Ink Review: Diamine Chocolate Brown

[Chrissy]

I have a couple of brown inks to review that I haven’t used before. This one is Diamine Chocolate Brown

This is a dark, rich, brown, like really dark chocolate. I never realised how dark it was. So rich and saturated. Almost a sinfully dark chocolate.

I didn’t see much shading until I wrote on more absorbent paper, because it’s such a saturated ink. Then I saw some on one of the papers. It’s a wet ink and took 30 seconds to dry on my thick, coated Xerox paper. I experienced no problems at all while I was writing with it, and found it so smooth and lubricated. It was a pleasure to write with. I saw no skips or hard starts, and it didn't dry out on the nib while I was doing swab tests.

It made my dry writing Pelikan F nib write like a M nib. For me it was a very well-behaved ink, as well as being a lovely colour. It only exhibited show through and bleed through on Field Notes paper, but so do most inks.

It isn't sold as water resistant, and there was no water resistance at all. I left the water on the test square, and the dots and lines disappeared completely.

I can safely say it’s the best brown ink I’ve written with. I have to get myself an 80ml bottle of this one.

• This isn't sold as a waterproof ink, and shows no water resistance.
• Bearing in mind the review form paper I use is thick with a shiny surface at 100gsm, and I used a Pelikan F nib plus a Lamy 1.1mm nib, this ink took 30 secs secs to dry using the F nib.
  No smear after dry.
• It exhibited very good flow and I found it very smooth to write with. I saw no skips or hard starts while I did swabs and dry time tests.
• It is currently available in 80ml glass bottles or 30ml plastic bottles
• Diamine sell it directly to end-users on their web-site.
• It's a reasonable price.

Diamine Chocolate Brown.jpegDiamine Chocolate Brown 2.jpgDiamine Chocolate Brown B.jpgBrown Swabs1.jpg
Blot on kitchen paper
Diamine Chocolate Brown.jpg
Chroma Test
Diamine Chocolate Brown A.jpg

[Annie]

I think I would be disappointed if a F nib wrote like a M. If I want a fine line, I don't want an ink with other ideas.

[jamberrypie]

That is a beautiful shade of brown. I'm adding it to my future to-buy list as I'm really into brown inks right now.

[Monkey]

Chrissy, since you have it on the sheet as well - how would you say this compares overall with Monteverde Brown? Anything stand out noticeably one way or the other?

[alexander_k]

Thanks for the review and comparisons. Chocolate Brown used to be my favourite brown ink a few years ago but I replaced it with Macassar, which hasn't the red undertones of Chocolate Brown. In turn, Macassar was replaced by R&K Sepia and Diamine Ochre, as I turned to lighter inks.

[Tomdraug]

Thank you for detailed review. I was not aware of this color at all. Looks gorgeous, I must have it

[Chrissy]

Chrissy, since you have it on the sheet as well - how would you say this compares overall with Monteverde Brown? Anything stand out noticeably one way or the other?

I regularly use Monteverde Brown for mixing, and for some reason I don't write with it very often. It's less saturated and drier than Diamine Chocolate Brown. Plus Diamine Chocolate Brown seems to have a richness and silkiness about it that Monteverde Brown doesn't have. It's almost like Monteverde Brown is an 'ordinary' brown.

[Chrissy]

Thanks for the review and comparisons. Chocolate Brown used to be my favourite brown ink a few years ago but I replaced it with Macassar, which hasn't the red undertones of Chocolate Brown. In turn, Macassar was replaced by R&K Sepia and Diamine Ochre, as I turned to lighter inks.

Thank you, and you're welcome.

I had a small sample of Diamine Macassar, but it went really dark in the last pen I used it in. A bit like Sailor Jentle Do-you always seems to do for me. While I'm a fan of brown inks, I prefer those that stay brown rather than those that turn black. I'm not sure if I have any Macassar left. Maybe I should add it to my next samples, although I might prefer to use a less dark and sombre ink in Spring.

If Sailor UK hadn't sent me my older version bottle of Do-you, I would have been convinced it had been refilled with black ink.

[Chrissy]

Thank you for detailed review. I was not aware of this color at all. Looks gorgeous, I must have it

Thank you, and you're welcome. I hope you like it.

[Robert]

I am partial to brown inks - - but I'm also picky. This one looks like a keeper - - especially after "aging" in the pen for a few days. Thanks for your very thorough review.

[Marsilius]

Great review of my favorite brown.

[laurielindly]

Diamine Chocolate looks like a rich gooey chocolate brownie on the British notebook. Enjoyed the review.

[Chrissy]

I am partial to brown inks - - but I'm also picky. This one looks like a keeper - - especially after "aging" in the pen for a few days. Thanks for your very thorough review.

Great review of my favorite brown.

Diamine Chocolate looks like a rich gooey chocolate brownie on the British notebook. Enjoyed the review.

Thank you all and you're welcome. The gooey chocolate brownie effect is a good analogy. It looked really good on that paper that seems to be coated while still retaining a little absorbency. It's like a thicker version of Tomoe River paper.

[Monkey]

Chrissy, since you have it on the sheet as well - how would you say this compares overall with Monteverde Brown? Anything stand out noticeably one way or the other?

I regularly use Monteverde Brown for mixing, and for some reason I don't write with it very often. It's less saturated and drier than Diamine Chocolate Brown. Plus Diamine Chocolate Brown seems to have a richness and silkiness about it that Monteverde Brown doesn't have. It's almost like Monteverde Brown is an 'ordinary' brown.

Interesting, thanks! If I ever finish my bottle xP I may consider replacing with that one.

[usk15]

Good review, thank you!

It's my choose of brown since 2015, I'm using exclusively with Bexley Stalwart fine nib. Like you said: rich, dark, wet and good behavior!
Here is my sample:

[The Good Captain]

Nice review as always. I don't have it - yet! Still using #41 Brown and CP/D Deep Dark brown, not to mention a couple of others. Soon!

[Chrissy]

Good review, thank you!

It's my choose of brown since 2015, I'm using exclusively with Bexley Stalwart fine nib. Like you said: rich, dark, wet and good behavior!

Thank you and you're welcome. That's a good writing sample. Thank you for posting it. I also like your blue mixture.

[Chrissy]

Nice review as always. I don't have it - yet! Still using #41 Brown and CP/D Deep Dark brown, not to mention a couple of others. Soon!

Thank you GC, and you're welcome.

I have a few too. I never thought I might swerve slightly away from Diamine Rustic Brown until I tried Diamine Chocolate Brown.

[usk15]

Thank you and you're welcome. That's a good writing sample. Thank you for posting it. I also like your blue mixture.

Thank you! The blue ink mix result from experimenting, I thought Quink blue being too faint and Sargasso Sea too rich.

[matteob]

Looks like a nice ink I am fond of Diamine inks particularly Sapphire Blue.

I like the ink review form. Did you make that up yourself.