Lamy Dark Lilac Ink Controversy, My Take!

[@pamelaboxall7015]

Looking at my "other" hobby of knitting, it's always been well-known and understood that even large commercial wool manufacturers can't exactly reproduce a colour time after time. Thus, all the wool dyed in one go will get an individual "Dye Lot" number alongside the more general colour name or number. The colour number remains constant, but each fresh batch of yarn will get a new dye lot number. When you buy wool, you always get asked if you've checked that all the dye lot numbers match because even if it looks like the same colour to the eye, when you knit it up there is a chance of getting a noticeable stripe where different batches of dye have been used. This is even more pronounced in the realm of small-batch independent hand-dyers where you can pretty much assume you won't get a very close match between any two skeins of yarn. So, am I surprised to learn that the new Lamy Dark Lilac isn't the same as the original Lamy Dark Lilac? Not really. It's interesting to read several comments about how Lamy, Waterman etc should have renamed their inks if they couldn't match the original formula. When Montblanc rename inks there are lots of comments that they are cheating by selling the same colour under a new name. It must feel to these manufacturers that they just can't win.

[@Ybalrid]

For another totally differnet example: I am into 3d printers. Last year at 3 different point I bought some "Purple" ABS plastic filament from the same manufacturer at different time of the year, and from 2 different retailer (so all different production batches I suppose) I got 3 ever-so-slightly different shades of purple. Even in mixing master-bach pigment for plastics, they get it within some variance, it seems!

[@hedyczuchnicka6934]

The same goes for watercolours. I just bought three different pans from A. Gallo in Italy. They each came with the colour beautifully swatched on a small card. I swatched them out on high-end watercolour paper. My swatches did not match their swatches. The colours were certainly in the same ballpark, but not identical. That’s because each batch is handmade and the pigments vary from batch to batch, even though they have the same pigment number from the pigment supplier. But in the case of the ink - a green sheen replacing the original sheen? - that’s pushing it beyond the bounds of acceptability.

[@АртемийКлочанов]

The Montblanc thing is selling a color from their regular lineup as a limited edition to create sleazy, artificial scarcity amongst people who didn't pay attention to it, it's different. When the original formula had specific properties that made the thing desirable (gold sheen, in this case), marketing the new option the same is inversely sleazy -- even if it's not their fault the color doesn't match -- because people wanted Lamy Dark Lilac to no little part because of the sheen, otherwise you could just dupe it by mixing Iroshizuku inks or settle for e.g. Waterman Tender Purple. So if it doesn't have the sheen, it to some degree ends up being false advertising -spiritually- even if there's no one to blame.

[@belphegor_dev]

Stop making excuses for these companies. They are not small mom and pop stores, they have the resources to exactly duplicate their colors. Also, these two colors are NOTHING alike. This wasn't an honest mistake.

[@pamelaboxall7015]

@@belphegor_dev Indeed, they are commercial companies exactly like yarn manufacturers such as Sirdar, Patons, Berocco with whom I was comparing them. I am not making excuses - I am providing information which might have some relevance to a discussion. You clearly have superior knowledge of the commercial and scientific implications of fountain pen ink production and I will consider your reply to be the last word on this subject. I hope you enjoy your fountain pens and inks this weekend.

[@johnnyjet3.1412]

As a former geology student I am partial to Monteverde Gemstone Ink - Amethyst Purple ! “A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition” Kipling

[@amyz673]

Love that quote!!!

[@UmiChan358]

Or too much ink bottle 😅 I always want more

[@agabrielhegartygaby9203]

Your comment made me laugh out loud....Kipling should be cancelled but after this quote I officially forgive him....thank you for a fun start to my day!

[@Leulas]

"i'm not a big fan of purple ink" FRIENDSHIP OVER!... okay i forgive you, this time.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you. I am glad I had some political capital to spend there. Whew!

[@deandesrosiers6857]

I laughed out loud. Too funny. Who knew purple has this impact…

[@sunnycharacter]

@@deandesrosiers6857You know purple is the symbol of royalty. Who knew?! Lol

[@gihanzohdy3284]

​@@sunnycharacterI did.

[@sunnycharacter]

@@gihanzohdy3284 💜

[@jcortese3300]

It's still crazy to me that getting an ink color wrong is worth putting someone in hot water, but if only they'd called it "Homage to Dark Lilac" or "Shadowed Lilac" or something.

[@HemingwayJones]

Agreed!

[@pauldavidartistclub6723]

“New Dark Lilac”, “Dark Lilac 2”, Dark Lilac 2024 Edition”, “Dark Lilac Green Shade”, etc etc etc.

[@animula6908]

I know of people who would hunt you down over ink color exactness. I, on the other hand, refilled my kakuno with purple and didn’t even bother to clean out the crusted over green that was in it before. Someone who does paperwork with grurple can never complain.

[@INCWorks]

@@animula6908 'Grurple' - I love it! 😄

[@shane6242]

Totally agree with you and glad you made this video! They should have made it Dark Lilac v2 or even "Darker Lilac" lol. The biggest issue to me is that they made something that they knew would be fundamentally different (different ingredients) and thought they could pass it off as the exact same thing. They were wrong on that one!

[@HemingwayJones]

I totally agree!

[@Supra_Mare_Cultro_Bloke]

I have a conspiracy: Mitsubishi Pencil Europe arranged this scandal and made sure this news was properly broadcasted.

[@HemingwayJones]

I love a conspiracy theory! Awesome.

[@mayneric]

You can never trust big ink or the nib cabal! 😊

[@HemingwayJones]

That's hilarious.@@mayneric

[@Bldyiii]

Well why would they boast such a screw up??

[@Supra_Mare_Cultro_Bloke]

​@@Bldyiii get ride of current Lamy management at zero cost 🎉

[@BlushnBlue]

Not into purple either so I've skipped all the news. But, since you posted about it, I figured I should just hear the scoop. Thank you for sharing.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you for watching!

[@LaddGardner4]

Brilliant. You're at your best when you just speak extemporaneously on a subject you're passionate about. If you were reading from bullet-point notes, you did that better than anyone else I've ever seen. Very thought-provoking and thoughtfully done.

[@HemingwayJones]

I wasn't reading! This was all me and with very few edits. Thanks!

[@robertnyc4489]

If someone told me thirty years ago that I would be obsessing over ink I would have told them they were crazy, yet, here we are. I agree with your assessment, not a great start for the new owners but it will probably settle over time.

[@HemingwayJones]

So true, my friend!

[@LVA22-y1m]

Fantastic episode! Really appreciate the business perspective. Frankly, I think Lamy simply underestimated us! Fountain pen people are insane in the best way, and gold sheen is nothing to sneeze your nose at. Well, I guess Lamy knows that now. I do hope you get some media interviews on this! P.S. Totally agree about the Boheme. I will be standing in line with a fistful of dollars if they do as you suggest. Cheers!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks for the kind words! Sincerely, "You can be blasé about many things, Rose, but not Golden Sheen! It is far more luxurious!" I am glad that you're a Boheme fan.

[@littlebadger]

About the "what was that ink the european retailers had?" issue. It was regular Lamy stock. Lamy shipped boxes of this ink to some retailers, and didn't send any information about when it was allowed to be shown or how (presuming it was because of being busy with the merger), so retailers debuted this ink before Lamy could explain what it was, or how it was different. At least my usual stores tends to put stock up very quickly unless there's a specific release date defined by the company. Lamy even put it up a few days later in their own lineup of products on their official website, and the product is named just Dark Lilac (so the official and confusing name of this new ink came from them originally, not the retailers). Later a few retailers explained the situation, saying they'd had to get in touch with Lamy too after the intense demand for information, and were told that the ink was a reimagining after all. I genuinely think this was a mismanaged product idea (dark purple with green sheen is a beloved category of ink, so even if it wasn't called Dark Lilac I reckon it'd still sell well compared to the rest of their super boring T52 range) compounded further by a slowness to reply, and what I can only call "throwing retailers under the bus to take the brunt of the backlash". Even their communication was mostly just telling retailers how to manage the situation. I've always had a lot of respect for Lamy, but I don't know. Maybe they're just busy and goofed.

[@HemingwayJones]

That makes more sense. The article made it sound different. Thanks for the great comment.

[@lefthandedclogger]

Yes! I came to comment this same thing but you already put it so well.

[@litaartis2924]

Not sure I've ever seen you so animated when talking about inks and pen companies. Keep it up!

[@HemingwayJones]

I should do more off the cuff. Thanks!

[@arguchik]

See also: Waterman's reformulation of its very popular Mysterious Blue ink. I recently purchased a bottle, not realizing it had been reformulated so that it's a standard blue ink instead of a warmer, teal-blue ink. But they didn't change the name, and a lot of the color cards that online retailers have for this ink show the older formulation (including the one where I purchased my bottle). I was a little mad, frankly. The bottle of Mysterious Blue I received is not what I thought I was purchasing.

[@arguchik]

P.S. This is neither a tragedy nor a scandal for me - I will still use the bottle because it's a perfectly fine blue ink. They just should have renamed it, is all.

[@hilmarthorbjarnason935]

This reminds me of the Shakespeare play ... Much Ado About Nothing.

[@kanamichelle7404]

They should have done it like perfumers do. Perfumers release “flankers” of the original, with just a few changes. They just call it “extrait ” or “intense” or any number of names just to distinguish it from the OG. They might just slightly change the color or the notes. It seems like that would have worked here.

[@HemingwayJones]

That is a fantastic analogy.

[@amyz673]

Thank you for this video. New to the FP world and your channel so the more I learn the better!

[@HemingwayJones]

Welcome aboard! I am delighted to have you here!

[@irishaven4632]

I feel like they shouldn't have tried to bring back dark lilac if they couldn't get the pigment right (as previously mentioned the red dye they used for the original was discontinued). Since it has a green sheen, I wonder how it compares to Lamy Azurite, which is also a purple with a green sheen. I don't think it is too big of a scandal, but I am also not a massive fan of Lamy because their aesthetic is too modern for me. However, if Robert Oster ever changed their Envy shimmer ink, I'd be pretty sad. So, I understand why people are frustrated by it.

[@GGMoonish]

Honestly, I think I like the green sheen better than the original gold sheen. Purple and green are two of my favorite colors so them being together in an ink, chefs kiss 💋 🎉

[@user-oh2xf8bt7g]

As I recall, Lamy and Wacom have already produced a bundle with a tablet and the stylus was a Lamy Safari. Maybe this is the kind of digital writing we are looking at. I don't think it will replace the regular fountain pens. It's just like art. There are plenty of digital artists in the world, but they haven't completely replaced artists who still use paper and canvas.

[@wolf_ceit_witch]

Yes It's in an Alstar body and I have one it fits great in my hand.

[@johnnyragadoo2414]

Ha! I got that same "page not found" error! Great video. Appreciate your banker's insights.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much! I thought it was a nice illustration of how much those of us who love pen don't really care about digital writing. Thanks!

[@davidparrishproductions5082]

I love how you went back in editing and made all of those clarifications!! Quality control baby! Well done.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks! I don’t usually do things this off the cuff. Even the LIVE Show, so I had to make some tweaks and get to the press on time!

[@sharonb4433]

What brand is the notebook you use for your writing samples? Love your videos.

[@HemingwayJones]

I use a lot of different ones. I use a Moleskine watercolor journal for my ink library. I use Clairefontaine Puprite for writing. I use Rhodia Touch for ink videos. Thanks!

[@mojavejoe190]

Great commentary. Very thoughtful

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you!

[@ginopagnani7286]

An excellent explanation from a business viewpoint, thanks HJ !!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks Gino! You are gold, My Friend.

[@christophermckellar1352]

Well thought and delivered. What was the lovely music in the outro?

[@HemingwayJones]

Josef Suk, Serenade Op6. Thanks for noticing! All the best.

[@christophermckellar1352]

@@HemingwayJones thanks. It’s rare that I run into something that I haven’t heard or performed. Lovely choice! And very interesting and creatively edited video for that outro!

[@jochanwong]

@@HemingwayJones I always enjoy your videos and would agree that the outro is exceptional. Thank you!

[@Alliejay-C]

Thank you for providing your original insights on this. I have often wondered when an ink is so popular, why not make it either another limited release or even add it to the regular production line. Montblanc, if you are reading this, please bring back lavender purple! I also loved your musical selection for the end credits. Could I ask the name of that piece?

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much! That was Josef Suk, Serenade Op6. It just became available in the free music library so you will be hearing more of it on the Channel. Thanks!!!!

[@jamespicht1128]

What Montblanc really needs to do is stop releasing new inks that are the same as their old inks.

[@doningle9352]

Thank you for another splendid episode!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you!

[@gizmogeek23]

It’s the New Coke of ink. I kind of like that the new formula is darker. I kind of wonder since Lamy never puts the ink name on their box or bottle (which I find extremely annoying), they don’t actually care about the name.

[@gizmogeek23]

Lamy has done phone/tablet pens and pens you can write in a notebook to then use a phone to digitize it. I see that as something that probably won’t keep up with an apple pencil or something like it but it seems like their aim.

[@HemingwayJones]

I love this comparison. I wish I had thought of it.

[@HemingwayJones]

I think so, but who wants it!? They need to know their audience. Thanks My Friend.

[@gizmogeek23]

@@HemingwayJones yah I don’t get it. Maybe there is something growing with the new generation who are using tables more than anything or they think their might. I think it’s a middle ground that gives you the worst of each side. On another note, I think this means I need to write a replay to your letter in a purple ink! Slowly bring you to the purple side!

[@nohandle-01]

Yeah, coke zero 🤣

[@eddiecandelaria8691]

Enjoyed this video H.J. I still have a bottle of the original dark lilac also parker penman sapphire and emerald. I had a bottle of montblanc Alfred Hitchcock blood red but it got contaminated somehow. When I had no choice but to toss it in the trash I came to the conclusion that it's only ink and life goes on. I have recently focused my attention on parker quink and waterman inks hint ,hint tender purple which I prefer to dark lilac,Why? Because they are easy to flush out of your pen, well behaved and are budget friendly.

[@PeterLove-oc7ys]

What safety razors do you use?

[@HemingwayJones]

Astra Platinum. Quite like them. They don’t catch as much.

That part of the Lamy press release also caught my attention. What do they mean about focus on digital writing? I wonder.

[@HemingwayJones]

I think it’s pens that translate your writing into text and can scan text, etc. Doesn’t sound very fun to me, but I am sure there are uses. Thanks!

[@richardzak2140]

Hello HJ. If I were a fan of anything and it went away, it would be heartbreaking. But imagine if it came back and it was different than the original, think what a huge let down that would be. I would prefer that it just wasn't available anymore as opposed to getting my hopes up then crushing them. I do use one purple ink in my Montblanc 146 calligraphy pen and that is Waterman's Tender Purple. I feel like royalty when I use it. The color purple has such an opulat style to it. Great video. Love the controversy topic. It engages the senses.

[@HemingwayJones]

It is a lot of fun to talk about. There are a lot of angles here. I'll have to check that purple you mentioned. I like Imperial Purple as well. It has a bit of a Roman connection there. Thanks for the comment and it is always a pleasure seeing you here.

[@davidottman9501]

Excellent investigative journalism. Thanks for exposing the frightening conspiracy of Big Pen! As always, you've made an engaging and interesting post. Your thought that Lamy could have avoided this by simply using a new name for their new ink is spot on. I'd also guess that those who are most loudly offended are the ones trying to make money by "flipping" ink bottles.

[@HemingwayJones]

I love your comments here! I wish I had thought of your second line! It would have made a great title for this. Well done. I imagine those that have the old stuff; their bottles should be worth more now. I am still dubious whether they are getting that much for them. Thanks for the great comment.

[@ruthfeiertag]

When I saw the photo of you with the _NYT_ beside your image, I thought it was a mock-article you had collaged together to poke fun at all the talk about the LDL variations. “Clever,” Ivthought and noted your video as something to which to come back. Later, I was reading the _Times_ on my phone and lo and behold! There was the article!

[@HemingwayJones]

It is a little surreal. That’s what gave me the idea to make the video. I probably should have mentioned the article more. This was very off the cuff though.

[@ruthfeiertag]

@@HemingwayJones I think you did an excellent job. I imagine most people cottoned on to the reality of the article and sought it out instead of stumbling upon it as I did. I appreciate your measured and thoughtful perspective on this topic. I gather from other people’s posts elsewhere that many people are profoundly angry, possibly out of proportion to the issue. I haven’t run into any truly rage-ful comments like that myself. An interesting tangent (to me anyway) would be a discussion of the way colours affect us. Subtle changes in tone can evoke very different reactions in people who are attuned to colour, as many of us in the pen community obviously are. I think the article would have been even more interesting if it had discussed the relationship between the resurgence of fountain pens and the emergence of so many fascinating inks - the vast array of new colours, the shimmer-shade-sheen trinity, the multi-chromatics, the document inks. But perhaps this is a topic you might be willing to discuss some time?

[@HemingwayJones]

That is an excellent suggestion. Thank you!

[@Michelt007]

I don't know about the old Dark Lilac, but I purchased a bottle of the new one and it's green shading on lilac (dark lilac, I should say!) and is quite amazing. That's the kind of ink that is to be repurchased once the bottle runs dry. Two funny things about that story: 1) Lamy does not produce so many ink colors that they need to re-use an old name 2) Lamy does not bother labeling their bottle with the ink name

[@HemingwayJones]

2 great points! I am enjoying that ink as well. Thanks!

[@5t4n5]

I would suggest that digital writing is something like the Kindle Scribe. Where you can hand write a journal, draw pics and loads of other things, on the device, with a pen, in e-ink. While i love reading on my Kindles, i have no intention of giving up the experience of a fountain pen on quality paper for some digital contraption. If i need something written digitally i'll type it, thanks. One thing about Lamy being taken over is that Mitsubishi may have the business sense to start releasing the Safari with a round grip at long last. I've never understood why Lamy won't do that.

[@martscapes]

💜 Thanks 🖐️Have a nice day

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you too

[@boshkodjordjevich7424]

Great video. Great analysis. I personally do really like purple inks and will probably buy this ink regardless of what happened. Maybe they should have called it aubergine?

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks for watching!

[@nostro1001]

I was considering a deal out here with the limited edn blackberry/violet safari bundled with the ink. I love purple inks (especially deeper tones) & thought I'd get the bundle based on the ink. The pen itself doesn't particularly grab me... I have no issues with two tone, I just don't think the violet (pink) matches all that brilliantly with the much darker blackberry. Interesting video... Thank you HJ. Cheers. 🖊️🖊️🖊️

[@DWhoLover]

I’m over here enjoying my new Lamy Blackberry ink with its lovely sheen and not caring. Normally purple is one of my least favorite ink colors, but I completely understand the frustration of people not getting what they expected. Very good explanation of the situation. I have about 2% of a conspiracy question of whether the company wanted a different issue to actually take attention away from the merger/acquisition.

[@VicariousVic4short]

I'm coming into this contraversy a few days late. Definitely not trying to start any fights here. Hemmingway, Really appreciate your take from a business standpoint, you thought up some interesting points. In regards to the ink contraversy, I find it interesting that a brand like Noodler's can be known for having slight differences in formula and color over time for a particular ink color, and that be seen as a positive thing as it adds uniqueness to the bottle or batch your bottle came from, and also adds a layer of forgery resistance, but Lamy makes a similar change, and it is like the end of the world. From what I heard it appears to be a new EU regulation on one of the dye components. As a side note, maybe it is better for our health that it isn't the same. Side note over. My understanding is that when Lamy officiall announced this release they noted that there was a change in the formulation. Was it the best roll out maybe not, but why is our community treating one brand different then the other? I don't understand the double standard. On the ink itself. For me, and seemingly many people in the hobby, the uniqueness of fountain pen writing is a big draw, so I never really understood chasing an ink color just because it is popular. It is odd. The amount of use of a color has an inverse relationship to the uniqueness. The more an ink is used the less unique it is. I do have inks that are popular, but I most of my personal favorites aren't regularly reviewed or brought up in videos. I also like inks that have a theme, a recent example is the Diamine Metallica ink I ordered last night. Can't wait to combine my love for metal music and Fountain pens. All that to say if uniquess is a goal or at least a pleasent side affect for you in the hobby, why does it matter if a color shifts? It just means another layer of uniqueness. Caring about it seems to imply that there are other motivations at play other then uniqueness. Would love to hear what those motivations are and how those motivations play or don't play with the uniqueness. But, hey my mom also says if we were all the same life would be pretty boring. Not trying to start any fights here, just trying to understand. As a side note, shout out to SBRBROWN's video on this subject, I thought put things in perspective quite well. Best-Vic

[@HemingwayJones]

I don’t think you were combative at all. I think you made some excellent points and asked some good questions perception, timing, context affects all of these things. For me, I didn’t really have an emotional stake in this one so it was still very interesting to me. I didn’t see that other video, but I am sure it was good too. Thanks for watching.

[@tce4159]

Why in the world would they give the same name to two different inks?

[@HemingwayJones]

And that My Dear Friend, is the mystery!

[@arguchik]

Great question! And they are not the only company to have done this. See also: Waterman Mysterious Blue.

[@ffotograffydd]

Because sometimes people make mistakes? It was 8 years ago after all.

[@2adamast]

Color matching is a permanent fight, every batch is unique

[@arguchik]

@@2adamast Well, Lamy also said that some of the ingredients they used in the original Dark Lilac were no longer available, so in that case I guess color matching was nearly impossible.

[@penthevision4706]

Thanks for this excellent and informative video. 🙌

[@HemingwayJones]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching.

[@sbornot2b]

They could have called it Dusk Lilac and marketed it as a homage or cousin to Dark Lilac. On the other hand they managed to get fountain pens in The New York Times.

[@misswoodhouse5720]

Hi, I totally love your take on this whole Lamy matter. I am (as a former bachelors in English and now business student) very interested in your understanding of this. I do however, love purple inks haha. I'm currently loving Diamine Imperial Purple in my Visconti Queen Diamond jubilee it's a cheaper pen but lovely and I had the nib tuned. Purples are my fav colour. Anyways, I would be interested in what happens with Lamy now, are we going to see more pens, pencils, and designs or are we going to see big differences in the way Lamy is doing business? Only time will tell. PS, thanks for another video. Chelsea c:

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much for watching. I actually like Imperial Purple because it’s dark. Also, it makes me think of Rome. All the best.

[@Prince_VaPer]

Who knew purple ink could create such a kerfuffle? Grimace would have been a better choice lol. Funny you mentioned safety razors, I’ve been using one for several years now. There must be something about these hobbies that attach themselves to me…great video!

[@HemingwayJones]

Grimace was on screen. There was a correction. I love my safety razor. You do need a Gillette back up for when you’re running late!

[@MidlifeByKirstin]

Being German it makes me sad that Lamy has been sold internationally. I wonder if the new colours of the Safari have anything to do with that (I think the dual colourway is so ugly and so not on brand for Lamy). I think I´m going to get my hands on some Safaris and Al Stars I like that were produced when Lamy was still Lamy (thinking Cream, Cosmic and LX Marron).

[@HemingwayJones]

That is a very good idea!

[@karmesindryade]

Although I am sad that another family owned company is sold, I am happy that Lamy was sold to Mitsubishi Pencil and not to an anonymous company which sells everything as long as the profit is fine. What they plan regarding "digital writing" is of course questionable - let's see what they will do. The "ink scandal" was completely new to me. But I think Montblanc also had some "scandals" with re-issuing inks that were previously sold as limited editions. Let's hope that Lamy stays Lamy.

[@ffotograffydd]

Given it’s frowned upon to re-issue limited editions, I suspect this is simple human error and someone gave it a name not realising it had already been used. Regardless, it’s hardly a “scandal”.

[@kan-zee]

I loving this 1st world Pen & ink drama news....bravo, well done... 😂👍🌟

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks! It’s definitely niche.

[@esthereley6808]

Digital Writing refers to Wacom internals to iconic pen forms like the Safari for use in e-ink tablets like reMarkable 2 and Kindle Scribe.

[@detpekandefingret]

09:05 Safety razors: YES! Been wondering how much overlap there is between these two communities. Clearly the superior option.

[@HemingwayJones]

I am a fan! I have had the same badger brush for 20 years. Great stuff.

[@derosa1989]

I seriously thought you had pushed this video out by mistake, because you made it for April 1st. For the first 5 minutes i thought you made the New York Times headline in photoshop! Your sincere delivery had me questioning myself that this could be parody, and googled it, to my surprise, Crazy stuff!

[@HemingwayJones]

Right!?! That’s why I thought I had to comment on it. Plus, it’s one of those things that gets you thinking of all the different angles. And it’s a harmless controversy, so no one gets hurt.

[@adjutant]

It sheds a bad light on the merger. Gives me the impression that Mitsubishi will mismanage Lamy. This controversy has created a clean break between old Lamy and and new Lamy in the eyes of consumers. New Lamy is cutting corners, low quality, profit-chasing, watered-down, etc. You know the way people talk about how Boeing was so great before the merger with McDonnell-Douglas

[@johntaylor8817]

Hi. I love Purple inks. 🦘 cheers from Australia.

[@tsherbs1309]

They gonna use the lamy factory to make high-end digital stylus?

[@HemingwayJones]

Possibly. Or it could be a move to open markets.

[@alanpareis734]

Well done, though I don’t particularly have and opinion on this. Thank you SBRE and his Roman friend M. A. Though I guess I should check and see what I could get for a sealed, original box, and in zip lock bagged box of the 2016 L Dark Lilac. I bought the matching Safari for my youngest daughter’s birthday, included 2 packs of D Lilac cartridges and a bottle of DL to go with the pen. On a spur of the moment decision I thought what the heck and ordered a 2nd bottle for me still have it box unopened and in the ziplock. My fav Purple is Richard Binder’s “Burple:” a 50/50 mix of Waterman Tender Purple and Serenity Blue. Pretty close to the original Private Reserve Tanzanite, without all the drawbacks and nasties.

[@PinkSheep2005]

Thank you for enlightening us with what was going on… I honestly have been under a rock only hearing some whispers of drama and since I like the dark purples especially the 2024 with purple and green bc I lost my younger brother who was “Hulk” ish ❤ Digital Writing! 😮💔 yes I have bought tech like that BUT agreed this was a more important real news topic than the ink! I only have one LAMY pen, I’m newer to fountain pens and yes the brand is BIG, but actually TWSBI impressed me more. Personally I really like how there is so much similar inks… especially bc many different price ranges! I look for ink comparisons that detail more than one nib type with it regardless of the names. I think the name captured nostalgic feelings and thus supply n demand shifted the price in someone’s hope for it to be same or very close favorite.

[@dd-hr4nx]

Nice take with NYT. If you are interested, Manda B reviewed the “European-retailer Dark Lilac” few days ago.

[@fossilimprint2954]

Sadly many companies just do not care to have attention to details anymore. I find this entire story fascinating, and I am glad I never found Lamy fountain pens to be to my personal liking. I agree with you, Lamy should have not named this ink the same name.

[@wesdenham282]

This is a Tempest in an Ink Pot. In any case, Vinta has made a dark violet ink with monster green sheen for years. It’s called Harlequin Bodabil (Filipino creole for Vaudeville)

[@LaddGardner4]

Not generally a fan of purple inks, but Pilot's Iroshizuku Murasaki-shikibu is otherworldly. It lives in my Visconti Lotus Garden, and matches the colors in the pen body perfectly. There's nothing garish about it; it's the stuff of springtime dreams.

[@HemingwayJones]

You know I love that Lotus Garden!

[@LaddGardner4]

You deserve it more than anyone else, buddy. And it's "for the channel." (at least that'd be my rationalization) @@HemingwayJones

[@darylcheshire1618]

It’s now August 2024, is there an update to this story?

[@faniro4792]

Excellent! I don't know either what digital writing is. (However, not very keen on vintage cameras; as for calendars & address books, going digital was a real relief for me). (I use fountain pens more or less exclusively for writing fiction). BTW, I've never tried Lamy Dark Lilac ;-)

[@HemingwayJones]

Me either! But I have an opinion on everything. Thanks for watching.

[@sonorangaming449]

Usually companies going under an umbrella company are never good. R.I.P. Lamy. Maybe this will be good and they will fix Lamys out of whack NIB standards. My L2K EF is larger than my Kaweco medium.

[@Jennie8684]

I love purple inks and bought 3 bottles of Lamy Dark Lilac when it was released. I have recently opened my final bottle and am using it sparely, because there is only ONE dark Lilac.

[@Vermiliontea]

So, from what I see, the new ink is better than the old. Except a bit too much sheen, I think. I wonder if adding a bit of water would take down the sheen a notch? The color is strong enough to hold a bit of water I think.

[@thomasquinn284]

😮 Great video H. Timely and with deep introspection. The merger into a larger company does not need this distraction. Just ask the folks at Bud Light about advertising to the base core of customers. Proper prior planning prevents poor performance. Just sayin. 😅😅😅

[@HemingwayJones]

Hear, hear!

[@UmiChan358]

My first thought was that they will make other lineup of japanese fountain pens, but i'm not sure if that's a good idea

[@gristlevonraben]

yeah, digital writing perked up my ears too. it could be a green virtue signal saying they are dropping environmentally unfriendly production, by creating digital notepads and pens for them.

[@HemingwayJones]

It means something to them, but some things should not be digitized. Refrigerators for instance.

[@sunnycharacter]

@@HemingwayJones😂😂 “Barumbum…I’ll be here all week.”

[@gristlevonraben]

ironically, i've often wondered about creating an electric fountain pen that could pump out a consistent flow, or even mix two colors, or three, thereby creating any color you could want by mixing primaries. but mainly, a lighted nib for dark writing would be nice. i have to admit, if they created a lazer pen, i'd probably use it! @@HemingwayJones

[@gristlevonraben]

one that burned an image into the paper's surface.

[@HemingwayJones]

Everyone wants a laser pen.

[@XHobbiesPrime]

You are definitely a watch guy. I love my fountain pens and automatic watches. I have noticed there is a bit of crossover with those hobbies.

[@HemingwayJones]

I’ve been meaning to do a cross-over video; matching pens to watches.

[@XHobbiesPrime]

@@HemingwayJones I was watching one of your Dark Academia videos but couldn't tell what watch you were wearing. It looked perhaps like a diver?

[@squirejinx]

Sinister conspiracy confections aside, the hapless corporate "oops!" is legend. Never underestimate the cluelessness of bloated conglomerates.

[@HemingwayJones]

Truly! Well said!

[@oscarcalva2189]

Change is the only constant in life. Things change, all the time, nothing stays the same. Some adapt to change and go with the new stuff, some stay within a shrinking hobbyist community and they’ll always be there, no matter how many companies disappear (I am one of them). Maybe in the future fountain pens will not be any convenient for newbies and casuals anymore, but there will always be hobbyists. With the appearance of combustion engines, the horse people declined, but there are still a lot of horse people raising horses as hobby. That’s just how the world spins. Scarcity usually makes things more precious and enjoyable, I like to toast green coffee myself and more and more it’s harder to find proper widely available green grains. That makes roasting coffee a more valued hobby than hobbies more widely available.

[@PeterShannon]

I don't own the dark purple but my Diamine Scribble Purple swatches similarly to those pictures

[@tmwtpbrent14]

For those familiar with Dark Lilac, is there no comparable ink?

[@HemingwayJones]

I wonder this myself.

[@tmwtpbrent14]

@@HemingwayJones Speaking more in your wheelhouse, what ink is a good substitute for JH Eclat de Saphir?

[@rochprof9821]

I love De Atramentis Aubergine/Alexander Hamilton. It seems to me that it’s quite similar to Dark Lilac. As for Eclat de Saphir, I find Iroshizuku Ajisai to be virtually identical to it.

[@tmwtpbrent14]

@@rochprof9821 I could see that. I have Eclat de Saphir, and it goes down purple and dries to a standard blue. As for Dark Lilac, I'd imagine that people like its color and the gold sheen, but I feel like I've seen at least one similar such sheener before.

[@roxiesossa3210]

Great video Tim! Purple is my favourite colour and yes, I've been one of the people who would have loved to have purchased a bottle of the REAL Lamy Dark Lilac when it was released. Didn't happen. It's ok. There are sooo many things to concern ourselves with than not obtaining a cult classic only made so by its unavailability and I'm not willing to pay what's being offered up on Ebay. Unfortunately, I knew this new formulation wouldn't be it; otherwise, I would've jumped on it. I feel bad for those who thought it would be. I'm with you on so many fronts. It's disappointing that they couldn't or wouldn't think of a different name and, thus, have created this messy business - pun certainly intended. 😉 Though work has been extremely hectic and I've been working 80-hour weeks lately, I always enjoy your videos and try to tune in on Tuesdays whenever possible - even if I'm quiet in the background.😊 Be well!

[@evanbasnaw]

I agree it should have something on the box to distinguish it. Even "Dark Lilac 24" so we know. but that ink presented on its own is still a great one and if Dark Lilac '16 had never existed, would likely have been received in just the same way. I think (and hope) that you're making more of this issue than it really is. Happy writing!

[@Ybalrid]

It's funny you talk about analog cameras too... I recently picked up a 40 years old Canon AE-1 Program and a few lenses... And since I am a nerd I know have a box of all the nasty chemicals and I have developed a few rolls of black and white film (and one of color! though that was a lot less smooth of a process, and it has involved a sous-vide cooker to try to keep the chems at a set temperature...)

[@HemingwayJones]

That sounds like a lot of fun.

[@Ybalrid]

@@HemingwayJonesIt is! Cameras have been "digital only" in my family since I was 7-ish years old. So it is a bit of a retro novelty for me too. But it's getting surprisingly popular as you said. Even Pentax recently announced they are working to design a brand new 35mm film camera. In 2024?! Crazy! Since I have nowere the space to build a darkroom, nor the equipment, I am scanning the negatives and reversing them digitally. Again, it's straightforward enough for black and white, but color science gets complicated real fast ...

[@HemingwayJones]

That is very cool. I am still lusting over the Leica Q3 but I don’t take that many photos anymore

[@MarkZawolny]

im that kind of guy who gravitates into analogue tech and just got into fountain pens just because i heard about this drama

[@HemingwayJones]

Nice! Welcome! I hope you enjoy it. There is so much here. All the best.

[@chidoiguan]

Yes they think their customers are stupid and will never tell the difference. The perfume business does this all the time, just try any of your favorite fragrance and you'll notice how it does not smell the same as it used too.

[@HemingwayJones]

Interesting. I did not know this. Thanks!

[@xlerb2286]

That's part of the downside of having such a dedicated and passionate customer base. They may love most everything you do, but if you do something they consider not in keeping with your traditions and level of quality you'll certainly hear about it.

[@walthuntsman]

Brian Goulet stated that one of the components in the original ink was no longer available, which he said could contribute to the difference between the old and the new. For what it's worth.

[@jolienkrispijn]

Yes. And with a similar thing happening with a red component in acrylic paint, last year, I tend to believe it's true. I don't really think Lamy tried to fool people. They just made quite a stupid mistake.

[@wednesdaymac]

I'm old enough to remember the wreck of Sheaffer when it was acquired by Bic. They moved production out of Iowa. Quality went down. It has never recovered. And I think Sheaffer has been sold on, what, twice after Bic bought them out? So I'm looking at Lamy and Mitsubishi with a cynical side eye. I hope I'm wrong. I have some hope because it's a Japanese company, and I love sailor and pilot pens.

[@HemingwayJones]

I hope it goes better than Scheaffer. Thanks!

[@DestroyerOfWords]

I think I just bought my last Lamy. I own over 15, but with most mergers the first thing to go is legacy quality. If UniBall does improve Lamy quality, which would be quite a trick, then we'll see...

[@PeggyV69]

Per Brian Goulet in the recent Pencast the red color that was originally used in Dark Lilac is no longer made & so they used the new red which caused the lilac to be different. They should made a slight change to the name to differentiate between the old & new versions.

[@jamespicht1128]

In the last year we've been dealing with cancer, a child with extreme social anxiety, and another child who's entered a crisis of self confidence and is wondering whether there's life after school. And I'm trying to decide whether to retire. This Lamy business looked like the straw that was going to make my go to my room and cry, then I suddenly realized that, like you, I don't care for purple ink. Crisis resolved, my life is back on track, I'm going to tell my children "I love you very much now go get a job", and I'm back to composing my retirement letter. As my sister says, if your income doesn't fall with retirement, you can safely retire. As my wife says, if you're thinking about retirement, it's time to retire. As my brother says, drop dead and they'll have a work-around tomorrow and someone new in your office in a month. As a fountain-pen-loving colleague says, "be sure to give yourself a nice pen on your way out." Yep. I don't actually know anyone who's upset about Dark Lilac ink. I've heard about such people, but I have real life friends who use fountain pens and not one of them has uttered a word about Lamy. I enjoyed your take on it. I feel sorry for the product manager who stuck his (or her) foot in this. Maybe he (or she) should retire. Or maybe upper management will respond with a shrug because this represents such a miniscule part of the business and hey, green sheen happens. In a world where there are so many brands and colors of ink that look the same, I can't imagine that there's not a Dark Lilac look-alike out there somewhere or that Kiwi Inks can't custom craft something that Dark Lilac fanciers won't like as much. Dark purple and gold? No problem! I'll be waiting for your take on the new Edelstein ink, Golden Lapis.

[@HemingwayJones]

Golden Lapis is on its way! Courtesy of Brendan from Atlas. Congratulations on your retirement!

[@DSP16569]

The simple answer: One of the original red colors to mix the dark lilac from 2016 isn't available anymore so Lamy has to make a new mixture formular that comes close (but is not 100% the same).

[@dailycharmaddict]

I agree with the “digital writing” concern and thought the same when I read the release. “Whaaaaat?”…I think FP users in general are grasping on to the enjoyable pleasures of a somewhat simpler time and it’s disappointing to anticipate change to what we know and love. We shall see, indeed. Fortunately, I bet the majority of your followers have purchased a number of LAMYs to last a lifetime…IF the worst were to happen! ;0) Nice discussion on ink-gate

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much for watching! This was fun to make.

[@wolf_ceit_witch]

From what I understand is they couldn't get the right pink color and they let the distribution know. It wasn't meant to be dark lilac but an updated version. It was the retailers who knew about the ink difference was. BTW Lamy has been making Digital pens for Digital tables I have an Al Star body one for my tablet and S24. It's really nice. I use both

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so watching. I hope you’re having a nice Saturday.

[@NickT6630]

Digital writing is the worrying thing that could hammer the nail in Lamy's coffin. There is no way I will use a tablet screen to do any form of handwriting by drawing on the screen. The whole reason to use a fountain pen is the physical connection with admiring the appearance of it, looking at the nib then filling the pen with ink, then wiping the nib ready to write. Holding the pen in my preferred way. The touch of the nib to paper and the feedback as I write. The thickness of the line. Taking care of the pen, storing it and cleaning it and all the other aspects you can think of. Then theres the choice of paper too. You cannot recreate that with digital anything.

[@JoeShmo99]

Thanks Doc

[@LuisBorba]

Thanks for another great video. Regarding the quartz crisis, not sure this will happen to the fount pen industry. Like mechanical watches, perhaps fountain pens lost some popularity a while back, but I think (and hope) it isn't going anywhere. Now, more than ever it seems people are craving an analogue experience. Now, will they make a push toward digital writing? Perhaps. There's value and function in it. I have tried it, but it just doesn't feel the same as writing with pen in a paper notebook. I think analogue is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

[@HemingwayJones]

I agree and share your optimism. Thanks!

[@DemonZapan]

I am very concerned what this will do to Lamy, being that it was family owned until now if I‘m not mistaken…😢

[@isolde100]

There is an increasing demand for analog things like turntables, fountain pens, diaries and planners like Hobonichi and Travelers Notebook, typewriters, and hardcover books. People are tired of the planned obsolescence of cell phones and the unreality of living life online.

[@HemingwayJones]

I certainly feel this way. Thanks for watching.

[@kassander1304]

Darklilacgate is turning out to be a pretty interesting scandal. Speaking of reissues, I wish Montblanc would bring Napoleon Blue back out. I missed out on it when it was first offered. It's a beautiful French blue.

[@HemingwayJones]

I love your term for it!

[@Denara1]

I got the impression that ink is just a "by-product" of Lamy. When I called customer service because I had questions about the Mango, they couldn't help me. On the contrary, the lady didn't even have a basic understanding of Lamy inks. This may have been a "coincidence", but it gives the impression that the inks are somehow unimportant...

[@HemingwayJones]

I’m sure that ink and fine writing are a small percentage of their sales. Probably under 10%, if they are like other companies.

[@sunnycharacter]

If you think about how companies change when bought by a big conglomerate, it’s chilling to see why they choose what they choose. Example: hubby is a retired programmer who worked for Clorox Corp. for decades. Imagine if you will, a bleach company owning and acquiring Burt’s Bees, Kingsford Charcoal, Hidden Valley Ranch, Glad (bags etc), pharmaceutical supplies and insurance, Fresh Step cat litter, KC Masterpiece, Armorall, Pinesol…list goes on. It’s not about symbiotic mergers or buyouts anymore. It’s 💰Profit.

[@incognitoedc]

According to Brian Goulet yesterday, Lamy attempted to reproduce the dark lilac but could no longer get all the same pigments specifically the red as it was no longer made. Brian talked to Lamy directly and was told this. Essentially they did their best and what they have now is the best they could do given not all the same pigments were available.

[@sleepawkeen]

If LAMY knew the color was different, why did they package it with the original "Lilac" name?

[@sleepawkeen]

For me, HONESTY is the issue. We are learning that we as a nation and as a world have been lied to for as long as the living generations have lived. We are working toward a new world of kindness and honesty. Rant over.

[@belphegor_dev]

That explanation is a load of bullshit. You'd be wise not to take corpo PR damage control at face value.

[@mmzeeman]

That digital writing also caught my attention. I wouldn't be surprised if Mitsubishi is also going to buy a company producing their own digital writing device. Maybe Supernote? Ore reMarkable? Supernote is already selling Lamy emr styluses as an accessory. Who knows? And what are other large writing companies going to do? Can they afford to miss out on this?

[@timeisahumanconstruct9251]

uni mitsubishi pencils are some of the best in the market so that's a good indicator.

[@RichardAnderson-v7w]

Their Signo DX gel pens are quite good as well.

[@Calcprof]

They probably put it out too soon, perhaps. their story, which I actually believe, its that one of the dye components (red) that was used in the old DL was no longer available, so they did a good match. This kind of issue often exists -- there is no dye manufacturer that lives or dies on sales to fountain pen ink makers. (The same is true of paper.) And yes, many Swiss watch companies went under or at least disappeared as mechanical makers (some were resurrected later). BTW: I still miss Parker Penman Sapphire.

[@HemingwayJones]

We all have our lost inks! Thanks very much!

[@arguchik]

Parker Penman Sapphire is a glorious ink!