ml bottle) is simply a very deep dark blue on all papers.

[Chrissy]

Interesting. Most of your writing up top (between 'Writing Samples/Observations' and 'Dry Time') seem to indicate a lot of red in the blue. Not just a "red sheen", but a whole reddish dark blue. Wait... more of an aubergine (which is all the more reason to love it). Yes, on TR paper it looks like it's the reddest (which I don't need). But my sample (in an 80-ml bottle) is simply a very deep dark blue on all papers.

 

It does have a great red sheen. Perhaps it's the combination of the wet flow in that pen, on the coated papers that I used? It took longer to dry on those papers, and looks like a normal dark blue on those papers that are more absorbent.

 

It's been in that Lamy Al-star for almost a week too. You can see that the newly filled Pelikan Go! didn't show as much sheen.

[white_lotus]

Looks awesome. I have samples of the Deep Dark Green and Deep Dark Orange, both of which I really liked.

[bobje]

Wow, that’s sheeny!

[Chrissy]

Looks awesome. I have samples of the Deep Dark Green and Deep Dark Orange, both of which I really liked.

 

Yes, I was surprised, firstly how very nice it was and secondly why it took me so long to try it.

[Chrissy]

Wow, that’s sheeny!

Yes indeed.

[aardvarkbark]

 

I've very recently reviewed Denim, and didn't think of that one when I was looking for comparison inks. Doh! Yes, I think you're right they are similar dark blues.

 

Well, but you did include DD for comparison in the Denim review, so it is available for folks to see. On my monitor, I do find the two swabs to be nearly identical in that post.

 

All of your reviews are well done and appreciated.

[Chrissy]

 

Well, but you did include DD for comparison in the Denim review, so it is available for folks to see. On my monitor, I do find the two swabs to be nearly identical in that post.

 

All of your reviews are well done and appreciated.

 

I'm getting old so my memory isn't what it used to be. I should have included a Denim comparison in CPDDB. I might be able to add it on.

 

You're welcome.

[Newjelan]

I have this ink and love the rich dark blue colour and the sheen.

[Chrissy]

I've now uploaded the Diamine Denim comparison next to Cult Pens Deep Dark Blue. CPDDB certainly has much more sheen.