Lamy Benitoite Ink

[visvamitra]

Lamy joins a Gemstone Club with their new series of "originally" named inks. As much as I'm excited about new Lamy inks, I loathe their lack of creativity. Call it a pet peeve but when I see another line of inks inspired by gemstonjes, I clench my teeth.

Anyway, the bottles and packaging look cool.

Ink

The ink is moderately saturated. It flows well but shows a tendency to dry out in the pen. Apart from this, it behaves well. Probably not the best archival ink ever, but well worth a shot.

Drops of ink on a kitchen towel

Color ID

Midori, Lamy Safari, EF

Fabriano, Hero 5032, stub 1.9

Water resistance

[lgsoltek]

It looks so much lighter than I expected...

[lapis]

Looks as watered-down as their Agate (grey) does. They shouldn't have named this the "Crystal" series but the "Water" line.

[visvamitra]

I used it in dry pens. In a wet one, the line would look more distinct. Maybe I'll check it in my Kaweco Sport double broad.

[penzel_washinkton]

Same. I was expecting it to be darker.

Thanks for the review though, visvamitra

[alexander_k]

Thanks for the review. I bought a bottle on impulse at a stationer's and I'm quite pleased with it. Initially it exhibited flow problems in a Lamy 2000 with a medium nib but now it works perfectly. In a Sheaffer Balance II it was delightful from scratch. The colour is very much to my liking (forgetting the Crystal Inks marketing stuff) but I'm partial to dusky colours, especially blues.

[Tas]

Thanks for this visvamitra.

It was the only one in their line up I was interested in. Not anymore.
(super splash though!)

[visvamitra]

No-name notebook, Kaweco Sport, BB

[Gloucesterman]

Really looks quite washed out to me. Don't think it will find its way into my ink larder.

Thanks for the review and the images.

[DrDebG]

Love your quote.

 

Very nice review! I am not enamored of the ink.

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks for the review.

Unlike some people here, I've been looking forward to this one the most of the new Lamy line. I got to test them all at Christmastime in the Lamy Soho store in NYC (I was quite put out that it was only a display and the inks weren't actually available yet, but at least they had tester pens for all the new colors), and Benitoite was definitely my favorite.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Mr.Rene]

This ink seems to be iron gall formula...It smells, tastes,dries out tendence,changes color on papers..and record proof...like this kind of inks...What do you think ?

Regards,

René.

Edited March 25, 2019 by Mr.Rene

[Honeybadgers]

This ink seems to be iron gall formula...It smells, tastes,dries out tendence,changes color on papers..and record proof...like this kind of inks...What do you think ?

Regards,

René.

 

it is 100% not iron gall.

 

my bottle is much more saturated.

[1nkulus]

I had my suspicions regarding the water resistance and was not impressed. Luckily I tried it from a friend.

 

Looks similar to Salix, which is cheaper and better resistant.

[alexander_k]

I had my suspicions regarding the water resistance and was not impressed. Luckily I tried it from a friend.

 

Looks similar to Salix, which is cheaper and better resistant.

 

This is my water test of Benitoite (top, written with a Lamy 2000 and a Sheaffer Balance II). Incidentally, it also includes Salix (an ink I quite like). In this example, there's little difference between the two in terms of water resistance.

[namrehsnoom]

Great review. I’m a sucker for washed-out colours, and quite like the looks of it. Probably not a good match for my Lamy pens, but my guess is it would look great in a wet Pelikan with M-nib.

[1nkulus]

This is my water test of Benitoite (top, written with a Lamy 2000 and a Sheaffer Balance II). Incidentally, it also includes Salix (an ink I quite like). In this example, there's little difference between the two in terms of water resistance.

 

So it would seem, though my experience was akin to the OP.

 

OTOH, even if they are similar, the Salix is still less than half price and 70% more quantity compared to Lamy.

[alexander_k]

 

So it would seem, though my experience was akin to the OP.

 

OTOH, even if they are similar, the Salix is still less than half price and 70% more quantity compared to Lamy.

 

True! R&K produces some of the most affordable and best behaved inks. I even like their no-nonsense bottles.

[1nkulus]

True! R&K produces some of the most affordable and best behaved inks. I even like their no-nonsense bottles.

+1

 

Unfortunately, their Dokumentus is 52% pricier than Lamy for the same quantity.

Is Lamy an IG ink?

[amberleadavis]

Thanks for the review. I'm going to skip it.