J. Herbin Ambre de Birmanie

November 12, 2023

J Herbin Ambre de Birmanie

This is a gorgeuos golden honey, warm and legible ink. It made my heart sing in happiness writing with it, despite its idiosyncrasies.

It’s a dryish ink with a confusing flow. Let me explain, it was wet, very wet when I filled the pen, but over time the flow was dry. I never thought to say that about a Herbin ink, but it needs a well-sealed pen, otherwise it might have start-up issues, and it doesn't like copy paper at all.

It has decent water resistance as you can see.

Despite all the shortcomings it's an ink I'm glad I tried and have a 10 ml bottle of.

Let's start with the intriguing chroma:

Writing samples:

It doesn't like copy paper:

Photo:

Comparison:

Water test (24 hr minimum left to dry. I held the left side under running water for 10 seconds)

and finally a tiny sketch, I entitled joy:

· Pens used: Pilot Kakuno Ef, Lamy Safari (EF/F/M/B/Stub 1.1), Waterman W2

· What I liked: Color

· What I did not like: Very long dry times on Japanese papers, inconsistent flow.

· What some might not like: Same as above, feathering on copy paper, dryness

· Shading: It’s there.

· Ghosting: Yes, on copy paper

· Bleed through: Surprisingly yes, on copy paper

· Flow Rate: Very wet / Very dry, go figure

· Lubrication: Lower than average.

· Nib Dry-out: No.

· Start-up: Sluggish.

· Saturation: Nope

· Shading Potential: It’s there.

· Sheen: No.

· Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Surprisingly yes on copy paper.

· Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice.

· Staining (pen): No.

· Clogging: No.

· Cleaning: Easy

· Water resistance:

· Availability: cartridges, 10 ml, 30 ml.

Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples or any other comments. The more the merrier

November 12, 2023

NIce! I used to use it prior to Autumn Oak (has less gold), Galileo manuscript? (has less bronze)?

November 12, 2023

12 minutes ago, lapis said:

NIce! I used to use it prior to Autumn Oak (has less gold), Galileo manuscript? (has less bronze)?

Galileo Manuscript? Again? FPN should a new batch ordered

November 12, 2023

Thank you, @yazeh! This is a very nice goldeny-yellow-brownish shade. I like it. Poor water-test kitty and mouse held their umbrellas on the wrong side. :lol: And kitty-man looks joyous indeed. Always fun reading your reviews - thank you.

November 12, 2023

1 minute ago, LizEF said:

Thank you, @yazeh! This is a very nice goldeny-yellow-brownish shade. I like it.

Me too I guess I might incorporate it in my drawings!

1 minute ago, LizEF said:

Poor water-test kitty and mouse held their umbrellas on the wrong side. And kitty-man looks joyous indeed. Always fun reading your reviews - thank you.

Kitty cowcat Glad I brought some joy

November 12, 2023

I don't normally like the color all that much, but this one looks interesting. Thanks for the review -- and, well, not....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

November 13, 2023

3 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

I don't normally like the color all that much, but this one looks interesting. Thanks for the review -- and, well, not....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

November 13, 2023

Nice review, Yazeh. Lovely ink. I don't like the unevenness in the flow, however.

I think I'm going to get out one of my orange inks today.

November 13, 2023

Ah... the ink Goulet folks refer to as "Amberdee Ber Damberdee" which I have to say puts a smile on my face every time. I like the idea of just making up a pronunciation instead of translation and calling it Amber of Burma, as everyone does with Emerald of Chivor [that ink is actually called Emeraude de Chivor, and Herbin never translates].

Surprised to hear about the flow issues... Definitely doesn't like the regular Herbin line, and was just a batch issue.

Many thanks for the review. I like the ink, but use too many Fs/EFs for this shade.

November 13, 2023

@yazeh, thanks for this review of an ink I have AND love. The color is beautiful, and though it may be dry, it has nice shading. I'm mentally comparing it to RO African Gold (I have that in a fude now), which I think is more yellow, and Diamine Honey Burst ( which I'd have to check).

Kitteh and Mousie are exercising their umbrellas! And then Stately KittehBurman gazes upon us with a slight grin. Love it all. Thanks so much for these wonderful reviews. I look forward to your next!

November 14, 2023

Thank you, @yazeh, for this review. You tell almost everything about this ink in the first line of your review and with your "a tiny sketch"!

However, it may not be for me as I'm a loving and faithful user of KWZ Honey and Kaweco Sunrise Orange - both not identical but very close to this Herbin ink.

And again, you managed to express the uncertainty about the wetness status of this ink perfectly with your inspiring drawing - half wet, half dry. :thumbup:

November 14, 2023

On 11/13/2023 at 7:46 AM, TSherbs said:

Nice review, Yazeh. Lovely ink.

🙏

On 11/13/2023 at 7:46 AM, TSherbs said:

I don't like the unevenness in the flow, however.

I believe with a nice wide nib and well sealed pen it should be solved. It's working well in my Kaknuo

On 11/13/2023 at 7:46 AM, TSherbs said:

I think I'm going to get out one of my orange inks today.

This is the season, until red falls upon us

23 hours ago, Arsouille said:

Ah... the ink Goulet folks refer to as "Amberdee Ber Damberdee" which I have to say puts a smile on my face every time. I like the idea of just making up a pronunciation instead of translation and calling it Amber of Burma, as everyone does with Emerald of Chivor [that ink is actually called Emeraude de Chivor, and Herbin never translates].

It always makes me smiles, when I hear French words mangled, Chantilly, Montpellier, Des Moines, but French are equally good in massacring English words

23 hours ago, Arsouille said:

Surprised to hear about the flow issues... Definitely doesn't like the regular Herbin line, and was just a batch issue.

It could be also a pen issue It's working fine in my kakuno. I think it definitely like wet/ well sealed pens. Safari doesn't fit the bill

23 hours ago, Arsouille said:

Many thanks for the review. I like the ink, but use too many Fs/EFs for this shade.

Unless you sketch, if not nope, I won't recommend it

November 14, 2023

23 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

@yazeh, thanks for this review of an ink I have AND love.

23 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

The color is beautiful, and though it may be dry, it has nice shading.

Totally agree

23 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I'm mentally comparing it to RO African Gold (I have that in a fude now), which I think is more yellow, and Diamine Honey Burst ( which I'd have to check).

Maybe it's time for a comparison

23 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Kitteh and Mousie are exercising their umbrellas! And then Stately KittehBurman gazes upon us with a slight grin. Love it all. Thanks so much for these wonderful reviews. I look forward to your next!

Thank you. I'm thinking the next one will be much fun

November 14, 2023

2 hours ago, InesF said:

Thank you, @yazeh, for this review. You tell almost everything about this ink in the first line of your review and with your "a tiny sketch"!

🙏 :blush:

2 hours ago, InesF said:

However, it may not be for me as I'm a loving and faithful user of KWZ Honey and Kaweco Sunrise Orange - both not identical but very close to this Herbin ink.

And again, you managed to express the uncertainty about the wetness status of this ink perfectly with your inspiring drawing - half wet, half dry.

You can always slip one of those 10 ml bottles

But yes, the wet and dry seemed to be a problem with Safari but it seems it likes the kakuno.

November 14, 2023

Great shading, indeed!

I should stop reading these reviews, I already have too much ink and this doesn't help contain the urge to get some more...

November 14, 2023

54 minutes ago, txomsy said:

Great shading, indeed!

😊

54 minutes ago, txomsy said:

I should stop reading these reviews, I already have too much ink and this doesn't help contain the urge to get some more...

I'm sure you have several bottles of inks in this shade... otherwise a 10 ml bottle is not so bad 😄

November 15, 2023

On 11/13/2023 at 10:53 PM, Arsouille said:

Ah... the ink Goulet folks refer to as "Amberdee Ber Damberdee" which I have to say puts a smile on my face every time. I like the idea of just making up a pronunciation instead of translation and calling it Amber of Burma, as everyone does with Emerald of Chivor [that ink is actually called Emeraude de Chivor, and Herbin never translates].

I'm laughing. I assumed it must refer to a province or other region in France - I mean, there's a Normandie there so there must be a Birmanie too, right? And I live less than 5 km from Burma, literally. Doh!

A friend gave me a sample of this one and I haven't taken to it - I really admire it but I never seem to use it. I think it might be that it shades too heavily and the colors are too bright for my eyes. That said, I do like the more mustardy color your copy paper shows.

Thanks for another great review. You and @LizEF are the reigning king and queen of ink reviews lately! 👑

November 15, 2023

51 minutes ago, PithyProlix said:

You and @LizEF are the reigning king and queen of ink reviews lately! 👑

:wub: Thank you, Pithy! I do wish more people would do ink reviews - we're in an ink hey-day - they're more useful than ever!

November 15, 2023

10 hours ago, PithyProlix said:

A friend gave me a sample of this one and I haven't taken to it - I really admire it but I never seem to use it. I think it might be that it shades too heavily and the colors are too bright for my eyes. That said, I do like the more mustardy color your copy paper shows.

It's fun colour to use, but it's not as strong as @LizEF latest ink review