Diamine Iridescinks: Herbert Vs Christine

[A Smug Dill]

Colour-wise, the comparison reminds me of Sailor Souboku vs Sailor Seiboku.

 

Christine exhibits sheen, but not nearly as flamboyantly as Herbert.

 

 

 

[RJS]

Christine appears to lean green, while Herbert leans grey. Blue Black (Herbert) vs Dark Teal (Christine) seems fair... would you agree, looking at the comparison in person?

Edited October 24, 2020 by RJS

[A Smug Dill]

Blue Black (Herbert) vs Dark Teal (Christine) seems fair... would you agree,

 

 

That's an apt characterisation.

[lapis]

Superb! Grey vs green!! Maybe that is meant to be the English alternative? And their water resistance??

[LizEF]

Hmm. Too dark vs too teal.

[inkstainedruth]

Interesting comparison. I wasn't familiar with Iridescink Herbert. Thanks for doing this ASD -- and, well not. I might have to get Herbert in near future.... And I already have too many samples I haven't tried yet....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[austollie]

Hi a Smug Dill,

 

That's an absolutely superb and nicely detailed review. How do you photograph the writing samples to accentuate the sheen? That's been incredibly well done.

 

I'm a fan of Diamine inks, albeit that the water fastness is not the best. Do you happen to have an opinion on how the Diamine Christine compares with Lamy Petrol?

 

Cheers

Edited October 24, 2020 by austollie

[A Smug Dill]

I wasn't familiar with Iridescink Herbert.

Well, it's a relatively new addition to the Iridescink line. I wasn't aware of it until @DilettanteG alluded to having ordered a bottle. I'd say the product was only released no earlier than late September, and quite possibly as late as the start of October; and, even now, it's still not available in the smaller 30ml bottles (labelled "Little Herbie") except for as part of the Cult Pens Rainbow Ink Set, just as "Little Chris" and "Little Pip" weren't available for a while after Christine and Philip were introduced.)

 

My 80ml bottle took some time to arrive by post, since I didn't spend enough this time with Cult Pens to qualify for "free" international shipping by DHL. I reviewed it here:

• Diamine Iridescink Herbert - A Lazy Review

@lapis I talked about Herbert's water resistance in the review. I never reviewed Christine, and water resistance isn't in scope of this comparison, so I don't have any ready information on its water resistance to share. Was Christine reviewed by others previously? It's been on the market for over a year now, if memory serves.

 

Thanks for doing this ASD -- and, well not.

That's an absolutely superb and nicely detailed review. How do you photograph the writing samples to accentuate the sheen? That's been incredibly well done.

 

No problem, and thanks.

 

I used multiple LED light sources to cast light from different angles simultaneously. A stand for the notepad, to allow it to stand up at an angle, and a large tripod to mount and point the camera obliquely at the page for the longish exposure required helps.

 

Do you happen to have an opinion on how the Diamine Christine compares with Lamy Petrol?

 

Christine is more readily available.

 

I haven't used Lamy Petrol.

Edited October 24, 2020 by A Smug Dill

[austollie]

Christine is more readily available.

 

Very funny! I'm running down my supply of Lamy Petrol, hence the question.

 

I like writing with dark teal ink at work. It's subtle enough not to look out of place, but not as boring as blue or black or a mixture of the two. Thanks to your review, Christine is now on my list of inks to try.

 

The other dark teal ink that I've taken a shine to is Van Dieman's Blackened Seas. That's readily available in Australia.

 

Thanks again for the review and for providing additional information.

[RJS]

I like dark teals too- have you tried KWZ IG Turquoise? I think that one is great. Goes on lighter and darkens.

 

Edit: Here's a link to a nice review of that ink: http://penhabit.com/2015/11/18/ink-spot-kwz-iron-gall-turquoise/

Edited October 25, 2020 by RJS

[RJS]

Does Christine smear as easily as Herbert? Thanks.

[DilettanteG]

Great pictures and review. You really captured the dark navy blue/ blue-black of the Herbert with it's purplish/dark maroon sheen.

 

I haven't had any problems with it smearing, but aside from being right handed, I've only used it in my Graphic Image Journal which doesn't smear and is too absorbent to show any real sheen. Also, tried it today on a sheet of Rhodia white, lined 80g which had some very nice sheen and also didn't smear. These inks are temperamental about sheening on any paper that sucks up too much ink and any pen that lays down too fine a line.

 

I own all five of the Diamine for Cult Pens Iridescink line so far: Maureen, Robert, Christine, Philip and now Herbert. They're been great performers and an excellent bargain, as are all the Diamine inks from Cult Pens. If you can spend enough to manage free shipping, they're an especially good deal. Get the small, plastic bottles: lil bob, lil mo, etc. if you want to try them out with a minimal expenditure.

[A Smug Dill]

Does Christine smear as easily as Herbert? Thanks.

 

I don't have the information on the ready, I've just done a clean-up of my desk and tossed out most of the scattered test sheets, and I'm not going to refill my pen with those inks just to do more comparison, sorry.

 

have you tried KWZ IG Turquoise?

 

Yes, I have that ink too.

 

Great pictures and review. You really captured the dark navy blue/ blue-black of the Herbert with it's purplish/dark maroon sheen.

Thank you very much! As I've mentioned in my review of Diamine Iridescink Herbert, you were my 'enabler'.

 

Get the small, plastic bottles: lil bob, lil mo, etc. if you want to try them out with a minimal expenditure.

Exactly! Furthermore, RJS has the advantage of being in the UK, and so wouldn't need to spend anywhere near £70 in one go to qualify for 'free' shipping.

[RJS]

Christine doesn't appear to be sold in the small plastic bottles (according to the search function at Cult Pens). I wouldn't bother with an ink that smeared after dry- it would nullify other parts of a review for me. Just curious if you'd noticed it- not asking you to fill a pen just for me.

[PithyProlix]

Christine doesn't appear to be sold in the small plastic bottles (according to the search function at Cult Pens). I wouldn't bother with an ink that smeared after dry- it would nullify other parts of a review for me. Just curious if you'd noticed it- not asking you to fill a pen just for me.

 

Christine is here in a 30ml bottle - name is now Little Chris.

 

You can also get her here in a set with three others - it's been sitting in my cart there for a while - I just can't reasonably justify yet another ink purchase right now.

[A Smug Dill]

The 30ml bottles of Iridescink always had different names on their labels: Little Mo' (for Maureen), Little Bob (Robert), Little Chris (Christine), Little Pip (Philip), Little Herbie (Herbert).

[RJS]

Thanks guys, I wasn't aware they did that with the naming.

[RJS]

Aaaaaand I've now purchased it.

[A Smug Dill]

Good on ya! I hope you enjoy it.

 

Edit: Cult Pens has just sent a newsletter overnight to let me know 30ml bottles of Little Herbie is now available. It wasn't so when I looked on its web site less than 24 hours ago.

Edited October 27, 2020 by A Smug Dill

[RJS]

I've been writing with Christine the past few weeks, and I really like the ink. A fun ink, and perfect for Christmas. A tad smudge prone when pawed at by curious little fingers, but I didn't have issues with smearing my writing. I'd wholeheartedly recommend this ink.