My Top 3 Fountain Pen Inks

[@March22012]

I’m in only for the SBREBrown. I like weird inks myself. Dusty inks. Teals, deep, dusty purples, very dark reds and browns. Antique blues and greys. I love all the Super 5 colours. I could go on and on so it’s a good thing nobody asked me to.

[@ecjmedia]

Would you please? Fairly new to the hobby and am seeking oddball inks. I've never heard of Super 5. Is there anywhere online that I can get samples? If so, please tell me your favorites and I'll get them. Thanks!

[@psychophipps]

I recently found Herbin Lie De The as my current brown of choice. I really like the shading of it and it truly does look like tea on the page to me.

[@eddiecandelaria8691]

Great video Dr.Brown and elusive inks you have chosen. My 3 inks are... Montblanc irish green Pilot iroshizuku yama guri ( 2nd bottle ) Waterman serenity blue 4th choice which is a frankenink of my own creation is SBRE Brown/ diamine pumpkin/ diamine ancient copper. Unreal shading looks like autumn leaves on the ground in October.

[@bw6230]

My favorites are non-feathering inks: de Atramentis Doc Black, Sailor Seiboku, Diamine Ancient Copper, and RK Salix.

[@charleshotchkiss1813]

The Edelstein red makes Montblanc Corn Poppy look orange on my screen. An ironic result.

[@dagbruck]

Interesting, as my preferences go in a very different direction. My top three are from J Herbin: Vert de Gris, Bleu Nuit and Cacao du Brezil. Plus Waterman Serenity Blue.

[@juliafalling4069]

I have Vert de Gris & Bleu Nuit. I also really like Blue Myosotis.

[@osirisgolad]

Corn Poppy Red is indeed discontinued. Diamine Matador is a reasonable enough analog for most people, though it isn't an exact match.

[@jungroe]

I used to have MB Corn Poppy Red, and I agree it was a great looking red that flowed well, and really popped. My current faves/go to inks are J Herbin Scented Rose. It too is a nice rich red and flows very well, and it smells like real roses that I enjoy. The other ink I like is Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black. It is a great flowing, work horse deep black ink. I like it because it has good water resistence, while being a safe dye based ink. I don't have to worry about extra cleaning efforts like you do with Iron Gall and pigmented permanent inks. The 3rd ink I like is Montblanc Lavender Purple (renamed Amethyst Purple now), which is a nice dark purple, a dark purplish red brown with an antiquated look I like. It flows well and is well behaved.

[@mmmssbb23]

Always oxblood

[@agathoklesmartinios8414]

Just checked and yes, the Montblanc Cornpoppy Red is discontinued. Their current red in their standard line-up is called Modena Red. As for my own go-to inks, I use Sheaffer Skrip Red a lot, mainly for when practicing languages and I need to make corrections in my excercises. It's a good "correction red ink", IMO. Another staple is Noodler's Black, just a nice black ink with archival quality. And, to stick with Stephen's format of three inks, I would say J. Herbin Violette Pensée. It's a beautiful purple ink I just keep coming back to and love to have inked up in a pen. Finally, for my +1 ink I'll go with J. Herbin Lie de Thé. Same reason as the Violette Pensée, just a brown ink.

[@imsathyasekar]

I have a great fondness for the Edelstein Golden Beryl ink. I know it’s shimmer and yellowy.. but the shading I get with broad nibs is just brilliant! KWZ Sheen Machine is a favourite sheening ink. Sailor Studio series has my favourite shading inks.

[@Alvenrik1]

Platinum Rose Red, I have a dedicated flex pen for grading papers with that ink. Pigmented and a very particular shade of red that is very difficult to imitate and permanent. Pelikan Blueblack, I have almost finished my second bottle of that, that's my stapple. Sailor Kiwaguro because it works really well, is pigmented yet relatively easy to clean so I don't fear putting it in a nice pen. My runner up is Taccia Kuro. That ink is a recent discovery, I got it as a gift when I bought a pen. It is a black that is black and works, doesn't smear once dry (kiwaguro does, Noodlers black does and so on...) And I'm a lefty, so it is important for me.

[@kinslowrainer3982]

Excellent video! I'm sad it's only 3+1, but I'll take what I can get. I know it's not a thing for most people, but you have the experience to offer some good recommendations. What are your favorite 3+1 water-resistant/waterproof inks?

[@johnnymontalvo5620]

I love my bottle of SBRE Brown ink! The shading is super nice. I may have to pick up a MB red. Sometimes you just need a red that is actually red (and not purplish or orange).

[@jameskerr-mz4om]

Your 3 favorite inks are great choices, though I wish the 2 red ones were actually still available! I found Sheaffer’s red in cartridges - much prefer bottled ink, but I loved the color. I have enjoyed watching your top 10 inks video - several times in fact. Montblanc’s Irish Green is my own favorite ink so I was glad to see it on that list. I’ve never been a big fan of purple, but you had Waterman’s Tender Purple on the list and seeing its lovely shade on paper, I bought a bottle and find it delightful. All your top 10 were solid choices! Thank you for making great videos! Mary Kerr

[@smithraymondearl]

I have the SBRE Brown and use it everyday. Another fine video.

[@FrankDAgostino77]

Diamine Red Dragon is my top red -- Skrip Red is just a bit too pink-leaning for my tastes. For blues, I love Noodler's Navy, Monteverde Horizon Blue, Birmingham Tesla Coil, and Birmingham Eroded Bronze. There are lots of other inks I enjoy, but these are the ones I will always have around as long as they're available.

[@markcotter2931]

Akkerman Out of the Blue, Kyo no Oto #1 Nurebairo (black with a blue sheen), GvFC Moss Green, and a fourth: MB Modena Red.

[@escargotomy]

1) Lamy Azurite has become my favorite blue of late...more blurple actually but its so, so juicy and almost neon. Can't put it down anymore. 2) My favorite black is now Kingdom Note Dorcus (Stag Beetle) which is a Japan only Sailor ink. It sheens iridescent ghostly green...need I say more? 3) I've loved a lot of greens but the new green love of life is Pilot Iroshizuku Sui-Gyoku. Its perfection.

[@r0b0tcat]

I found Colorverse No. 19 Redshift to be a near dupe for Pelikan Edelstein Star Ruby.

[@paulmchugh1430]

Thanks for suggesting Montblanc Cornpoppy. I never jeard of it but i have been looking for a vibrant red ink.

[@judyjacobs5827]

After a bit of consideration, I submit this list: Noodler's Ink Bay State Blue; Iroshuzuku Yu Yake, a sunset orange, partly because it is similar, as your ink is, to my own name; Diamine Writer's Blood, which is red, or brown, or purple, depending on the nib and the paper; Monteverde Mandarin Orange, which looks like its name suggests; Sheaffer Scrip Emerald Writing Fluid, no longer made, afaik, but my mother used it when she was alive, and the bottle is very cool. Thank you for your perceptiveness and your creativity, as well as your alter egos.

[@juliafalling4069]

Hey. I recently bought a bottle of DeAtramentis Dante Alighieri. It's a beautiful saturated true red. Does not look even a little orange. NOT discontinued. I agree with you concerning the Pelikan Edelstein Star Ruby. It's gorgeous. Another favorite of mine is a red-coral - Pilot Iroshizuku Momiji. It's the same color that some of the native maples in the fall in East Tennessee. But my real weaknesss is for blues that lean slightly purple (Pilot Iroshizuku Ajisai) and true greens and almost everything that inhabits the territory in-between. I need to go on an ink-buying fast. I probably have more ink than I can use up in my lifetime. I enjoy your podcasts. Very useful information and a good way for me to learn even though most of the pens you use are out of my price range.

[@cathiescott7382]

I have and use all these inks. Can’t disagree with your choices

[@finndriver1063]

I know this is a very long project, but could you weigh/measure several of your most-used inks this year and then do so again in one year to see how much ink you get through & how that compares to your expectations? Might also be a good way of discussing workhorse inks & practical ink features (permanence, viscosity, 'well-behavedness', etc.). I think my favourite 3 are De Atramentis Grey-Blue, a lovely waterproof & lightfast dusty blue that shades nicely; the ever-controversial Herbin Rouille d'Ancre, a nice pinkish dusty red; and then perhaps Diamine Alexandrite, an ideal teal with good shading & pinky-red sheen. Runners-up would be PurePens Cotswolds (a yellow-brown with much shading), Diamine Registrar's Blue-Black (very well-behaved for me), and Wearingeul Stonecutters Song (my favourite grey).

[@janwilson9485]

I differ quite a lot. Diamine autumn oak a lovely slightly brownish orangey colour with great shading in any decent nib, Sailor Manyo Fuji a beautiful purpley grey chroma shading ink, Diamine writers Blood (I vacillate between that and Ox Blood) which is a kind of slightly purple tinged dried blood look, which sounds awful but looks great even in fine nibs. My plus one for everyday note taking on the go when I often cause pen chaos is the same as yours - Waterman Washable Blue, but for Special is Pelikan Eidelstein Golden Lapis - stirred or not stirred its a beautiful blue with or without the shimmer. I do love Pilot Kon Peki, but its extortionate price in the UK knocks it off my list. My top 3 plus 1or2 is pretty arbitrary as there are so many beautiful inks out there even making a top 20 would be too difficult!

[@PmW-vc6tw]

Spot on about yellow inks

[@crouserm]

Favorite inks: Diamine Red Dragon, Ancient Copper, and Cappadocia (green-black shimmer ink for Galen Leather), Edelstein Sapphire (but Iroshizuku Asa-gao is pretty good, too), Jacques Herbin Gris de houle, Private Reserve Avocado, PenBBS Christmas (a red/gold shimmer ink), Graf von Faber-Castell Carbon Black

[@nicolasmikah4168]

Montblanc Arthur Doyle Scarlet Red is also beautiful and no longer available as well. J. Herbin Moulin Rouge is very nice. My 2 favorite blue inks are J. Herbin éclat de saphir and iroshizuku Asa Gao. I also use a lot the Aurora black and Montblanc amethyst purple.

[@ccb1949]

Curious day to love red!

[@edwardrutledge2765]

MAGA red to be released shortly by Colorverse, or Ferris Wheel Press, ink manufacturers who release new shades daily? 🤣

[@angelopaola9985]

Very nice list. Thanks I’m a little boring staying in the blue green range 1. Iroshizuku Kon Peki 2. Iroshizuku AMA Iro 3. Leonardo Smeraldo 4. Iroshizuku Shin Ryoku

[@alanpareis734]

Great Vid. Hmmm, for me: yes, Star Ruby; yes of course SBRE Brown, M600 Tort Red m oblique always inked with this; my most used ink, always in more than one pen, is a 50/50 mix of Waterman Serenity Blue and Waterman Tender Purple, “Binder Burple,” recipe from the master himself; and I always have a pen inked with GvFC Moss Green. Thanks for asking.

[@ryancain6012]

Top three for me are: 1. Diamine Blue Velvet--tho I've been enjoying Endless Alchemy Blue lately as it's cheaper, similar quantities, and a cooler bottle 2. Noodler's Zhivago--green is my favorite colour and this evergreen is dark enough to use at work but still recognizable enough as green for my pleasure. I also like how it performs in my Neponset. 3. MonteVerde Midnight Black--tho I'm in the process of finding a darker black so I'm open to black suggestions!

[@SagesFury]

j herbin Emerald of Chivor is a go to enjoyment to write with on tomoe river.

[@johnsomers8269]

What fun! I enjoy my Waterman's brown ink which I got in France around 40 years ago. I bought four bottles, and they are still perfect. Then I got a bottle of Faharney's EverWrite Huckleberry Purple which is jolly fun. I have a blue that I like from Monteverde, their Horizon Blue. I'm glad Doug introduced me to your channel! TTFN

[@philippebarillecavalier9275]

Waterman discontinued brown. Your remaining inventory just became precious.

[@ichirofakename]

The only passion I have about inks is a strong liking for legible yellow that is entirely free of orange. My winner is Sailor Storia Spotlight, which happens to be a pigmented ink, and I presume no longer in production. When drawing I also enjoy using highlighter-style yellow, specifically Noodler's Year of the Golden Pig. Oh, and out of contrariness I like Baystate Blue. Hey, that makes three!

[@mellow-jello]

Given that MB Corn Poppy Red is discontinued, do you know if Richard Binder or yourself has an alternative red, preferably from Diamine, that resembles this shade of red? Diamine has a wide array of reds and is commonly available.

[@christophermckellar1352]

Thanks. Enjoyed.

[@frankieb2784]

Nicely done Stephen .. man, wet ink on the page makes me happy.. I like your picks.. frank in Colorado

[@alexwhiteowl]

I admit i'm a bit surprised by your choices of 2 red inks and Mango - no teal? No blue (ther than Waterman Serenity)? No blue-black? Excellent choices and very unexpected! Apart of SBREBrown, which should be on any favourite list 😄

[@jamesfahey7188]

It’s a shame Mb doesn’t make Corn Poppy Red anymore. Modena Red doesn’t compare. The closest I have come is Diamine Poppy Red, but it’s still not as good. I managed to find a bottle of MB CPR at a pen show last year and I snapped it up.

[@SAGEM1A4Me]

We would rather get all 10, but we appreciate your time and videos!

[@FrauStaenki]

I started the video and after the intro I said to myself: Waterman Serenity Blue ... 😉

[@gk856]

That's something! Normally we have 2-3 minutes of writing sample per 15 min video in your channel. Today, surprise! As much as three writing samples, whole 7 minutes in a 9 minute video. I like it. I appreciate it. Look, I live in a third world country under sanctions, I use the cheapest plastic fountain pens, no chance I would ever own any of these beautiful pen models, but watching the writing samples is a bit like writing them myself, in the mind at least. I don't know if the word is allowed in the YT comments, some people call photographs of nice bicycles 'bike porn', the term referring to psychology rather than dirty content. So, in my view, writing samples are sort of 'fountain pen porn', fountain pens in action. Pardon my non-native English. Keep staying ahead of the competition by the 'fountain pen in action' time ratio. And thanks for the content.

[@tomo9224]

For your Ask the Doctor videos, i'd like to ask what five books you think everyone should have on their shelves. Obviously, this list could be infinitely long, I'd just like to know what your personal choices would be :) Thanks!

[@anthonymadrid4699]

#1 ink for me: Iroshizuku "Ina-ho." The most "multifaceted" ink, out of the 200 inks I've tried. Some days, it's brown; other days greenish mustard; still others, gold with brown-green flecks (?). And whatever face it's showing on any given day is, to me, fascinating... ¶ But...... since the above is discontinued...... Ferris Wheel Press's "Goose Poupon," which really only shows one of the "phases" of Ina-ho, but it's a good one: the more golden mustard. #2. Diamine "Pelham Blue." #3. Herbin "Lie de thé" / Diamine "Desert Burst" . . . these are very similar and they're like . . . if you have a brown-eyed girlfriend, this the brown you want her eyes to be.

[@edwardrutledge2765]

I hang on your every nib, pen, word…but “leak” away with these inks…except SBRE Brown, which is wonderful. How you didn’t included something by Sailor is mind boggling. Meh on the Mango… I truly prefer “old world” red wines, not the fruit forward CA style, but I look first to Asian inks, then Europe, for penmanship ammunition. I’ll still follow you. 😁🍷

[@user-br3sl9go3b]

My SBREBrown is wonderful. Yet, it looks nothing like the ink you show. It is much lighter. It looks like early autumn leaves, with a little rusty color bordering on rusty red. I use it exclusively with my Faber Castell pen with a broad nib. I hate the pen, although the dark brown cap and the lighter matte barrel is very attractive to me. The problem is that the grip is rounded and painful for any long writing periods.I keep the pen inked and use is often for limited writing because I like the ink.

[@paolopellegatti5686]

My current top three (used) inks are: R&K Vertdigris, J.Herbin Kyanite du Nepal and Rouge Opera. I'm on a quest for a matte dark purple that makes sense in a fine nib, somehow all those I tried so fa come out light or too purple.

[@alanpareis734]

Try Richard Binder’s, recipe for “Burple.” A 50/50 mix of Waterman Serenity Blue and Waterman Tender Purple. Virtually identical to original Private Reserve Tanzanite, only safe -no mold and other yuck. I have been using it for a decade or so and always have more than one pen inked with Burple.

[@markcotter2931]

MB Lavender purple might suit you

[@knifenoob5411]

No Noodlers?

[@sbrebrown]

Not after it destroyed one of my pens.

[@archivist17]

5:51 I am shocked. 😆

[@petrisz]

I strongly disagree :D None of my favourites are on your list. This is utterly outrageous.

[@arenared]

Overall your videos have bad nightingale , specially when displaying ink colors….