Graf von Faber-Castell Hazelnut Brown

[DrChumley]

You can find additional images and thoughts here: http://penhabit.com/2014/01/13/483/

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Graf von Faber-Castell Hazelnut brown is a lovely, rich chocolatey brown color, but with more of an orange/red undertone than you usually find in other brown inks. It is also a bit lighter. The name “Hazelnut Brown” is probably the most apt ink name I could come up with. From that name, I had a vision in my mind of what this ink would look like, and I was not disappointed. The more I look at it, the more I find similarities to Diamine Ancient Copper, but with less red and a deeper, richer brown color included.

The ink flows nicely, but not too heavily, in the pens in which it was tested. It feels lubricated, but perhaps not quite as much as the inks from Iroshizuku, which live in the same basic price range as these inks. It goes on smoothly, but with just a touch of feedback on nibs that can provide it. The brown has a very “matte” appearance on the paper, not giving really indication of sheen. That being said, this ink has really incredible shading. I can’t think of another ink the brown family (that I have used, anyway) that shades as well as this ink. Even the discontinued Caran d’Ache Colors of the Earth ink, Grand Canyon, doesn’t hold a candle to this ink in terms of shading. The shading, which has a very binary feel to it, does give the otherwise flat color a great bit of depth.

There was zero indication of bleed-through, even on the multiple pass tests (which usually shows at least a pinprick of bleed). It also didn’t give me a lot of ghosting on the Rhodia paper on which it was tested.

This ink is not even remotely water resistant. The soak test leaves nearly nothing behind.

Of interest to me with this ink test was the wet inkblot. I saw oranges and reds, which were expected, but the ink even displayed hints of blue and yellow-green. This appears to be a pretty complex ink, with a lot of components.

I have only cleaned this ink once so far, but it appears to clean relatively easily as well.

And, of course, we can't forget that stunning bottle...

[earthdawn]

Wow what a fantastic review !!!

Beautiful ink!

Really enjoyed reading that and loved the grew pictures as well. You really captured the ink well.

Thank you

[pompero]

Nice review! I find this ink very dry, but it is perfect to control those "crazy ink flow" fountain pens.

[conib]

The shading, which has a very binary feel to it, does give the otherwise flat color a great bit of depth.

Can you describe what you mean by shading having a "binary feel"?

-- Constance

[inlovewithjournals]

Thank you so much for this review! I was given some cartridges of this ink and now I'm excited to try it.

[Laura N]

My compliments to both DrChumley and pompero: great photos and very informative comments. Thank you both!

[DrChumley]

Can you describe what you mean by shading having a "binary feel"?

-- Constance

Some ink's shading has a bit more "gradual" feel to the transition between lighter and darker. This ink has more of a "it's on or it's off" feel...you don't get much of that gradual transition.

I guess I've just spent too much time in the computer industry...

[Jon Szanto]

Crap.

Crap CRAP CRAP!

I thought I was done with brown inks, having not only narrowed it down but picked up both Lie de The and Yama-guri.





I hate you people (but thanks for the lovely reviews and photos...)

[caribbean_skye]

where would one procure such an ink?

tee hee Jon. Enablers are us.

[DrChumley]

Crap.

Crap CRAP CRAP!

I thought I was done with brown inks, having not only narrowed it down but picked up both Lie de The and Yama-guri.

Hehehe. My work here is done.

where would one procure such an ink?

I got my bottle at Tabula Rasa in Salt Lake City. I'm not sure for online sources for GvFC inks. If you find any good ones, let me know, because there are a couple of other colors I want to try (and I love those bottles.)

[mtnbiker62]

I'm going to be in SLC on Wednesday...looks like a little side trip to Trolley Square is in order!

Looks like there is at least one online vendor, too.
http://penboutique.com/p-11277-graf-...FWuhOgodbxIAgw

[VertOlive]

Fantastic photos, articulate review--many thanks!

[VicVacc]

Wowser- that's so nice! Beautiful handwriting too.

[reprieve]

I need another brown ink (or any ink at all, for that matter!) like I need a hole in the head. But this review has me thisclose to ordering GvFC Hazelnut. Look at that shading! Lovely.

[dneal]

I have been highly impressed with the new GvFC inks, and have 4 of the 6 (black, blue, brown and green). A tortoise brown M400 is always inked up with Hazelnut Brown. Wonderful ink!

[jacksterp]

And I thought Iro Yama-guri, Noodler's Red Black or Waterman Havana Brown would satiate my brown ink appetite.

Terrific review and intro to ANOTHER ink line it seems I must try.

[Jon Szanto]

Looks like there is at least one online vendor, too.
http://penboutique.com/p-11277-graf-...FWuhOgodbxIAgw

Fahrney's Pens carries it as well, both at their online site and it pops up on amazon.com as well (from them, same price).

[Toulouse]

Great review. Thank you for introducing me to another brown for my want list.

[reprieve]

Looks like there is at least one online vendor, too.
http://penboutique.com/p-11277-graf-...FWuhOgodbxIAgw

Fahrney's Pens carries it as well, both at their online site and it pops up on amazon.com as well (from them, same price).

Fountain Pen Hospital also carries it. I bought a bottle of Moss Green from them last week and just filled a pen with it yesterday. My initial reaction is that I love this ink! There is so much sheen and shading and I'm using a relatively fine (albeit quite wet) nib. It's close to Noodler's Forest Green but has that je ne sais quoi that makes me go "wow! nice ink!" when I write.

[GHCToolman]

I really like it. Thanks for the review.