Diamine Ink Selection - Unboxing and swatching

[@Elizabeth_attheBeach]

I have a sample of Oxblood and just ordered a bottle. I love the Aurora Borealis and will likely order a bottle after seeing your swatch of it. All the colours you show are lovely.

[@GarryEves]

I do like Diamine inks. I'd guess more than 70% are by them. They do some nice colours and are really affordable.

[@Elizabeth_attheBeach]

@@GarryEves I did order the Aurora Borealis on Amazon. They had a 2-bottle deal so the second colour in the deal is Earl Gray. I think the Aurora Borealis is similar to the pricey Herbin Emeraude de Chivor but without the sheen. Thanks again for this video, Garry!

[@Michelt007]

Diamine Tobacco Sunburst is stunning!! As soon as winter is over and I don't have to fear ink bottle freezing and exploding, I have to order it!! wow!

[@GarryEves]

It's currently tied with Robert Oster Caffe Cream for my favourite brown ink.

[@Michelt007]

@@GarryEves I could not wait for the spring to bring us warmer weather so that I can order the ink online, and went yesterday to my local pen store to buy it. Gorgeous ink! I tried it with a medium nib, I believe it needs at least a broad nib, if not a stub, to deliver all its potential, so I have to go back to the store soon!!!

[@GarryEves]

@@Michelt007 👍

[@seraaron]

diamine Sapphire blue and Royal blue literally look like they got the label colors mixed up in the factory. the label for royal blue looks like the color of the sapphire ink, and the color of the sapphire ink looks like the label on the royal blue. wild!

[@dleon3406]

Because of THIS video, that seems to be about 2 years old I went to fountain pen store and went straight to the ink section. I live 6 hours from this stationery store and seeing the inks you reviewed here was amazing. Yes, I can get everything via Amazon but Im old school and I like to see the products and browse. I was gonna go with the Ox Blood but went with the Writer's Blood. I dont regret my decision but I definitely will be going back to Dromgoole's in Houston Texas for more supplies. Thanks Mr. Garry for the review. Im catching up on all your videos. #WriteOn

[@GarryEves]

I love Writers Blood as well, it's a very nice performing ink, and is my go-to ink for pens that I am struggling with. I love Diamine inks, I would estimate 2/3rd of the bottles I have are made by them.

[@aaron62688]

FYI There are the same lights in the south. Called Aurora Australis. Visible in New Zealand Australia and Tasmania.

[@andrisstanga5938]

I am a big fan of Diamine inks. Such a huge range at great prices. The one I ink my pens with most often is Oxford Blue, a really nice dark blue with surprising shading for such a saturated ink.

[@GarryEves]

I've added Oxford Blue to my list to get. I'm on the lookout for the ideal blue ink for me. The one I really like is Colorverse Supernova, it's just so expensive - I am hoping to find a Diamine equivalent.

[@JustAnotherAccount8]

Thanks for introducing me to Pulp addictions! Really helps me out since I'm an aussie living in melbourne!

[@cmptar]

The Diamine color wheel 30ml 6 packs are only $27+tax here in the US on amazon and I couldn't resist picking up a couple sets at that price. I like the Diamine inks.

[@ThatLoganChick]

Lovely inks! I live in Canada, and have seen the Aurora Borealis many times, and not once was it such a beautiful teal blue as that ink. I usually see vibrant lime green and pink, occasionally purple. Gorgeous, but not teal. Ink naming is a funny thing. You totally have a point about the Ancient Copper.

[@GarryEves]

That's awesome to be able to see. Certainly when I've seen an aurora on TV it looks very different from the ink. I'm guessing it's an "inspired by" colour.

[@thorhilda]

Maybe the chromatography reveals some of the pinks and greens usually observed in northern lights.

[@fredcostas1945]

Wonderful video, like the before & after, very helpful

[@GarryEves]

👍

[@SilverSeaOT7]

I have the sapphire blue in a Pilot fine Kakuno. It is lovely. I find that I really like bold colors for my finer pens. I really love the Aurora Borealis too!

[@TweakMDS]

Great selection Garry. I love the small Diamine bottles and I think I easily have 15 or 16 of them. Apparently some people struggle with getting fat pens in there, but I haven't had any issues so far, maybe because they're all still relatively full. Out of your selection I have Ancient Copper, Tobacco Sunburst and Aurora Borealis. I really like the Tobacco Sunburst, especially in a wet nib. Aurora Borealis and Ancient Copper are nice as well, but for my liking really need a good match on the nib to show maximum ink attributes. Other than that, I use Autumn Oak a lot, which is also very popular, as well as Earl Grey. A frequently overlooked star of Diamine is Marine. I don't see it around a lot, but it's one of my absolute favorite inks (together with Waterman Mysterious Blue, KWZ Aztec Gold and Platinum Citrus Black). Then there's a few I don't love... Diamine Denim: nothing bad, just doesn't do much for me. It's been inside a TWSBI ECO Fine for almost 2 years. To the pen and ink's credit: it writes as if it's new and does so each and every time without any skipping! Diamine Skull and Roses: I think this one does what it's meant to do, but it's not really to my taste.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. I've added those inks onto my "To Buy" list, I just need to convince my wife that I need some more ink!. I love the pricing of the smaller bottles. I used to buy samples of other ink manufacturers and would pay about $4 for a 4ml sample. When I saw the 30ml Diamine at $8.95 a bottle - well that's what made me get them. I've got them in a few pens now and am really loving the colours and performance. I now have about 15 more on my "To Buy" list to try out

[@richardsimms251]

Dry very nice presentation. Thank you. RS.

[@richardsimms251]

correction: very very nice presentation. Thank you. RS

[@GarryEves]

@@richardsimms251 Thank you.

[@helenmcdonnell2585]

Hi Gary, Diamine Blue Velvet is similar to Color verse Supanova, and so is Monteverde Horizon Blue. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes from Northern Ireland

[@GarryEves]

Thanks for this. I've added them to my "to-buy" listt onnce my ink buying freeze is lifted.

[@helenmcdonnell2585]

​@GarryEves I can relate, I have about five inks on my pending list the temptation is bad haha... Hope you're having a good day down under. God bless

[@ldegraaf]

I love diamine inks! I recently got Ancient Copper and had the same thoughts as you did about the name, although I do love the color. I also got tyrian purple which you might like it is a deeper purple however it might be too similar to merlot to be worth having both. My favorite 2 inks though are both Diamine inks they are soft mint and Earl grey. Soft mint is a bright teal color that is bold and almost perfectly matches my pilot metropolitan and the Earl grey is a calming gray color that makes professional writing just a little more fun plus these two inks look great side by side.

[@GarryEves]

I use Earl Grey as a black replacement ink, at the moment I use it in a Kaco Edge with an M nib. I have a Kaigeli 316 that I pair with Soft Mint - I find it's an awesome combo. I find I use Diamine inks over all the other inks I have. I have to force myself to not use Diamine.

[@ldegraaf]

@@GarryEves I understand feeling like you should branch out, but at the price point of Diamine inks and the color range of them I have an extremely hard time buying anything else. It is only when I see an absolutely stunning ink on Reddit or KZbin that I see the need to leave my colorful safe bubble of Diamine inks.

[@ldegraaf]

@@GarryEves i just looked up the 2 pens that you mentioned since I hadn't heard of them before. I'm still fairly new to fountain pens. They both look pretty interesting and I love that they are affordable! Plus all the colors of the kaigelu 316 are beautiful. Thanks for mentioning them my "want to buy" list just grew a bit :)

[@raziasharif8339]

such beautiful inks! i’m going to have to b it aurora and tobacco sunburst!

[@64ftContraBombarde]

Nice haul! You should try Diamine's Syrah - kind of like a richer, more red Merlot. I'm fairly sure that those polystyrene peanuts are all generally made out of starch these days, and dissolve when you run water over them. Also, they're technically edible but...

[@GarryEves]

Thanks for the tip about the polystyrene, I'll try that when I next make an order. I've just added the Syrah to my list of inks to buy.

[@64ftContraBombarde]

@@GarryEves nice one. Maybe a taste test review of starch peanuts could be a future video? 😅

[@polymathica]

No, Harry, some peanuts are made of starch (in which case I compost them) but the ones made of nonorganic polystyrene don’t melt and one must not eat them. They are fiendishly difficult to recycle where I am, so I really appreciate it when shops send me my wares packed in the compostable kind.

[@avaDesdemona]

@@GarryEves The easiest way to figure out if those peanuts are plastic is to smell them, they smell a bit like popcorn if they're not plastic. The second easiest is dipping them in water. The plastic ones won't get soggy :-D

[@robt4550]

Two blues you need to try. Diamine Oxford Blue and De Atramentis Sherlock Holmes. These two are my favorite blues so far. I will be getting sample of the Aurora Borealis after watching your review. Cheers.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have already ordered Royal Blue but twill look at those for the next order. I hope you enjoy the Aurora Borealis, I love the colour of it and it writes really well in the TWSBI 580 that I've got it in - broad nib.

[@impish22]

great comparison, I really love the Tobacco

[@GarryEves]

👍

[@baroquer]

Diamine *Twilight* is sssssso GORGEOUS ♥

[@lucm6476]

try Ancient copper on Tomoe River paper and you see a green sheen to that ink . Lovely...

[@GarryEves]

Awesome, thanks. I'll give it try on that. I think the green sheen will look really nice and complement this ink colour.

[@polymathica]

I do my swatching on Tomoe River paper and use cotton swabs to create small pools of ink. When they dry they really bring out any sheen there might be.

[@DrPhilologist]

I am familiar with supernova. I like it but there are alternatives that don't break the bank and which are frankly probably more vibrant. Monteverde DC Supershow blue (former private reserve ink) and Diamine Blue Velvet are the same hue but actually better. Also, some suggestions: Diamine Sargasso sea, scribble purple and their upcoming writer's blood.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. I've added them to my "To Buy" list. I'll keep my eyes open for Blue Velvet.

[@fitzhughlong2422]

Like the way you describe the pens and inks

[@GarryEves]

Thanks.

[@vanessachishti1503]

I neeeeed tobacco sunburst and ancient copper!! Aurora Borealis is supposed to be similar to Eau de nil, also by diamine -- wonder if you've tried that ok...? I am really enjoying looking around your channel, Gary. You've got some really good content here :) Lots of incredible information about pens especially.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. I think Eau De Nil is more of a blue ink rather than the teal of the Aurora Borealis. I do like the Eau De Nil - I'm have earmarked it for a Wing Sung 698 - with a gold nib - once the pen arrives from China.

[@vanessachishti1503]

@@GarryEves well keep an eye out in case you decide to share it with us!

[@MelzoA.]

If you like the supernova, did you see Diamine „Maureen“? Could also be similar…. Or maybe Diamine „A Night in Jodhpur“ or for extreme sheen „Polar Glow“

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. I have got Little Mo (not sure if that is the same as Maureen). I've added the other ones onto my ever-growing "to buy" list./

[@MelzoA.]

@@GarryEves yeah, I know that list very well 😁

[@kan-zee]

12:45 Colorverse SuperNova ink cost $50 a bottle...NOT WORTH IT Colorverse is always overpriced. My fav's are : 15:28 ...the Ancient Copper 15:52 ...Tobacco SunBurst 14:45...Oxblood 15:03...Merlot Don't care for Sapphire Blue or Aurora Borealis.

[@GarryEves]

👍

[@doctorfairlight2792]

Hello Garry I know that you like saturated blue inks. Have you tried Diamine Blue Velvet? Some say it's about as blue as blue gets.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. I haven't tried it, but I've added it to the list of inks to buy when my wife lifts her current ban on me buying more inks.

[@thorhilda]

I used to match the colour of the ink with the colour of the pen : a red ink in a red pen. But, lately, to expand the possible permutations, I've matched the pens with their complementary colour : a green ink in a red pen. In some cases, the contrast is harmoniously striking. I own a bottle of Ancient Copper. I agree, the hue doesn't really evoke copper. However, on paper, it looks great despite the misnomer. One of my favourite inks.

[@GarryEves]

I've put the ancient copper into a purple Moonman M800. I now have a battle to use it as my wife has claimed the pen as she likes it and the ink colour so much.

[@thorhilda]

​@@GarryEves You need to issue her an ultimatum : "It's me or the pen. Chose ! You can't have both ." Or... . . . (^_^) / Congratulate her on her great taste.

[@helenmcdonnell2585]

@@thorhilda haha

[@joefaracevideos]

Thanks for this roundup, Garry. It's funny but I really love Aurora Borealis too but to my eyes I think it's my favorite Green ink. Maybe I'm color blind and don't know it...anyway, I really enjoy your videos.

[@GarryEves]

I also struggle with colours. I usually ask my wife. To me I see a lot of green in the ink.

[@Stettafire]

Excellent video. Maybe a blunt knife would be easier to swatch with?

[@GarryEves]

I've gone back to using a cotton bud in later videos.

[@kevinu.k.7042]

Gary, a glass dip pen writes completely differently to a pen nib. Ancient Copper for example has superb shading. Your glass pen had none. You do it all so nicely though. Thanks.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. Since recording this I have now got a Serendipity dip pen with a Broad Jowo nib. It's still not perfect but it is getting closer to simulating "real" use. One thing I do notice is I need to scribble a bit on scrap paper otherwise there is too much ink on the nib for the first few words.

[@kevinu.k.7042]

@@GarryEves Yes, you have put a lot of thought and work into your vlog and that shows. It's not an easy one though, eh? Wishing you the very best for the coming year.

[@keithwhitney7491]

I enjoyed your ink reviews. I am a great fan of Diamine inks, but i find it harder to get Robert Oster inks at a decent price in the USA. In truth, Iove Diamine inks, Iroshizuku inks, and many Noodler inks. Price considered with consistent quality, I put Diamine at the top!

[@Michelt007]

While watching the video, I was thinking how right was the comment that Ancient Copper (or any other copper color) should or could have a greenish content, as oxidized copper is green, and thinking how great it would be to have an ink that is "orangish-copper" with a "greenish-copper" sheen (or vice-versa), then I recalled that Akkerman SBRE Brown looks a bit like that, it is a brown ink with a green sheen.

[@GarryEves]

👍

[@GarryEves]

👍

[@SpookyRooster135]

I know your video was a year ago, but just saying that most of those packing peanuts are now made with a dissolving cornstarch. Just put them in the kitchen sink and run the tap and they dissolve. Thankyou for your video.

[@GarryEves]

Thanks. I have them still in a bag so will "melt" them at the weekend.

[@vcrouch6041]

Interesting inks. Short fingernails.

[@markb.9360]

Like all the inks you tested today! Diamine’s Writer’s Blood is among my favorites. Darker and ‘bloodier” than Ancient Copper. Check it out. And thanks. Mark

[@GarryEves]

I love Writers Blood. I have it is a WingSung 698 with a gold nib and love the colour and character that it gives me. I am slowly buying all the Diamine inks that Cult Pens sell, I try and slip a couple into every order.

[@lucm6476]

Don't you have Aurora Australis where you are? I can't imagine they are different then Aurora Borealis...

[@GarryEves]

We do, but the best place to see it is in Tasmania is a 6-hour flight away, and only happens a few times a year. I would love to go there and see it as well, but it's a case of getting the timing right. It will happen one day!

[@foreverqihe]

PulpAddiction?

[@GarryEves]

Yeah, these came from there. I normally order my Diamine inks from the UK as they are half the pprice. The issue is postage - I have to combine ink and pens in one purchase to get free shipping.