My Top 5 Favorite Inks!

[@MummyBrown]

I’m so glad you mentioned Ancient Copper. That ink looks BEAUTIFUL in bouncy nibs. The shading is some of the best out there.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks very much! I love Ancient Copper. I feel it is slightly under the radar. Such an interesting contrasty shade.

[@vireshsaluja]

It's My Favourite Too & Vintage Copper Too

[@SeanB201]

Bless you Hemingway Jones!!! For years i’ve searched for the perfect blue ink and I learned about Kon-Peki from this video and it’s GLORIOUS!!! Thank you I love your videos!!!

[@HemingwayJones]

You’re welcome! Glad you found something new! Thank you.

[@theartesana]

I love your content! Giving me History Channel mixed with Mr Rogers vibes ❣️✨

[@HemingwayJones]

I’ll take that. Thanks very much. Happy to have you here with us.

[@davidprewitt1050]

Very nice list. I'm glad you mentioned Diamine's Ancient Copper.

[@HemingwayJones]

It’s such a great color. Thanks for watching!

[@Peter-eb9pt]

I love the Yama-budo. It is a beautiful purple-red ink. Living in Japan and very familiar to the Yamabudo, I can confirm that the color is perfect. For green, I love the Platinum forest black and sailor Blue as my blue ink. both have beautiful shading on the right paper. there are a few inks you introduced I will certainly give a try.

[@HemingwayJones]

Hello Peter! So good to know that it is accurate. What an amazing color! Thanks so much!

[@sanjilee6148]

I have Yama- budo and I was just not impressed so I wish I got Kon-peki instead. I love purple but I found it too bright and I rather have a shading ink.

[@maximilianschwab9668]

A while ago I fell in love with the inks of Octopus Fluids and I must say, I still do! I love Karibik(green), Pinie (brown), Flieder (lilac), Orchidee (red/pink), Brilliant Rot (a VERY vibrant red color with a subtle light gold sheen). Very exciting are Dragon (petrol with green sheen), and Medusa (purple with green sheen). I really like Sabimidori by Taccia.

[@HemingwayJones]

I don’t know Octopus Fluids, but I love the sound of it.

[@markbinns]

Have you tried pilot iroshizuku yama guri in your custom 823? I love this ink, it’s a very dark brown and is a great alternative to black. My favourite sapphire blue is Diamine Sapphire blue. My absolute favourite blue though is Robert Oster Blue Water Ice. It’s a slightly greener shade than Kon Peki but has good shading which makes it more interesting to write with.

[@HemingwayJones]

Hi Mark! I have not tried Yama Guri. I will seek it out. I love dark browns. I use a lot of Sepia. I just bought one called “Casanova” and only because I liked the name! Diamine Sapphire is lovely. I like it too, but J Herbin has the edge for me. I’ll check out the Blue Water Ice too. Love that name as well.

[@HemingwayJones]

@Abhinava Goswami Thank you for the ink recommendation. I appreciate it. I love Krishna inks. I am also a huge fan of Ayush paper. So many wonderful things come out of Indian.

[@guidolena8717]

Thanks for the video. Very entertaining! Have you ever tried Robert Oster African Gold and Noodler's Ink Nightshade? They are among my favourite inks. The former is a golden yellow that reminds of sand dunes. The latter is a sort of rusty burgundy. Both quite original colours.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you! I haven’t but I will. I will seek it out. Thanks!

[@calijae]

I love Robert Oster African Gold! Whenever I journal with it, I like to pretend I’m a traveling archaeologist in Egypt journling about my findings 🤓

[@MarilynHolt]

Wearingeul Kyonghui is my new favorite brown ink. Excellent shader, warm brown with a brick red tint. ❤

[@HemingwayJones]

@@MarilynHolt That sounds wonderful!

[@Michelt007]

Great video! Another ink to consider from diamine is Writer's Blood, it makes a nice trio with oxblood and ancient copper. For red-purple inks, monteverde syrah is really nice. It doesn't take the recognition it truly deserves, probably because it is eclipsed in popularity by California Teal, but Monteverde Horizon Blue is amazing, with just a hint of red sheene.

[@HemingwayJones]

Wonderful choices! I like Writers Blood. Thanks so much for watching.

[@j._t.]

Kon-peki is my favorite ink too. That it looks good on both white and cream paper is a huge bonus.

[@HemingwayJones]

Very true! Thanks so much and all the best.

[@MarcSaegesser]

It's curious. Blue ink, to me, says Bic ball point. I've avoided blues since I started with fountain pens. I guess it's something I should work on getting over. Kon-peki is probably a good place to start.

[@HemingwayJones]

I can see that. For me, as a commercial lender, I used to have to sign in Blue to show that is was an original signature. My love for blue grew out of that. All the best!

[@wyntyrmute]

I felt the same way for a long time. I always hated blue ink with ballpoint pens and it took a while to get over feeling that way about fountain pen inks. Now I'm a big fan of inks like Waterman Serenity Blue, Pilot Iroshizuku Kon Peki, Diamine Oxford Blue, etc.

[@HemingwayJones]

@@wyntyrmute Those are all great choices. I just got Serenity Blue and only opened it today. It is so wonderfully saturated.

[@oscarcalva2189]

Not at all. Great inks mentioned here on the replys, but I would add DeAtramentis Indigo Blue, Herbin Eclat de Sapphir, Akkermann Shocking Blue, Akkerman Diepduinwaterblaw, Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-Gao, Noodler’s Ottoman Azure, Diamine Majestic Blue and Diamine 150th Anniversary Blue Velvet, just to keep it on Royal Blues, but then there are blue blacks, Turquoise Blues, Imperial Blues, and a long list of burples (bluish purples or purplish blues) to try, Lamy Crystal Azurite my fav in that hue.

[@MarcSaegesser]

@@oscarcalva2189Well, it's been a year since I wrote that and my opinions have changed a little. I still associate blue with Bic ball points and they still aren't my favorite, but I have found a couple that I'll use. Waterman's Serenity Blue, but usually only for vintage pens. I've also recently found Iroshizuku Shin-Kai. That goes down as kind of a garishly bright blue, but dries to a lovely dusty blue that I really like.

[@boredgrass]

That sounds like one has to prepare to get a 401 K for ink...While I'm writing this I'm looking warily at the ink bottles which have accumulated on my desk...

[@ravesab]

You must try J.Herbin "Lie de The", a beatiful brown... One of my favourites inks. Greetings from Madrid

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you! I will get on it!

[@DonFranko68]

Fantastic brown ink, wich rightly bears it‘s name. The color is very reminiscent of the infusion of fine black tea, like a Darjeeling Second Flush.

[@silviagrau8795]

One of my favs as well. Greetings from Aragón.

[@johnnywebster4417]

I am currently running Oxblood in my Twsbi Eco and I love it. My son says it's looks like blood in a syringe lol

[@HemingwayJones]

That is perfectly descriptive! Nice combination!

[@BenJoeMarkland]

I had a pen leak in my pants that had Oxblood In it, people were sure I was bleeding...

[@joanhelgeson9118]

Can I just say that layering your samples over the manual typewriter pages is just delicious!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you very much!

[@beno_vs_goliath-um9oh]

I will be trying the Ancient Copper soon. Thank you.

[@HemingwayJones]

My pleasure. Enjoy!

[@excelsiortrading8050]

Bro Diamine Oxblood is literally my daily work ink, I work in a hospital and I wanted my ink to stand out from black and blue but be dark enough to photo copy well. I absolutely love Oxblood!

[@HemingwayJones]

That is an excellent choice!

[@brandong2040]

From EF to 1.1, I love Ancient Copper!

[@HemingwayJones]

Truly! It’s awesome! All the best.

[@nitina8564]

Black is my favourite colour and i like the platinum carbon black, aurora black and also the Sheaffer black is great. Lovely list of your favourite inks. For me Diamine, iroshizuku and KWZ are the brand's i can blind buy as none of the inks from them have ever disappointed me so far. My problem is i cannot come up with a list like yours. My favourite ink keeps changing pretty frequently, 😂

[@HemingwayJones]

Wonderful choices! You have excellent taste. You could do a list. It would just evolve over time.

[@BenJoeMarkland]

I was just going to say this, Platinum Carbon Black is my go to on black, I have yet to find a better one.

[@lamarrharding4776]

I bought a cheap Zebra black fountain pen, you can only buy this ink in cartridges, but I scribbled a note on the cover of a magazine, WOW, It dried with a shine that looked like fine engraving. Noodlers DRAGON CATFISH also dries with a rounded shine like old lacquer India ink.

[@amyalphabet722]

Another vote for Platinum Carbon Black! It is the only ink I use in my planners.

[@rcynkar]

Glad someone mentioned KWZ. Their Walk Over Vistula is my go-to blue. But I also agree that all the other colors are great. In addition, that light vanilla scent that KWZ inks have adds to the experience of writing.

[@sriyaneedesilva844]

Try the new platinum Chou Kuro for the best black I have used. Especially since I really don’t like black inks. Gorgeous black and a wet ink.

[@HemingwayJones]

I have that one. Check out my video on the Esterbrook Raven. Thank you.

[@grumblekin]

I only have 150 bottles of ink so I haven’t tried as many as I would like to. My top inks: 1. Noodlers Roller Eel Black 2. Pelikan Blue black 3. Platinum Classic Forest Black 4. Noodlers Red Black 5. Sailor Souboku 6. Noodlers Blue Black These inks have never let me down and have the permanency my work requires.

[@HemingwayJones]

150 is a lot of ink! Well done. Great list as well.

[@susanweber6861]

I am SO in love with your little ink sample book! More info please

[@HemingwayJones]

Sure, it’s a Moleskin Watercolor Sketchbook. I had it lying around and so I used it. Thanks!

[@susanweber6861]

@@HemingwayJones I am so making an ink swatchbook

[@evilcritter]

I am not usually one for shimmer inks, but I tried a sample of Robert Oster Grün Gilt in my Kaweco Brass Sport and it is such a perfect match that I think I need to buy a bottle. It is also really trouble-free and the shimmer stays in suspension for a long time, so it doesn't need constant agitation. And it doesn't skimp on the sparkle!

[@HemingwayJones]

That sounds amazing! Thanks so much!

[@ZolaneG]

Love your choices! I was so tickled to see J Herbin's Perle Noire receive "favorite" status as it is my go-to black ink and I think so underrated. It's an beautiful black that can be dressed to the nines but with a bit of softness that makes it perfect for casual writing as well.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you so much! I agree! I love J Herbin and that one specifically. it is a wonderful black!

[@davidblack8174]

Extremely cool! I love all of those inks, amazing to see examples of all of them!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you David! I appreciate it.

[@marialuisagarabelli9235]

Hemingway. I’ve just bought Herbin Perle Noire. I love Herbin! Cacao du Brasil.

[@HemingwayJones]

Wonderful Inks from a fantastic historic brand. Great choices and thanks for watching!

[@margalo399]

That was fun, and will make me review my own ink collection to see what looks exciting. I get in color “moods” so my favorites vary over time.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much! It is always fun to dive back into your own ink collection. Pens too, for that matter. Thanks!

[@richardzak2140]

Beautiful choices. I feel that the ink is the life blood of the fountain pen. So many good inks to pick from.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you. I love that analogy! Well said, My Friend.

[@kgbenson]

Oxblood and Ancient Copper - my two all time favorites. For black I like Aurora.

[@HemingwayJones]

Solid choices!

[@Richard_Barnes]

I so agree with a lot of your choices here - my favourite blue will always be Tsuki Yo. Nothing can take that from my #1 spot. I love Kon Peki and Pilot Blue. Writer's Blood has been in my Nakaya Dorsal Fin v2 (Heki-tamenuri) for 2 years and I'm only just getting to the last bits of that ink. Montblanc Irish Green looks incredible out of my MB 149 as the nib is wetter and looks good for it. Again, this ink was in this pen for a lot of years. Ancient Copper is a recent addition to my collection and yeah, wow, what a superb colour range this ink has depending upon the flow of the nib and width of lines. This is going in my Brass Sport next with its broad nib. Should look amazing out of that. Thx 👍🏻😄

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much, Richard! I may need to update this list. I have rotated in some others recently that are pretty great. Thanks so much!

[@alexandrapirvu7945]

I loved your presentation of each ink on the page! What paper was that? Your ink assortment is nice, maybe one day you can present the entire Ikea rack of inks!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you! The little flip notebook is Claire Fountaine and the Ink Library with the swatches was from Moleskine. It’s a watercolor sketchbook.

[@annwagner5779]

I’m barely started with fountain pens, but really enjoying them. Your video is so fun and makes me want to try some new inks and brands. Kon-peki and Oxblood are among my first inks - love them both.

[@thevahandbook]

I personally don't like writing in navy ink because it reminds me of being at school! I'm new to this but the first colours I bought were an Ancient Copper and Oxblood double-pack and then I tried Writer's Blood and preferred it to the Oxblood when used side by side. I also use the Ancient Copper in my Kaweco Brass Sport (such a perfect match) and I bought a TWSBI Eco just so I could use it to try out new colours. I've noticed that I like writing with inks that look old such as sepia and browns - It's just so fun! All my gel and ballpoint pens use black ink and I've noted your Perle Noire recommendation.

[@HemingwayJones]

I can’t take Issue with any of your choices. All excellent!

[@patrickblindeman5847]

Interesting topic, which certainly requires attention, the proper functioning of your fountain pen also partly depends on the type of ink you use. That's why it's good to know which inks flow best. I'm curious about my newly ordered ink bottle, it's one from Sailor Studio 841. And I'm definitely going to try the Diamine Oxblood, it does indeed fit well with my 823. Thanks for quoting this Hemingway Jones.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks My friend! Always a pleasure. Oxblood in the 823 is epic.

[@TheManseHen]

I love many of the J.Herbin colors, I like the adorable packaging of their cartridges, it was one of my early forays into colors when I lived in the UK. Unfortunately, I find a number of their inks just too dry. I've not tried an ink lubricant with them like white lightening but might.

[@varadharajannadarajah]

Great video @Hemingway Jones

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks you!

[@camerlengograziedio]

Was the video long? Yes. But I like the way you do your reviews. It’s not boring, you aren’t monotone and I like your opinions even though they aren’t the same as mine. This is the first video from you that I’ve seen so far and I’m subscribing 👍🏼👍🏼

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you very much! Welcome to the Channel!

[@jerichonikolai]

I love Diamine's China blue. Im shocked at how beautiful the purple sheening is. I'm getting kon-peki, and I'll put it in a pen and compare.

[@HemingwayJones]

Very nice!

[@Ybalrid]

In the spirit of birmingham tesla coil , or that moonview ink, you should try Organics Studio Nitrogen. It's sooooo saturated it's not even blue anymore in a very wet pen, it's all sheen...! You might even want to only use this in pens that you would use the shimmer stuff. There's a risk of gunking up a feed with that ink. It also take a very long time to dry... But, really, it's kind of worth it. Would not use that every day at all, but it's quite the effect!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you for the tip! I appreciate it. I will track it down. All the best and thank you! Great comment.

[@Ybalrid]

@@HemingwayJones It's one of those ink that I like very very much, but then never ever use...

[@HemingwayJones]

@@Ybalrid I have a tray of those!

[@Ybalrid]

@@HemingwayJones It's like, I have that bottle of J. Herbin Bouton d'Or because it looked lovely how yellow and clear it was in the bottle... Turns out the ink is so light coloured that is is absolutely unreadable! 🤣

[@HemingwayJones]

@@Ybalrid Yes! Truly! I have a bunch of inks like that. So true.

[@johnlopez3996]

I do enjoy using Kon-Peki and I also like Ice Rink by Birmingham Pens. Thank foe showing your ink samples and how you used them in different fountain pens. Take care.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you John!

[@warnersmith428]

8:50 - love the discovery on this brown ink by J. Herbin! Thanks! It is now in my own collection of favorite inks and I just love it. I don’t own any TWSBI’s but use the ink in my Levenger Classic Writer pen with medium nib. Easy to clean and flows beautifully onto the paper.

[@HemingwayJones]

That is an amazing ink! Great choice. Happy Nee Year.

[@ditto1958]

One of the reasons I started using fountain pens years ago was I liked the look of the blue inks people had used back in pre-ballpoint days. But I never really could find that “look” myself. I wonder what were the common blue inks people used 70-80 years ago?

[@susanweber6861]

Recommendations please for a good not too dark brown - rich looking

[@HemingwayJones]

Hmm, reddish brown? I like Pelikan Brown.

[@simondixon8334]

I must admit I tend to gravitate away from black inks preferring a wider variety of colours, if I have to use black for work I really like colour verse Sunspot, it's a decent black ink and I love the bottle itself 😊

[@HemingwayJones]

That sounds amazing.

[@mikeerler5465]

I'm using a sample of ancient copper right now, I'll probably buy a bottle of it. I like Kon -Peki too, but it's pretty close to Waterman's Inspired Blue, and I already have a bottle of that. My favorite green is De Atramentis Jane Austen. Two of my favorites come from Noodler's, Black Swan in Australian Roses, and La Couleur Royale. My next ink order will include a bottle of Organics Studio Aldous Huxley. Thank you for another enjoyable video.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks for watching! Those are some excellent colors. I love Ancient Copper.

[@evilcritter]

The only black I use is Platinum Carbon Black. I love how deep it is, and how I can watercolour right over it knowing that it just won't budge. As much as I love my regular inks, I really appreciate my collection of permanent and documental inks. But of them all, PCB is the most well- behaved and reliable.

[@HemingwayJones]

That sounds perfect! Thank you.

[@csikomas8910]

I agree. It’s very black. The best.

[@susanweber6861]

@@evilcritter that is exactly what i need. Thank you!

[@technoraptor7778]

Of all of the ones you mentioned...oxblood is the only one I own..it is a fantastic red for a vintage feel....the ones I have in my pens are (diamine winter spice-in my brass sport) (diamine black ivy, or noodlers purple martin-in my black stonewashed sport) (and in my vintage pens-pilot iroshizuku take sumi) (diamine purple pazzazz-in my narwal)

[@HemingwayJones]

Oxblood is brilliant! Such a a great ink. You have a great list there, My Friend.

[@technoraptor7778]

I enjoy very dark earthy inks...I don't mind shimmer as long as it looks great and in a pen I can easily clean.

[@alekmrozek5305]

Even though I love fountain pens I haven't been so much into inks, but my favorites are Pelikan Edelstein Onyx, Pelikan 4001 turquoise, 4001 dark green and Visconti royal blue. I also have to try Pelikan Edelstein Apatite (it is like turquoise). I recently have discovered your chanell and it made me fall in love with pens again. Thanks to you I practice journaling almost every day where I can enjoy my beloved Pelikan M400, that's my dirty pleasure 🙂

[@HemingwayJones]

That is a great list, My Friend! Thanks for watching. I am so glad I could inspire you to rediscover pens. Great too that you are journaling. It’s good for your composure. So glad! Stop by again soon! I appreciate your being here.

[@alekmrozek5305]

@@HemingwayJones yesterday I had to compose some documents and I was shocked how well I can construct sentences, in old days my texts consisted of simple short phrases, but now after just a few days writing seems a lot easier. Thank you again for your work and inspiring me to change myself.

[@HemingwayJones]

@@alekmrozek5305 So happy to be a small part of that. Thank you!

[@herrsteppenwolf]

Great video. Thanks. My go to blue is Waterman Serendipity but when my finance fairy allows I'm looking to buy Kon-peki. As to sheening inks I 1st bought Organics Studio Nitrogen then many of the author series. I own no shimmer inks. I also enjoy another ink maker close to home, Masschusetts' Nathan Tardiff's inks for there permanence. Heart of Darkness for black, but most recently his El Lawrence, it wrote so smoothly for me.

[@ichirofakename]

I'm also a fan of El Lawrence, along with Zhivago.

[@HemingwayJones]

I will have to search for those. Thank you! There is a lot of love out there for Studio Nitrogen. Thanks!

[@sudeepmukherjee4430]

I ordered the Diamine Oxblood after watching your video! Has not arrived yet.

[@HemingwayJones]

I hope you enjoy it.

[@lifeasme]

I loved the video. I keep my inks in an IKEA cart too. I have the cutting board lids to keep them protected since I don’t keep the boxes. I have the taller ink bottles in a different tier since they’re too tall for the lid to sit right. My TWSBI VAC 700 is inked with Yamabudo! I think we have the same taste in inks. You were also who turned me onto Pen Realm. 😊👍🏽

[@HemingwayJones]

That is awesome! I love that you have an ink cart too! Did you get a custom nib from Pen Realm? Awesome! Happy to inspire you a little.

[@lifeasme]

@@HemingwayJones Yes, I’ve purchased two music Italic and one needlepoint from him. I love all three.

[@HemingwayJones]

@@lifeasme Wow! Those sound amazing!

[@fossilimprint2954]

Appreciate you taking the time to discuss your favorite inks. My Kon-Peki blue is stuck in shipping hell, hopefully will arrive before Christmas.

[@HemingwayJones]

I hope so! Thanks for watching.

[@BlushnBlue]

I do believe you have mentioned all of my go to inks...lol. Ancient Copper #1. However, just recently purchased Montblanc Brothers Grimm green ink and I am in love!! The only problem with being in love with this new green is that it is not permanent...so sad. Thank you for sharing.

[@HemingwayJones]

Hello! I am so glad that we share a passion for the same inks. Ancient Copper is so amazing. The MB Brothers Grimm sounds amazing. All the best!

[@MightyChoctaw]

Love your choices, especially oxblood and ancient copper. My top 5 most used this year were (in no real order)… Diamine red dragon and delamere, PenBBS 85 and 232 (apparently the ugliest colour in the world), and Pilot iroshizuku yama-budo.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you! Red Dragon is an excellent choice. Yama Budo too. I don’t know the other ones. I’ll have to check them out. Thanks.

[@apontutul]

Great to see krishna inks from India. Thanks for sharing these inks

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks very much! I love Krishna inks. I just wrote a letter yesterday with it. It’s so fun.

[@alexander-lance]

Great video, I just went and bought the black and blue inks, looking forward to getting them into the 146 and Heritage 1912. Very tempted by the Heritage Egyptomania and am seriously considering it.

[@HemingwayJones]

Great Choices! The Egyptomania is an amazing pen! Maybe my absolute favorite.

[@lead-dog]

Great list. Definitely picked up some new flavors I want to try. I'm already a fan of iroshizuku's yama budo. Really fantastic. Thanks.

[@HemingwayJones]

It's so good! Great choice. Thank you!

[@FEKETE_and_IEZZI_Coaches]

Just joined with our corporate account, too. We really like your channel and style. Thank you!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you so much! It is greatly appreciated. All the best.

[@boatingdave1883]

I’m a fan of noodler’s black. And it is pretty water-fast too, so ok for documuments

[@HemingwayJones]

Excellent choice!

[@calijae]

Great video! I have had my eye in yama budo for some time now 🧐😅 Platinum Carbon black has been my go to black and I keep a pen inked up with it at all times. Especially since I enjoy watercoloring and it’s waterproof. KWZ Turquoise is an incredible sheening ink. Platinum Lavender Black has become a favorite of mine with nice shading especially in my twsbi stub. Robert Oster African Gold and Rohrer and klingners Alt Goldgrun are always staples in my collection as well!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you so much! Yama Budo is great. Excellent choice. Lavender Black sounds intriguing. Thanks for the recommendations. All the best!

[@karmesindryade]

Thanks for this great overview. My favourite blue is the humble Pelikan 4001 "blue-black".As for blacks, I am still looking for the perfect one - so far I like Lamy Crystal Ink "Obsidian" and of course J.Herbin "Perle de Noir". My No.1brown ink is Montblanc "Toffee Brown". Red? Maybe Diamine "Oxblood"? But that (as with all the others) depends on the pen. I have not found my favourite green yet. My No.1 orange ink is Montblanc "Manganese Orange". I do not use shimmering inks very often. But there is one which is absolutely outstanding, and it is: Pelikan Edelstein "Golden Beryl". This is liquid gold and it performs perfectly.

[@HemingwayJones]

Those are some wonderful ink choices! Thank you!

[@georgeii2629]

When I saw Diamine "Oxblood" I had to think of my De Atramentis "Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)". This ink is real red wine and I really like this shade so far. I haven't tried other colors for a long time. But every now and then I have to switch to other colors. Maybe I'll try iroshizuku "kon-peki" now.

[@HemingwayJones]

It's always fun to try new inks!

[@marachristian8726]

I like flashy colors for inks, so I would say my favorite inks are Private Reserve Black Cherry, Diamine Aurora Borealis, Robert Oster's Havasu and Monsoon sky (Pen Chalet exclusives), and, of course J. Herbin Emaraude de Chivor! The only blue inks I have lean green (turquoise, teal.) I generally only use black ink if I'm using a cartridge in the pen, which is not often!

[@HemingwayJones]

Ooo, Black Cherry, Brilliant! I just got Emaraude De Chivor! I need to open it. Thanks for the remidner. Great list!

[@davidprewitt1050]

@@HemingwayJones two inks that I love mentioned in Mara's comment - Diamine Aurora Borealis and J. Herbin Emeraude de Chivor!

[@animula6908]

I like dark matter because I like writing with a facsimile of the ink used in the Manhattan project. Perle noir sounds right up my alley.

[@HemingwayJones]

That sounds brilliant!

[@wkasimer]

Just came across this video. I don't know if anyone's already mentioned them, but Diamine Aurora Borealis and Autumn Oak are both fantastic for teal and orange, which got short shrift here 🙂. An alternative to Oxblood is Troublemaker Basilica Red. It starts rather bright red but dries to a darker brick red, and is very well behaved. I've had it in a clear eyedropper and in the barrel it looks exactly like blood (and I know blood from working in a hospital lab).

[@HemingwayJones]

You’re not wrong. I have trouble with Orange. I just bought Autumn Oak and I like the color, but I have issues with how light it is. I need to experiment more with it. I think it will be one of the 5 inks for Dark Academia coming up. Thanks for watching and for the great recommendations.

[@wkasimer]

Autumn Oak needs a wet medium or broad nib with good flow. I've had pretty good results with a JoWo B nib that I've swapped into a couple of Chinese pens - Asvine P20 and Jinhao 159.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks. That’s an excellent tip!

[@BEYSeamaster1]

Awesome choices. I never tried Herbin inks. However, I will now that I’ve watched your video.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks very much! Let me know what you think. All the best!

[@BEYSeamaster1]

@@HemingwayJones My pleasure. I will.

[@bvanlent1]

Many of us who use vintage fountain pens prefer Sheaffer's Skrip. I use their washable formulations from 1939-1949, blue, black, emerald green and brown, and if you are lucky enough you might locate a bottle of "Persian Rose", "Peacock Blue", or "Melon Red". Great inks that have held up very nicely. And yep, they wash out from shirts nicely as well (believe me I know).

[@shruthiswaminathan2907]

Was waiting for this video to drop! I enjoy your content so much!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you! I appreciate that very much.

[@halfking1940]

Great, informative video! Thank you for the detailed information!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you!

[@jeffreyclayman6922]

Great review! I’m a user of rollerballs that allow for the use of fountain pen inks. Any of these you mentioned that should be avoided in non fountain pen pens?

[@HemingwayJones]

That is very cool. I didn’t know such a thing existed. I should think you’d be OK with these. Thanks!

[@muchasgracias6976]

My first HJ video and I really enjoyed it. If you haven't already done so, please consider trying Diamine Aurora Borealis, which is a beautiful deep dark black green and is my current favourite ink. I just can't stop writing with it. Seasons greetings!

[@HemingwayJones]

Hello and thank you for watching the channel. I will track down that ink. Thanks so much and all the best! Stop by again soon.

[@hildedewinne1960]

I love that one too - especially in a 1.1 stub nib.

[@Wolverine3660]

I am a user of blue inks, and only blue ink. I have 5 blue inks made by 5 different manufacturers. OK, I have one bottle of Pelikan 4001 Black ink which I havent used since about 2003!!!:):):) I grew up learning to use fountain pens in Catholic school back in India, and we were allowed to use only blue ink. Somehow, I still find myself drawn to use blue inks, I have never had any desire to use many of the different hues of inks that are available to me in the marketplace today. Thanks for the wonderful video.

[@Wolverine3660]

Also, my friend, a music prof., has about 80+ inks in his office!!!! He thinks I am totslly crazy because I have about 25 bottles of ink, all of them colored blue!!!!!:):):)

[@Vermiliontea]

I can relate to that. I've used almost only blue inks through my life, with black, red and green only for special purposes. The blue color also filled a purpose. It meant I could see if the commentary was a new addition to a photo copy. Later in life, I noticed it felt off, not right, if I tried to use a brown or dark red ink. I was "uncomfortable" by the look. Herbin's 'Lie de The' doesn't do that to me. So I use that sometimes. I don't know why, but it's probably because it's so dialed down, it's almost a dark beige. I do not have a problem with black inks either.

[@ichirofakename]

@@Wolverine3660 Please tell us your 5 favorite blue inks.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you My Friend! Blue is all the ink anyone would need…. Except for…!

[@HemingwayJones]

I think it’s cool. You are an individual.

[@nicolesmith1309]

Krishna! I love their bright blue. Sailor has a great ink called Akebi--It is beautiful and well behaved. Insane shimmer???? Phoenix Feng!!!!

[@HemingwayJones]

Hello Nicole! I hope all is well as we approach Christmas! Thanks for the tip on the shimmer ink. It is always appreciated, and on the Sailor ink. So many different ones out there to choose. Thanks for the helpful comment and please stop by again soon.

[@SUSSDUE]

Ohh yes, Diamine Ancient Copper, one of my top three favourites! I always come back to it when I have to fill a pen even if I have over 50 other inks to choose from, there is just something so classy and revarding w that ink. My otger two favourites are Pelocans_ Olivine, that one I hoard, I am so worried it will go out of production, and Aquamarine. Pelikan inks just work so well, especially in vintage pens. I have to take out my Herbin cocoa again and try it since you recommend it! Thanks for such a nice video, Happy New Year from Sweden!

[@HemingwayJones]

Hello! Ancient Copper is such a great color. Happy New Year! Thanks so much and all the best!

[@SUSSDUE]

@@HemingwayJones Happy new Year to you and yours too from snowy Sweden!

[@jcortese3300]

I know this is an old video, but I'm sort of going through your back catalogue randomly. If you don't have a bottle of Diamine Macassar, I strongly encourage you to buy one. I have a feeling it'll be perfect for your aesthetic. It's the most perfect antique brown I've ever seen. And I'm not a fan of brown inks -- or wasn't before I found this stuff.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks and thanks for watching this!

[@reneejones6330]

I will definitely try some of these. Thanks!

[@HemingwayJones]

Wonderful Renee. Let me know what you think.

[@donhall-aquitania1025]

Herbin Bleu Pervenche was my first bottle of ink and I have avoided black but will try the Perle Noire. I love Diamine Oxblood in my Kaweco Sport with a stub nib and Kon-Peki in my TWSBI Mini. I also liked Diamine Chocolate Brown. Yama-Budo is on my list to try. And I feel like one of the few people who doesn’t like Herbin’s Emerald of Chivor.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you Don! Excellent list! I have Emerald… but I haven’t put it in a pen yet. It looks very interesting with a dip pen. Oxblood is so good.

[@meryramos3810]

My top 5: Pelikan Smoky Quartz; Noodlers Apache Sunset; Diamine Aurora Borealis and Oxblood; J. Herbin Liè de The... Thanks for sharing.

[@oscarcalva2189]

Black is one of my favorite things to write with, totally underrated in a sea of sheen, shading and shimmer (shading I like, sheen sometimes, shimmer absolutely not, hate those things). Aurora black is my favorite, Perle Noir and Noodler’s Black close seconds, and when not complete blacks, I also use a lot of blackish stuff: Robert Oster Thunderstorm is a super dark blue black, so is KWZ Warsaw Dreaming and Rohrer & Klingner Leipziger Schwartz (more of a black with a blue undertone), and then there are black inks that sheen wonderfully, Dominant Industry Base Black is one of them, black with black sheen even if that sounds contradictory.

[@HemingwayJones]

Very good colors! I like the Aurora as well. Thanks very much!

[@craft-o-matic399]

The Krishna Moonview captivated me! Lisa

[@HemingwayJones]

That is an awesome ink! It will be featured again shortly on the Channel. Thanks!

[@craft-o-matic399]

@@HemingwayJones I find your taste to be exquisite Hemingway! I'm not the type who keeps a journal, at least not at this point. Perhaps that will change? However, I do enjoy hand writing letters. I can't find much on KZbin for correspondence stationery well suited for letter writing. Any suggestions would be very welcome. Thank you Hemingway! Lisa

[@gv0861]

Diamine Oxblood is my EDI. People always comment on it. Great choice!

[@HemingwayJones]

You have excellent taste. Great ink!

[@aliciajipson8718]

Thanks you so much for such lovely and comprehensive array of information on this topic. I really going to follow up on some of your recommendations ( the Diplomat Moss comes to mind as I am always looking for a lovely green ink) but I wanted to ask you what is , in your opinion a “more” red ink…..I love the Diamine Oxblood to pieces but I al looking for something that has a little bit less brown and it doesn’t look pinkish or orange. Thanks so much in advance and really enjoyed your video! Greetings from Arizona and a happy New Year to you and your family.🎉

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you so much, Alicia! Happy New Year to you and yours! Wishing you all the best in the coming year! So, the reddest ink I know is Pineider, but it does look a little like the corrective ink that your teacher once used. If that is what you are going for, then perfect. Most of my other inks are more visceral. Currently I am loving Scribo Rossi Chianti which is like writing with wine, but it does have those darker brownish shades. I hope that helps a little. Thanks for watching!

[@aliciajipson8718]

@@HemingwayJones thank you, thank you, thank you! It does help a lot for sure. I think that is exactly what I am looking for.

[@HemingwayJones]

@@aliciajipson8718 Awesome! So glad. All the best.

[@christopherquine]

Have you had the chance to try New York by Robert Oster? My favourite Red to date :)

[@HemingwayJones]

I have not. Apropos with recent travels!

[@stereodreamer23]

I'll never understand the fascination people have with Iroshizuku Kon-Peki. I MUCH prefer Asa-Gao. It's more rich, shades better, and flows just as well in difficult pens. I'm 100% on-board with your opinion of J. Herbin inks though. They make delightful inks, all across their line. And also Diamine Oxblood is perhaps the "Perfect Red Ink". It's deep and concentrated, legible, and works with many papers. Your assessment of the perfect synergy of TWSBI pens with stub nibs and shimmer inks is also 100% spot-on. Especially the J. Herbin 1670 line of shimmer inks. They can be persnickity in certain pens, but when they work, they are beautiful. When it comes to sheening inks, I think you sort of dropped the ball though. How could you not include Organic Studio's "Nitrogen", or the Robert Oster sheening inks like "Lake of Fire".

[@HemingwayJones]

We agree on so much! The thing with my videos is that just being a guy, and not a pen shop, I only have certain things on hand at any given time. I’d love to experience “Nitrogen,” but alas, I haven’t bought it yet. Thanks for the great comment and for watching. Much appreciated.

[@pmccord9]

Organic Studios Nitrogen is the best sheener I've found. J Herbin Leaf Green is just brilliant as greens go, very well behaved.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks for the reviews.

[@darrelmorris808]

So many beautiful inks to try.

[@HemingwayJones]

Truly! You can never get bored with this hobby.

[@amyalphabet722]

Everyone loves Kon Peki but my fav is tsuki-yo, I know, controversial, hahah!! It performs amazing in all my pens, regardless of if they have gold or steel nibs. Wearinguel ink is hard to get in Canada, but I cannot wait to get my hands on the For Whom the Bell Tolls

[@HemingwayJones]

For Whom the Bell Tolls is epic. I have it in my Kaweco Brass Sport.

[@mikej.8885]

your hair is perfect how much did that haircut cost and where did you get it?

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much! I try. I get it cut every two weeks. It’s $50 a pop at Waltham’s Finest in Waltham, MA. Alyssa is the best.

[@ikilledfritz671]

Love that ink catalog, brother!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you!

[@PEIPenGuy]

Thanks for this! Great list.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks for Watching!

[@Vermiliontea]

Kon Peki is a good pick. It's a nice, fairly benign (it's slightly alkaline, but I don't think it matters anywhere) ink that also has good (for inks) lightfastness. I don't know so much about your other inks. I suppose my "favorite" "blue" ink would have to be '54'th Massachusetts', though it's more like a blueblack and I don't really like the color. The other properties are just so outstanding. I also use a lot of other blue inks though. The blue color I like best is Akkerman Akkerman Blauw. It's not lightfast though. Tsuyu Kusa is slightly duller but otherwise comes close. When I worked, I used 'Empire Red' as my red ink. It's a somewhat weak ink, rather dull red color, like Chinese Vermilion, and has a slight, only slight, tendency to be gunky. It's cellulose reactive and thus easily writes on any paper, even transparent drafting paper, completely water proof, smudge proof and extremely lightfast. Retired, I can now dial back on my demands on inks, and my favorite red ink now is Pelikan Edelstein Garnet. It's benign, lightfast and the red color is dialed down in a way I find very attractive. Unfortunately, it's one of those special edition inks and I only have one bottle. - Oh well, there will be many other red inks. Black. I think Noodler's Black is the worlds best black ink. But even of permanent inks there are alternatives. I also use 'Heart of Darkness' because it's blacker, though it feathers a bit more and is slightly harder to flush out of a pen. Platinum Carbon, only for art and other extreme applications. Impossible to completely clean out of a pen again, so you only use it in one cheap pen, and wash out soon enough between uses. Benign black inks, I rely on Rohrer & Klingner Leipzig Schwartz. Brown, J. Herbin 'Lie de The'. I don't, and probably never will, use shimmer or sheen inks. If I want to have a lot of maintenance work with a pen, I'll probably fill it with 'Luxury Blue', lovely blue color for a super permanent ink, but pretty hopeless in terms of gunk and flow.

[@HemingwayJones]

I agree completely!

[@kokolexx]

when you mentioned that you prefer shimmer inks in pen that can be disassembled like TWSBI, is the Eco also included? Asking this because I don't have any TWSBI yet, I've ordered an Eco with stub nib but it's still on the way.

[@HemingwayJones]

Yes! The Eco is one of my favorites! It is definitely one that I use for more challenging inks.

[@kokolexx]

@@HemingwayJones That's a relief! Thank you!

[@MilatovichFamily]

For me, best sheening ink is Organics Studio Walden Pond. Really amazing colour from blue to redish sheen.

[@HemingwayJones]

I love the title. Walden Pond is about 15 minutes away.

[@MilatovichFamily]

@@HemingwayJones Interesting! I suggest you to try this amazing sheening ink and maybe do video even outside at that location. :)

[@mmzeeman]

At the moment I'm trying Sepia Schwartz (Octopus fluids) as non boring black ink. It has a really nice shade of brown to it. Especially recommended for liquorish addicts like me.

[@HemingwayJones]

That sounds very cool! I have a bottle of real sepia traditional ink, but it’s dip only. I bought it in Venice. All the best.

[@mattsadventureswithart5764]

My favourite is definitely writers blood, but I was very torn between that and dragons blood (I have both, of course - who doesn't???) I did, however, treat myself today by ordering a bottle of pelikan edelstein apatite which has been on my "want but can't justify the price" list for absolutely ages. It is midwinter, after all.

[@HemingwayJones]

The days get brighter from here. Well done, you have made a great choice!

[@kateriewing]

I wonder if you have tried Berlin Blue No 1 by Berlin Notebook. I think you might fall in love.

[@HemingwayJones]

I have not, but I will seek it out.

[@Ybalrid]

The problem with black, is that most of the time, black is either unremarkable, of if it is, it is a very dark grey... My perfect black, that is also water resistant (nice to address envelopes, and make sure that whatever happens water-wise, the paper will be destroyed before the ink) is De Atramentis Document Black. I do love Perle Noire, I think it is darker than the standard Parker Black. I have used Waterman black cartridges *years and years ago*

[@HemingwayJones]

I agree with you completely! I would love to see a black that remains glossy. I don't know if that is possible, but it would be cool. Stop by again soon!

[@Ybalrid]

@@HemingwayJones not with fountain pen ink I am afraid… I’d you are into calligraphy and dip pens, pretty sure china ink (India ink as it is called in English ? We says « encre de chine » in France can stay glossy when they dry…

[@Vermiliontea]

@@Ybalrid Indian Ink and Chinese Ink (Sumi) contain pigment and a binder, so are technically paints. In fact, many inks are paints, but not (generally) FP-inks or Marker inks, as it would clog up the writing tool. The traditional pigment of black Indian and Chinese ink is soot, carbon. The traditional binder for Indian ink is Shellac. The traditional binder for Chinese ink is animal glue. So yes, I suppose they might attain gloss, if used liberally. They may wear off, erode, from the surface with time, since unless the paper is porous and absorbent, they lie on the top. But otherwise they are extremely permanent as Carbon doesn't deteriorate. Normal black FP inks are based on an organic dye, so will, like most FP inks, fade away in the end. Though I have to say, based on my own tests, Noodler's Black and Heart of Darkness are pretty durable. Platinum Carbon is an attempt to do both things. It's a Carbon nano-pigment ink, with so small Carbon pigment particles that it behaves like a dye. I use it for art and texts on exposed labels and signs. I don't get the pens used with it entirely clean again though, so wouldn't use it in an expensive or complicated pen. But I do like it otherwise and it is "black". I might imagine a glossy black FP ink could be made with similar technology as the sheen inks?

[@Ybalrid]

@@Vermiliontea Yup, know about clogging, that's why I mention dip pens specifically. Don't put that in a FP, you probably gonna have a hard time or even kill it🙂 For the sheening idea, I do not think so really. As far as I understand sheen, it is due to the very high concentration of the dye, the effect is due to how light interact with the dried ink, it's purely structural. Not sure if it is diffraction or refraction or something else... A bit like the blue in bird feather that do not contain any blue pigment of any kind 🤔 Glossy effect would come from the surface finish of the dried ink being very very smooth and flat so that it can reflect light, like lacker for example... I have a hard time imagining a compound that would be thin enough to go through a nib and feed, but able to dry in that fashion, and also be water solube enough... But I am a computer guy, I do not know enough about chemistry or physics to speculate further on that topic 🤣

[@sanji58235]

Some of my Platinum ink converters turned rough and guess what? I switched to Pilot Inks right from Standard to Iroshizuku and the jammed converters turned smooth just as butter. I was surprised because I had been blaming the converter. I tried Waterman ink, J Herbin ink, Diamine inks, Parker inks yet the converter was still very rough and tight. Pilot inks solved all of my problems. Moreover, Pilot Inks flow well on any paper with no ink skip.

[@Calcprof]

Black: Aurora, but the Sailor and Platinum pigmented blacks are great. Blue: Penman Saphire, but that hasn't been available for over 20 years. Some reasonable replacements are Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue, Diamine Majestic blue, Scribe Indigo. Red: Oxbood is good, I agree. Sheener: Organics Studio Walden Pond, Vinta Sandugo, Diamine/Cult Pens Robert, Philip, Christine and Maurine, Birmingham Pen Co Emerald Fusion (unusual dark green that sheens bright emerald green). Shimmer: Emerald of Chivor, Von Dieman's Underwater Bioluminescence. Other: Yama-Budo is great. Teals: Pilot Iroshizuju Ku-Jaku, Bermingham Pen Co. Herron. MultiShaders: Sailor 123, Troublemaker Sea Glass and Moon River, and others. Weird goes down one color, dries another: the new Sailor Yurameku, 2nd series inks, Vinta Armada

[@HemingwayJones]

All excellent choices!

[@lizdelisle1912]

My favorite blue to date is Colorverse Cat after that is J Herbin Eclat de Safir.

[@HemingwayJones]

I love both of those!