Montblanc Inks Comparison #1

[@JoelTurrell]

I have used Montblanc Mystery Black for decades, and rarely bother with any other true black. It works well with wet nibs, dry nibs, flexy nibs, and "nails". It does not pretend to be a permanent ink, but then I do not need archival properties.

[@SYnthFeel]

thanks for the point!

[@ExiledExia]

I love these ink reviews! They are very useful, to me at least. Thank you Dave!

[@PenultimateDave]

Thanks! Glad you like them!

[@peterbowenwalker6987]

Thank you for making these ink comparisons. They have been exceptionally helpful. Please keep them coming.

[@saitama4200]

I love green colored inks preferably dark green because it makes your writing stand out while simultaneously retaining the dark color a black has

[@kevinu.k.7042]

I must get a bottle of their Irish Green. It does look good. I like their Royal Blue and Ultramarine inks, they are superb in their shade and behaviour. A month or two ago I started trying Monteverde Gemstone inks. As I tested them they seemed so familiar. There was a familiarity with them which I could not place. Later I heard that the rumour is that they are made in the same production facility as Montblanc's inks. It would not surprise me. They are superb inks too. Thanks for this review, it's enjoyable and helpful.

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

Love Lavender Purple, Irish Green, and Toffee Brown. I use those three quite frequently.

[@pamelaboxall7015]

When you started laying down the swatch of Corn Poppy Red (which I always like in your Currently Inked videos), I was suddenly hit by what a great lipstick colour it would make. Very 1940s. Scarily, I thought the same when you began to swatch Lavender Purple - clearly you can move on from your punk years but something always remains with you....

[@pay1370]

It really is right in the middle of dusky red and vibrant red, definitely wouldn't mind that on my lips either haha

[@PenultimateDave]

Haha, yes some very good colours indeed!

[@antonmarkov1635]

I ordered a bottle of Royal Blue and they sent me the Corn Poppy Red as a gift! I like the Lucky Orange one very much and I hope to buy it. Orange is my favourite colour!

[@luckyoleary9626]

Great stuff. These comparisons are really useful.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

That orange is beautiful!!

[@IAT1964]

I have mostly Montblanc inks, as here where I live I don't have much of a choice. My all time favourite red is a limited edition MB called Shakespeare. Absolutely fantastic.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

I saw this on eBay but they don’t show the color. What shade of red is it?

[@IAT1964]

@@sistergoldenhair0727 Its called "velvet red". Its a deeeeep red, I guess the closest I have seen is Diamine "Red Dragon", except slightly lighter shade.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

@@IAT1964 nice ! I really like that red.

[@ironmic9244]

It's amazing how different experiences can be. I love Oyster Grey. I find it shades very well in a variety of nibs. Off the top of my head in which I used this ink with these pens over the last year; Pelikan 200 EF, 120 B, Montblanc 149 M, Pilot Custom 74 SFM, and Leonardo Momento Zero B. It does look better wet though, because it has a lavender tinge to it. Earl Grey is on my list - can't wait. I thoroughly enjoy your videos. Your pen collection is spectacular. Give Oyster Grey another look.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Dave, I’d like to see the montblanc writers editions like Shakespeare or sand in the desert, etc.

[@PenultimateDave]

I've wanted to pick up Shakespeare but unfortunately whenever I see someone selling it they want insane prices for the bottle :(.

[@jamesaritchie1]

@@PenultimateDave Well, if you can afford a good Montblanc pen, the ink seems much cheaper. The Montblanc Shakespeare 1597 fountain pen is close to twenty thousand dollars, and it just doesn't seem right not to fill it with Shakespeare ink. This really is a completely insane hobby, isn't it.

[@tomaszpietrzykowski4827]

I am also fan of Montblanc inks and my favorites are Toffee Brown, Petrol Blue and Royal Blue. Thank you for comparison. I was not lucky to fetch Corn Poppy Red when it was available. 😕

[@malcolmgay2206]

An interesting change happens to the colours if you scan them, ie your signature on a letter. Try it.

[@MissMarilynDarling]

I have a 2ml sample of lucky orange and I so wish it wasnt a limited edition cause I have a whole bottle of diamine pumpkin and i couldnt give a crap about it but that lucky orange ugh I want all of it

[@PenultimateDave]

Lucky orange is a really good colour but strangely as it’s limited edition I’m trying to pace myself out on how often I use it, once it’s gone, it’s gone.

[@MissMarilynDarling]

@@PenultimateDave me too

[@sentient.ball.of.stardust]

I despise limited editions anything. You find something you love but guess what, you'll never get it again! Corn poppy red is definitely one i need to have, such a vibrant red! Thanks Dave!

[@PenultimateDave]

Completely agree, that's why when I find something I like I have to buy multiples of it, because at some point you will become disappointed when you can't get it again.

[@namope359]

I usually look for the closest dupes 1st, considering when I started the hobby. Apparently, Diamine Matador might be a color of interest. racheldelafuente.com/blog/ink-dupes-1/

[@jamesaritchie1]

That's just how it is. I have a couple of Montblanc limited editions that I love. So I bought five bottles of each. I doubt I'll ever need more. It can get expensive. Those ten bottles, plus the two I already had, cost me a almost twelve hundred dollars with tax. That seems like a lot of money for two colors of ink, and I darned sure wouldn't want to do it often, but it was well worth it to me.

[@bcase5328]

I liked their darker Meisterstuck 90 Years Permant Grey.

[@AlainSTO]

I think I like that Mystery Blue more than Tsuki-yo. And I can't decide whether I want the Irish Green or Lavender Purple next. I like that they don't have much sheen, I'm not a sheen person. Same with shade, I don't really care either.

[@namope359]

I have a Montblanc Irish Green, and obtaining it had it's own little story. Definitely keep it in a pen that doesn't dry easily if you can help it. It's quite saturated.

[@fizixguru101]

Got my corn poppy red by happen stance since I wanted MONTBLANC ink and this was the only one available and just as I have fallen in love with it this video breaks the news of it going extinct .... Drat! Irish green also seems to be a great 👍 ink/shade need to get my hands on a bottle

[@PenultimateDave]

Yes it's sad that Montblanc stopped producing Corn Poppy Red as it was a great ink. I'm so glad I managed to find a store that had stock and bought 4 bottles of it.

[@pay1370]

The name mystery blue does fit with it being a mystery ink haha

[@helenmcdonnell2585]

That is funny

[@Mensabay]

Mystery Blue is NOT Midnight Blue. It is a vintage Blue-Black (and it was called Blue-Black those days, not Midnight). It has got quite a bit of iron gall in it and is a permanent ink suitable for documents.

[@GeorgiaDawgAthens]

IRT Bay City who wrote, "... It is a vintage Blue-Black (and it was called Blue-Black those days, ..." Thank you for that tidbit. I have, kinda' sorta', been searching for, what I would believe, a true blue-black ink. I remember the days when I accompanied my mother during her "city runs" and the banks ($) which had the dip pens in the pen holders from which she would withdraw a pen and write her entries into her folding checkbook (Do they still make those checkbooks and desk pen holders?) My fav ink provider is Noodler's Inks but I have other inks from other manufacturers as do most all other fountain and dip-pen aficionados. None, including Noodler's, provides the correct blend of black and blue inks the way I remember them. They tend to be too dark. I was young in the '50s and did not learn that I am color blind until I joined the Marines in '68 so, my memory of the exact color may not be the best. So, I will have to research for Montblanc's vintage Blue-Black ink, if they still make it, and purchase one. Cheers!

[@SwayvillDelgarian]

Indeed Oyster Grey shows quite different depending on the wetness of the nib. I also managed to grab two bottles of Corn Poppy Red on amazon / ebay, but I'm very annoyed that MB cancels it's nicest inks like this one and Lavender Purple, and replace them with..., well I prefer not to say anything about that. Among the limited editions, Homer Greek Blue is one of my favorite blues.

[@PenultimateDave]

Yeah I don't know who exactly made the decision to cancel some of their inks but I too think it was the wrong decision. It may just be that those inks didn't sell as well as other inks in the range and they decided to swap them out for a similar but different colour to see if they would sell more. Perhaps if Modena Red sells less than Corn Poppy Red then maybe Corn Poppy Red will make a comeback at some point?

[@WaskiSquirrel]

Interesting to see this. I'm very unfamiliar with Montblanc inks.

[@ExiledExia]

By the way, they kind of replaced corn poppy red (one of my favorite reds of all time) with Modena red. I couldn't find any corn poppy red anymore so I bought the Modena red instead and it's almost identical. Maybe you should try it as well =)

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

They still had some corn poppy red at dromgoole’s

[@ExiledExia]

@@sistergoldenhair0727 it's sold out everywhere in the Netherlands. Perhaps there are some stores outside of the Netherlands that still have a few left. But here, they'r sold out unfortunately

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

@@ExiledExia understood! I’m really not seeing it anywhere now except on eBay:(

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

@@ExiledExia but at least you have easy access to the akkerman Dutch masters inks!

[@ExiledExia]

@@sistergoldenhair0727 yeah unfortunately only on ebay =( Akkerman inks are fantastic! What are some of your favorite inks?

[@CatherineC.2123]

I'm a week late but here goes. I would love to see Elixir de Cobalt, if you can find it.

[@andrisstanga5938]

Thanks for another good ink comparison video. I'm not keen on that blue-black either. I think Diamine Oxford Blue is much superior in colour and shading.

[@PenultimateDave]

I totally agree!

[@Richard_Barnes]

Irish Green - never been out of my MB 149 for the last 6 years. Incredible colour, love it 👍🏻 So Dave, Toffee Brown or Iroshizuku Tsukushi? 🤔

[@PenultimateDave]

If you prefer dark brown then I’d go with Toffee Brown.

[@jamesaritchie1]

Irish Green is a wonderful color, and pretty cheap.

[@ChelleBou]

Thank you for the great demonstrations! Have you ever tried using a hot press watercolor paper for this type of demonstration? It would prevent the paper from warping.

[@PenultimateDave]

I haven't, I'd be worried that it might change the colour a little.

[@nauci]

I've acquired Montblanc James Purdey & Sons Single Malt, James Dean Rebel Red, and Montblanc The Beatles Psychedelic Purple even though they're far more expensive than other inks in their color families and I am obsessed with them all. They have such depth of color and behave so well! I have a backup bottle of Lavender Purple as well, though I'm not quite as obsessed with it as the others. Are they in your collection? De Atramentis Purple Violet is juuuuuust about identical to the MontBlanc purple, however, with eeeeever so slightly pinker undertones.

[@accord536]

Beside the ink colors review, I love your hand writing style

[@PenultimateDave]

Thanks!

[@thomasa.243]

Yes, it must be Midnight Blue because the Royal Blue has a more pinkish tone. It also has some light sheening in red if you have a wetter pen. Definitely different to Pelikan Royal Blue. Edit: It is called Midnight Blue. The Mystery was the black ;)

[@Mensabay]

No, it is an iron gall Blue-Black. There was no such thing as Midnight Blue in 80s/90s.

[@yangyu67]

Possible that one is Montblanc Midnight Blue? I know their black ink is called Montblanc Mystery Black

[@Mensabay]

No, it is an iron gall Blue-Black. There was no such thing as Midnight Blue in 80s/90s.

[@PeterLove-oc7ys]

The MONT BLANC inks are best in class: Best Red Best Blue-Black Best Burgundy Best Gray Best Green these are the best basic colours out there

[@averyjohnson6436]

Does anybody know why the MontBlanc 60 ml bottles have such an interesting shape to them? I figured it was so you could move the ink from the big chamber to the small chamber, so you always had easy access to the ink. But I'm not entirely sure.

[@PenultimateDave]

I believe it's just to make filling pens easier.

[@aikinel]

I have recently started my collection of Mont Blanc inks, in addition to Permanent Black, I have bought the special edition of Robert Louis Stevenson (brown), Vincent Van Gogh (turquoise), Irish Green and Modena Red. I also have the Wearingeul brand, the special thing of this brand is that almost all their inks are based on classic books, of which I have Cowardly Lion - brown (Wizard of Oz), Captain Hook (black red), Robinson Crusoe (emerald blue) this brand comes with a card with the Pantone code to graphic designers

[@simeonking2910]

What are your thoughts on the MB Irish Green in a fine nib like a pilot… would you say its lighter?

[@PenultimateDave]

I've tried it in a Lamy Dialog 3 with a fine nib, I'd say it didn't really go any lighter.

[@simeonking2910]

@@PenultimateDave I must have had an expectation of it being a slightly darker green

[@Zluka-Kluka]

I wish you would state in the video the name of the pen/pens you are using for this.

[@PenultimateDave]

The pen is the William Shakour Titan, it’s a pen made by a UK Pen Collector William Shakour. I have a review of two of his Titan's at kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJ2to3tsjpl4mNk and another one at kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqjIfqWGfNmUa9U He doesn’t have a website, he’s on Instagram as instagram.com/williamshakour and can make pens to order.

[@Zluka-Kluka]

@@PenultimateDave thanks, I already found the video with review!

[@antonius3745]

mystery blue is midnight blue!

[@Mensabay]

No, it is an iron gall Blue-Black. There was no such thing as Midnight Blue in 80s/90s.

[@walterfoster2582]

I will stick with my Diamine 😉

[@christinearmington]

Great. Now all we all want is Corn Poppy Red. 🤨

[@giuseppelosurdo7599]

Corn poppy seems much more beautiful than novel Modena red

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

That montblanc Modena ink is far too pale to be a suitable replacement for corn poppy red! Quite disappointing! I feel like Amethyst purple is more of a true purple where as lavender purple is more on the magenta side. Toffee brown is my favorite beside corn poppy red and Irish green!

[@PenultimateDave]

Completely agree, that's why when I saw Modena Red and I found a shop in the UK that still had stock of Corn Poppy Red I bought another 4 bottles of it. I probably have enough to last me 20 years now lol.

[@mmmssbb23]

This is the one.....

[@hekatsees9449]

Mont Blanc “Oyster Grey” is not nearly as nice as Diamine’s “Earl Grey”... The “Lucky Orange” makes me want an orange popsicle. I’ve never seen Diamine’s “Grape”, but that is what I imagine “Lavender Purple” would look like...