Ink Review: Diamine Damson

[Chrissy]

I'm currently reviewing some of my favourite Diamine inks. Today I'm reviewing Diamine Damson ink. I would say it's similar to Diamine Grape, but is more grey. More of a dusky purplish grey colour.

• Bearing in mind the paper I use is very smooth, this ink takes longer to dry than some others.
  
• It flows very well and lubricates the nib very well. No start-up problems noticed. I experienced no problems with dryness, nib crud or clogging.
  
• Water test on the review form shows this isn't a waterproof ink, but it's more water resistant than some.
  
• It easily washed off of my hands with bar soap.
  
• It easily flushed out of my converter with warm water.
  
• It is currently available in 30ml plastic bottles and 80ml glass bottles.
  
• It's reasonably priced
  
• Diamine sell it directly to end-users on their web-site.

Diamine Damson.jpeg

[Alec_J]

Wow I love your ink reviews! Thank you so much for the evident effort and time for our benefit!

[reprieve]

I want so badly to love this ink. The color is right up my alley--murky, dusty, and purple.

I have a bottle and have tried it in multiple pens, but I haven't found a good match yet: I keep running into start-up/dry-out issues and also some minor clogging. I've used it in tried and true pens that are otherwise reliable writers and that don't have issues with other inks. I've never read about anyone else having issues with Damson… so it's very odd.

[Chrissy]

A user on another forum said they thought it was a dry ink. I didn't find it dry, but I wrote my review with a B nib. That was a B nib that I had tried very hard to tune to virtually no gap between the tines, so it wasn't wet. But I liked using the Damson. If I could only have either Diamine Amazing Amethyst or Damson, I would choose Amazing Amethyst by a whisker.

[Chrissy]

Wow I love your ink reviews! Thank you so much for the evident effort and time for our benefit!

Thank you. I really appreciate that

[klpeabody]

Thanks Chrissy for another well done review. This is one of those inks that I want to like, and it's just not meant to be. I had a pen pal that used to write to me in Diamine Damson all of the time. It looked great in her pens, and, indeed, this ink was very "her". But, after trying a sample, it's just not for me. For one, I did not prefer the "ashy" look, that perhaps describes the grey-ish qualities that this ink can convey. But, you know, that's a thing: sometimes an ink looks lovely in your pen pal's letter, but just doesn't look that great coming from your own pens. It's a phenomenon that I cannot begin to explain, but I've experienced it, and even talked to other pen pals about it. This is one of those inks that goes into that category for me. There's worse things, I suppose. =)

In the U.S., at least, I would not use this in my particular, and conservative, office environment. First, my office requires blue ink for originals. Second, this ink dries to a very lavender-ish look that I find too feminine for business. I would reserve this one for personal correspondence. That's just my humble opinion; this ink stuff is so very subjective.

[Video11]

Diamine Damson is one of my favourite inks, thanks for the review.

Cheers,

Rick

[Morgaine]

I'm actually looking at Diamine's webpage now... drooling over the various colours. Grape looks nice but similar to the Damson (I have neither, at present, but do have Imperial Purple).

[Edith]

In response to Reprieve, this is useful to know. I had exactly the experience you describe with Grape--wanted badly to love the ink, still love the color, tried it in multiple pens that don't have issues with other inks, kept running into start-up/dry-out/clogging--also had trouble thinking I was the only person to have had the experience! I have been drawn to Damson, because it is another color in the same range, but on the basis of your report, I assume I would have the same problem you have had. Can you recommend another, similarly colored ink that works well in your pens?

[pelo20000]

Thank you for the review. I bought 15 Diamine Ink Samples. At the moment I am enjoying the Ancient Copper a lot.