Your top three brands?

[PithyProlix]

On 2/2/2025 at 11:38 PM, yazeh said:

@PithyProlix you can probably have them delivered from Taiwan:

They have a distributor link:

 

https://www.kalaink.com/kalaink_en/

 

Thanks. I'm almost about to pull the trigger on 4 Kalas ... (Devil on one shoulder is seductively whispering, "Buy it ..." while the angel on the other is annoyed, snapping, "You don't need more ink! Save your money!")

[RedPie]

4 hours ago, PithyProlix said:

." while the angel on the other is annoyed, snapping, "You don't need more ink! Save your money!"

don't listen to it! LOL

[torstar]

Noodler's 

Private Reserve

Parker Penman (supplies are running out)

 

 

[PAKMAN]

Parker, Iroshizuku, Diamine

[yazeh]

7 hours ago, PithyProlix said:

 

Thanks. I'm almost about to pull the trigger on 4 Kalas ... (Devil on one shoulder is seductively whispering, "Buy it ..." while the angel on the other is annoyed, snapping, "You don't need more ink! Save your money!")

Listen to the angel  You really don't need more ink. If it weren't for the internet we'd be probably all writing with ball points, or a variation of cuneiform  

[torstar]

For a brand that is new to you, always secretly check out the price before you jump in...

 

In my life a new unopened bottle in stock can cost me $7.50 to $75 for a regular volume bottle.

 

In my Sunday walking area the boutiques are exclusive and sometimes they preemptively ask if I really intended to spend $200 on a new bath towel or other sticker shock. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Patrick L]

On 2/2/2025 at 1:06 AM, yazeh said:

I would say, Noodler's, followed by Herbin and Kala inks. Herbin is more by default as there's a stationary store nearby, which sells 10ml bottles  

Yes , the Herbin 10ml bottles are classy (glass) and cost little (on some websites).

[yazeh]

1 hour ago, Patrick L said:

Yes , the Herbin 10ml bottles are classy (glass) and cost little (on some websites).

or at stores  

[InesF]

Waterman

Pelikan (4001 and Edelstein)

Lamy Crystal

[RedPie]

Noodler's

Iroshizuku

Sailor

 

[PithyProlix]

On 2/5/2025 at 8:14 PM, RedPie said:

don't listen to it! LOL

21 hours ago, yazeh said:

Listen to the angel

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

22 hours ago, yazeh said:

If it weren't for the internet

I wouldn't be using girly colors....purples, browns, burgundies, or green inks.

Still stay away from pink inks.

 

He is right, without internet, I'd still have my P-75 FP&MP/BP** locked up dried out in my wife's jewelry jail. A One Man, One Pen....forgotten about, in the out of sight, out of mind syndrome.

 

**I still have two Parker lead cartridges that went in the P-75 BP....it was named Classic later than when I bought those two in '70/71.

[thx1138]

On 2/5/2025 at 11:39 PM, torstar said:

Noodler's 

Private Reserve

Parker Penman (supplies are running out)

 

 

Have you tried the scribe inks?

The sapphire and emerald are very close to , or thevsame as, the original penman inks. I am only a scribe ink customer, no vested interest.

[PAKMAN]

Agree the Scribe Indigo is a very good substitute for Parker Penman Saphire!

[yazeh]

 

On 2/6/2025 at 8:31 AM, PithyProlix said:

If money isn't a problem, get them. If I had the funds, I would buy all the series. As of now, Kala & Octopus (Write & Draw) are my favourite pigment brands. I sort of went off, Noodler's, thanks to tariff threats. It's a pity, because I have many favourites. 

 

Note the Gemstone/Abstraction series are subtle, if you use primarily  EF/F nibs, you  might not see much of a difference. It might look blackish/ dark brownish, or greyish. For example Sillimanite and Moonlight tide look quite similar.  However, as I do a lot sketching and washes, I see a lot of difference and I use a lot of ink. 

What I like about them, is that inks that I have reviewed are well behaved, well lubricated and  and normally easy to clean. 

 I'm currently having a blast with Onyx (Brown Grey), which I haven't posted a review yet. I think I've went through 8 fillings, already. 

So, if you get them or the Abstraction series, you might want toward distinct colours and not towards the neutral ones.

Scapolite has a distinct green tinge for ex. .  Hope it helps you with your selection. I haven't tried the Neon or the non-pigment series, I don't know much about them. 

 

 

[yazeh]

@Bo Bo Olson 

[torstar]

1 hour ago, thx1138 said:

Have you tried the scribe inks?

The sapphire and emerald are very close to , or thevsame as, the original penman inks. I am only a scribe ink customer, no vested interest.

 

Thanks, always seeking a new reason for an impulse buy... or a more nuanced researched try... 

 

 

[torstar]

1 hour ago, PAKMAN said:

Agree the Scribe Indigo is a very good substitute for Parker Penman Saphire!

 

Just when I thought I was out.... they pulled me back in ... 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chris1]

Top three brands by number of bottles only:

Parker (Penman, not horrible Quink, dwindling supply of Sapphire, Ebony and Ruby)

Montblanc (original, permanent Midnight blue-black - running out too!)

Diamine (assorted colours)

 

But most used is probably Pelikan blue-black as it is cheap and doesn't feather on my newspaper when doing the crossword and other puzzles.

 

 

[torstar]

4 minutes ago, Chris1 said:

 

Parker (Penman, not horrible Quink, dwindling supply of Sapphire, Ebony and Ruby)

 

 

Green as well for me.