Kala Nostalgia Gemstone Hematite

[yazeh]

This is my 2nd pigment ink review from this brand. The first one is here.

 

Kala inks are based in Taiwan and make mostly pigment inks. 

 

According to https://geology.com/minerals/hematite.shtml: Hematite is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's surface and in the shallow crust and the most important ore of iron. 

For what is worth Hematite (which means blood red) is one for the oldest pigments and was used for the cave painting by our ancestors

These are some modern Hematite pigments. 

 

Kala Hematite resembles the top right (Blue Ridge Violet Hematite). It is dusky dream grey, purple, not as wet as Scapolite, but slightly sluggish. It is pleasing, soothing colour, especially with broad and fude nibs. 

Lets starts with the Chroma:

 

Comparison

 

It has also a beautiful green/ gold sheen on Mnemosyne paper under artificial light:

 

 

Writing samples:

Midori

TR 68gr

Photos:

Rhodia

Maruman

 

Cheap paper front and back

Water resistance:

Note: under running water it was fine, but the moment I dried it with a paper towel, this happened

 

 

and finally a fun sketch of a favorite ink character:

 

 

 

 

 

· Pens used: Lamy Safari (Reverse Fine/ Fine/ Medium /Broad) / Kanwrite Ultraflex / Pilot Plumix

· What I liked: Very easy to clean. Pleasing / tender colour. A pleasure to write with. 

· What I didn’t liked: It’s iffy water resistance. If you spill water, you’re ok, however, if you try to dry it up you will make a mess. 

· Shading: Only wide a fude nib.

· Ghosting: Yes, On cheap paper 

· Bleed through: Yes, with absorbent papers. 

· Flow Rate: Good.

· Lubrication: Good. 

· Nib Dry-out: Not noticed. 

· Start-up: No problem. 

· Saturation: Dark.  

· Shading Potential: Only with a fude nib

· Sheen: With some papers, like Mnemosyne.

· Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Not noticed

· Nib Creep / “Crud”: No 

· Staining (pen): No

· Clogging: No. 

· Cleaning: Very easy to clean…. 

· Water resistance: See for yourself

· Availability: 30 ml bottles 

 

Comments appreciated but absolutely not necessary

 

 

[amberleadavis]

WOW what an amazing review! Thank you!

[lapis]

Crass! Thanks for this very interesting review of a very interesting ink. From "Hematite" I was expecting something more blood-like, but this colour does seem to represent the actual mineral more. Darn it, yet another ink to get....

[yazeh]

1 hour ago, amberleadavis said:

WOW what an amazing review! Thank you!

🙏

1 minute ago, lapis said:

Crass! Thanks for this very interesting review of a very interesting ink. From "Hematite" I was expecting something more blood-like, but this colour does seem to represent the actual mineral more. Darn it, yet another ink to get....

My sympathies

 

[LizEF]

Thanks for the great review, @yazeh!  And for your fun green-eyed sketch.

 

Interesting how easy it is to see color in the chroma, and yet when compared with the more colorful inks, it seems sort of grey-brown.  I'm looking forward to seeing this one in person.

[yazeh]

51 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Thanks for the great review, @yazeh!  And for your fun green-eyed sketch.

 

Thought you might like it  The green ink is incidentally sketching Klara

51 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Interesting how easy it is to see color in the chroma, and yet when compared with the more colorful inks, it seems sort of grey-brown.  I'm looking forward to seeing this one in person.

Yep. It's an interesting ink. Grows on to you