My Favourite Blues

A quick look at the different sheening blue inks from Diamine - and really interesting results, depending on the paper used!
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Mike

[@jamesaritchie1]

Ah, tea. In a way, tea, or a tea pot, sent me on a search through inks I have never liked, trying to find one I do. My wife and I seriously downsized when our last child moved out, and space here is very, very sparse. We have often said we would love to collect teapots, but just don't have the room for even one more thing. We talked about this again last Friday, and could find nothing we wanted to get rid of in favor of teapots. Saturday, we went to a bunch of flea markets that were just allowed to open. These flea markets are an annual event, but none last year because of covid. The second booth we looked at had several teapots at unbelievably low prices. The gentleman running the booth said his wife collected teapots, but she had died five years ago, and he just wanted to sell everything he owned, but an RV, and go wandering for a time. We were the first ones who had stopped at his booth, and it's a good thing. Had we been second or third, I suspect the teapots would have been gone. But they weren't gone, and we, who have no room whatsoever, and precious little money, came away with four teapots. A little later, I bought a truly beautiful copper teakettle for the staggering price of twelve dollars. That same tea kettle is sold new for seventy-five dollars. Now, to fountain pen ink. Other than a couple of turquoise ink, I have never liked blue ink. It reminds me too much of school, and of the office work I've had to do. Three of the teapots I bought were pretty fancy, and retailed for a tone of money. I got them for about five percent of what I should have paid at any flea market. The fourth, though, was a beautiful but inexpensive porcelain teapot, blue on white, and would have retailed new for about sixty dollars. I got it still in the box for five dollars. But it's the blue that matters. It isn't the standard "porcelain blue" that's so common. It's a little darker, yet much brighter than what is usually seen on porcelain. It's a blue I don't recall ever seeing. Anyway, it's beautiful, and now I'm searching for a blue fountain pen ink that matches it. If I can find one, I'll buy a quart of it. I've been going through your ink reviews, and others, hoping to find it, but no luck so far. When, if, the money starts flowing again, zI may have to buy a few blue inks and see for myself.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, James, and thanks for the story! I would recommend that you look at Delft's Blauw from Akkerman. It's hellishly expensive, but the ink is the same as the blue on Dutch porcelain. akkermandenhaag.nl/en/products/akkerman-delfts-blauw-limited-edition-vulpeninkt If that is a little "too" blue, the other option I'd personally recommend (because I love it) is Diamine's China Blue. It's a much more pale colour, but I think it's just gorgeous. Lovely shading, good colour, and because it's a little lighter I think it makes a very pleasant contrast. Because it's Diamine, it comes in a very reasonably priced small bottle, too. Even with the postage, it's not hugely expensive. www.cultpens.com/i/q/DM28425/diamine-ink-30ml-bottle Then again, the Akkerman ink has that wonderful bottle ... Best of luck.

[@archivist17]

I took a while to open up to blue ink, as it has bad memories from school. But Diamine have cured me of that.

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad you're in recovery!

[@archivist17]

@@writerlywitterings And Midnight is my favourite! Evidence you have good taste.

[@writerlywitterings]

@@archivist17 And you too, of course!

[@archivist17]

I've heard of that Michael Jecks fella. He's got potential!

[@writerlywitterings]

So much potential, so much unachieved!

[@t0dd000]

Flash in the pan.

[@sofiem8936]

the timing is impeccable! :) I was just thinking about looking up blue inks. thanks for sharing this

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad it was helpful! :-)

[@MarchMeadow]

Bilberry bellows gloriously, esp. for left-handers! :-) Great video, Michael. Many thanks!

[@writerlywitterings]

Many thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@paulmchugh1430]

My favorite Diamine Blue is Regency Blue. I only wish it came in larger containers than 30ml.

[@writerlywitterings]

Sorry to take so long to respond - ill health and deadlines! Are you sure you can't buy it in the standard 80ml bottles? All Diamine inks tend to come in the larger sized bottles?

[@paulmchugh1430]

@@writerlywitterings I have searched and the only sized bottle the ink comes in is 40ml. I misspoke about the bottle containing 30ml. Pity, really. I have an 80 bottle of Diamine Crimson, though.

[@JBFire97]

I’m Glad that there is nothing seriously wrong with the wrist. Thanks as always for the video!

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks, Paul - appreciate the thought.

[@nauci]

I've got several of my friends hooked on fountain pens now and then got all of those friends hooked on your ink videos. Now we're all going to need new storage space for our Diamine collection.

[@writerlywitterings]

I would apologise ... but it makes me happy to hear it!

[@michellestephenson1680]

Yay, I’m the 42nd thumps up for this video! I’m also glad to hear your arm isn’t broken. I also had to have xrays after a bad fall on a tile floor. My elbow turned many interesting colors of bruise, but was also not broken. Fingers crossed the new computer arrives quickly! Next month’s planner ink will likely be a brown or orange, so perhaps your next video will help me narrow down my choices. Thanks, as always, for an interesting chat!

[@writerlywitterings]

I'm always happy to narrow down the choices! Glad your elbow's OK too. Hopefully the new computer will be here in about a month - all fingers crossed!

[@Richard_Barnes]

Am liking that Sargasso Sea for a pure blue, however you’re right Mike, that Midnight Blue is also a great shade. 👍🏻 Thx for the paper test too, that is something I always like to see and funnily enough, I was wondering what the A4 sheets was when you mentioned William Hannah 🙂 I find this paper better for Diamine inks than Iroshizuku, so far in my usage. Thanks for another good one. Always appreciate you taking the time and having a laugh as well. 😃 Hope the family & hounds are well and cya in the next one. 🙏🏻

[@writerlywitterings]

Cheers, Richard - glad you liked it - soon going to have to refill a daily writer with Midnight, I think!

[@Guammaine]

Bilberry is definitely my favorite. And I'm not a fan of blue inks. But that's lovely. Thank you for sharing this

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for watching!

[@breadyegg]

Great in a wet Fine nib

[@stargazer1359]

I use a few other ink brands other than Diamine........ But they remain my favorite. Always enjoy your reviews.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks! Glad you like 'em!

[@stargazer1359]

Golden browns, yes, please. Diamine Ochre remains my favorite ink.

[@AtCharlotteClark]

My first ink (since coming back to them) was Diamine Happy Holidays. One of their 'inkvent' offerings. I can highly recommend it to those who want sheen and shimmer - but as you explain so well, the paper does make a difference. I haven't tried it with a broad nib yet, but now I've thought of it I may need to clean out my TWSBI Go for a day... I would love to know if you change your ink seasonally? I recently bought some Herbin Olive Vert and it feels rather Autumnal to me.

[@writerlywitterings]

Ah, could be time for a good clean-out!

[@Richard_Barnes]

Yeehaa! Blues for the win 🤩

[@writerlywitterings]

And they're all Diamine, so affordable!

[@brianexplores285]

Hopefully the computer will arrive sooner than promised. That’s possible. Good news re the wrist. Thanks for more entertaining commentary.

[@writerlywitterings]

Sadly, I think the delivery schedules are set up with great precision - but I hope you're right!

[@caterinarollo]

I just LOVE Sargasso Sea! I'll have to buy a new 80 ml bottle soon! I must definitely try the Bilberry ink, that's a very nice color, normally, I prefer blue inks for writing. I urgently need a new laptop too, and next week I'll spend the savings of two years wich I've dedicated to this moment... ah, technology, why doesn't last longer?

[@writerlywitterings]

Ah, I can't use laptops (I find the keyboards too uncomfortable and the balance really unstable for serious writing), so I always have a desktop. The next one, the iMac 24 inch, will at least make me smile in the mornings. I'm going for a bright yellow model!

[@caterinarollo]

@@writerlywitterings A good desktop set up is always better for longer works! But I (unfortunately) need a laptop too, so I'll spend all my money on it...! Yellow? That's sound very interesting!

[@nauci]

Have you tried Cosmo Air Light or Tora Next paper yet?

[@writerlywitterings]

Not yet! I'll have to keep an eye out for them.

[@williamcrane1]

So after a few whiskeys you’ve videoed a review, and I too haven watched after a few. I love blue inks. Ca n you get Noodler’s Walnut for your brown ink review? I am currently writing writhing this ink in my memoirs. Cheers. Also I am immersed in the Lepers Return. Going through your canon as I did with Conan Coyle, etc.

[@writerlywitterings]

I'd like to, William, but I don't think there's time, sadly. I don't know many UK suppliers of Noodlers. I'll see what I can do in the future.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Not really a fan of blue inks, but I love your videos! Have you tried Monteverde Horizon Blue? You may like that. All of these are very nice blues especially for someone like me who doesn’t really care for blues in general. If I had to choose a favorite of these I’d have to go with Sargasso Sea..

[@writerlywitterings]

It really is a good colour - but I like a darker colour, as you know. Still, it's a good one for people who really like a blue.