Ink Review: Diamine Red Dragon

[Chrissy]

I have decided to review some of my favourite inks. These aren't necessarily in any particular order.

This one is Diamine Red Dragon.

Red Dragon is a saturated dark red ink. I think it's an excellent, less pink, alternative for Montblanc Hitchcock, and in fact it's more saturated than Hitchcock.

I found it had excellent flow through my pens and lubrication was really smooth across the page. It was a pleasure to write with. I didn't experience and hard starts or skipping while I left the uncapped pens on the desk and did my swab tests and ink comparison tests.

Red Dragon is quite a wet ink and can show through on some cheaper papers.


Bearing in mind the paper I use is very smooth, and the nib was a wet stub, this ink took 25-30 secs to dry.
It flows wet and lubricates the nib very well. Smooth to write with across the paper.
Water test on the review form shows this isn't a waterproof ink.
It is currently available in 30ml plastic bottles and 80ml glass bottles.
Diamine (http://www.diamineinks.co.uk/) sell it directly to end-users on their web-site.
It's a reasonable price.


52555

[sgtstretch]

Ooh, I kinda like that!

[Neo]

Thank you Chrissy for all your work with the ink reviews, they are very comprenhensive.

[Chrissy]

Thank you Chrissy for all your work with the ink reviews, they are very comprenhensive.

Thank you Neo. I hope they help.

I wish I could have been clever enough to draw a red dragon with it.

[inlovewithjournals]

I am in search of a muted red and this is a beautiful example. Thank you!

[Jon Szanto]

Not long after starting into pens I did a personal "shoot-out" of reds. This is the red I settled on. It is my go-to, there is always one pen inked with it, and I've not found any reason to look further. Good review of a good ink.

[klpeabody]

Thanks, Chrissy! I was a latecomer to this offering from Diamine, but once I used it, I fell in love with it.

[Lady Onogaro]

I love this color! Thank you for the review.

[mustud52]

It works for me as well.

[camerlos6120]

This is a nice saturated red.

[Winnie]

I have a sample of this, now I can't wait to use it in my dark pen. It looks like a great match!

[jde]

Brava, Chrissy! Looking forward to reading more about your favorite inks.

[Cob]

I have decided to review some of my favourite inks. These aren't necessarily in any particular order.

This one is Diamine Red Dragon. I think it's a good alternative for Montblanc Hitchcock, and in fact it's more saturated.


Water test on the review form shows this isn't a waterproof ink.




Bearing in mind the paper I use is very smooth, and the nib was a wet stub, this ink took 16-18 secs to dry.


It flows wet and lubricates the nib quite well. I forgot to wipe the nib before I started writing and the first word (Xerox) spread badly.


It is currently available in 30ml plastic bottles and 80ml glass bottles.


Diamine (http://www.diamineinks.co.uk/) sell it directly to end-users on their web-site.


It's a reasonable price.

17100
Alternative papers used for comparisons. 1) Oxford Ruled, 2) Rhodia Dot Pad, 3)Seven Seas Writer, Tomoe River
17101


Looks pretty close to Ox blood to me Chrissy.

Cob

[mustud52]

Looks pretty close to Ox blood to me Chrissy.

Cob

I think it is a happier and friendlier shade than Ox blood. I find Ox blood rather depressing. The sort of ink you use if you are a banker sending a letter to a client telling them you are going to foreclose.

[Chrissy]

Looks pretty close to Ox blood to me Chrissy.

Cob

No it isn't really. It's much brighter and more red. It seems to look darker than it really is on the alternative papers.

If you've seen Monaco Red, I would say it's somewhere between that and Oxblood.

I will compare the colour shades on the alternative papers with those on the review form to see if they are the same.

Edit: I checked them both, and I don't think I had done the contrast adjustment on the additional papers. I have done it now. and uploaded it again

[Jon Szanto]

I agree. When I did my "dark red with gravitas" personal shoot-out, with about 15 reds, Oxblood was both depressing and morbidly ugly. I chalked it up to too much brown in it, which made it seem like dirt mixed with blood. Ick. Red Dragon gives me seriosity and depth without gore.

[Jeph]

I agree. When I did my "dark red with gravitas" personal shoot-out, with about 15 reds, Oxblood was both depressing and morbidly ugly. I chalked it up to too much brown in it, which made it seem like dirt mixed with blood. Ick. Red Dragon gives me seriosity and depth without gore.

I think that describes the ink perfectly. It is my favorite red also, even though it does not get along well with my Franklin-Christoph needlepoint. I works wonderfully in everything else.

[Chrissy]

Could comparing Red Dragon and Oxblood be almost like comparing the difference between the colour of arterial blood and old dried up blood?

[mustud52]

Could comparing Red Dragon and Oxblood be almost like comparing the difference between the colour of arterial blood and old dried up blood?

Not bad, not bad.

[Ste_S]

I agree. When I did my "dark red with gravitas" personal shoot-out, with about 15 reds, Oxblood was both depressing and morbidly ugly. I chalked it up to too much brown in it, which made it seem like dirt mixed with blood. Ick. Red Dragon gives me seriosity and depth without gore.

Depth and gore you say ? Sold me on Oxblood ;)

[Chrissy]

I agree. When I did my "dark red with gravitas" personal shoot-out, with about 15 reds, Oxblood was both depressing and morbidly ugly. I chalked it up to too much brown in it, which made it seem like dirt mixed with blood. Ick. Red Dragon gives me seriosity and depth without gore.

"Dirt mixed with blood" sounds like the shade of Oxblood I have seen so far in a swab test. I haven't reviewed it yet, but I used it as a comparison ink for Red Dragon, and found it much darker. I have it to review, but I just know I won't like it as much as Red Dragon or Burgundy Rose.

Has anyone compared Oxblood with Montblanc Leonardo Red Chalk? They look sort of similar

[rdcalhoon]

I like the Red Dragon sample I tried. When I finally finish my bottles of Diamine Crimson (lighter), Private Reserve Fiesta Red (similar), and/or Rohner & Klingner Morinda (lighter), I will probably buy a bottle.

[cwent2]

Chrissy, great review, encouraged me to fill a pen with it last night! I agree - nice ink

Thank you for the review!

[Xina]

Thank you for the nice ink reviews! So many of them, too. I like this Red Dragon; it's very close to my Diamine Matador, only I think the Matador is a bit more alive, his blood is wetter. More pink, maybe. Both are quite nice, though.

Diamine seems to have many similar ink colors, but I guess with ~120 colors they would have to have similar ones.

Keep up the good review work. I might have to try doing one as a justification for having so many colors.

[Chrissy]

Thank you for the nice ink reviews! So many of them, too. I like this Red Dragon; it's very close to my Diamine Matador, only I think the Matador is a bit more alive, his blood is wetter. More pink, maybe. Both are quite nice, though.

Diamine seems to have many similar ink colors, but I guess with ~120 colors they would have to have similar ones.

Keep up the good review work. I might have to try doing one as a justification for having so many colors.

I think that Matador is somewhat lighter. I might be able to do a comparison though, because I think I might have almost one ml of Matador kicking around somewhere.

[Chrissy]

Now I have tried it, Red Dragon is going to be a firm favourite of mine.

There are some Diamine inks I would buy in 80ml bottles rather than 30ml bottles. This is one of them.

[Chrissy]

Here's a quick comparison between Red Dragon and Matador.

Matador is lighter and less saturated.

17152

[mustud52]

Red Dragon has been in my pens for the last 2 days. A cheery colour for when I make profound comments (delusion can be a comfort).

[Cob]

Thank you Chrissy for all your work with the ink reviews, they are very comprehensive.

Seconded

Cob

[pelo20000]

Such a nice review. I should get a ink review book and start doing the same. Thank you!

[Pterodactylus]

https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/259fb5e6-8a21-42f5-a528-43fbc5b86e8d/dcrq73e-66af6d78-b066-4878-9650-470caefd6e30.jpg (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Quote-Walt-Disney-772165994)
Quote Walt Disney (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Quote-Walt-Disney-772165994) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus) on DeviantArt

(Jinhao 159 - M italic ..... Diamine Red Dragon)


https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/259fb5e6-8a21-42f5-a528-43fbc5b86e8d/dcrq2uq-d9121fa4-dc55-4ce5-ad0f-e76ebb0a8a8f.jpg (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Harley-Quinn-772160498)
Harley Quinn (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Harley-Quinn-772160498) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus) on DeviantArt

(Diamine Red Dragon)


https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/259fb5e6-8a21-42f5-a528-43fbc5b86e8d/dcrq2v0-a3c14a41-dcad-41ca-8bd6-496f41f3cce7.jpg (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Quote-Confucius-772160508)
Quote Confucius (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Quote-Confucius-772160508) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus) on DeviantArt

(Jinhao 159 - M Italic ..... Diamine Red Dragon)


https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/259fb5e6-8a21-42f5-a528-43fbc5b86e8d/dcrmj9a-01316981-e28a-4818-acc9-70eeaa41cf0a.jpg (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Quote-Dr-Suess-771995134)
Quote Dr. Suess (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Quote-Dr-Suess-771995134) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus) on DeviantArt

(Diamine Red Dragon, Dip Nib, Pentel Waterbrush)


https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/259fb5e6-8a21-42f5-a528-43fbc5b86e8d/dcrcl4u-d6144088-5514-4af2-840e-e212ffd34622.jpg (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Red-Dragon-771531006)
Red Dragon (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus/art/Red-Dragon-771531006) by Ptero Pterodactylus (https://www.deviantart.com/ptero-pterodactylus) on DeviantArt

(Waterman 12 1/2 BCHR ..... Diamine Red Dragon)

[RuiFromUK]

Thank you Chrissy.

Having read this review I have just ordered a 80ml bottle of this ink. I was looking for a nice deep red ink for my red Caran d'Ache Geneve fountain pen and I did not want anything close to pink.

[Chrissy]

Thank you Chrissy.

Having read this review I have just ordered a 80ml bottle of this ink. I was looking for a nice deep red ink for my red Caran d'Ache Geneve fountain pen and I did not want anything close to pink.
You're welcome and I hope you enjoy writing with it. :)

[arrow]

Is it more red than Oxblood? Oxblood turned out a bit to brownish, and I need a dark red.

[Chrissy]

Is it more red than Oxblood? Oxblood turned out a bit to brownish, and I need a dark red.
Yes Red Dragon is more red than Oxblood. I've reviewed Oxblood (http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/11002-Ink-Review-Diamine-Oxblood) and it's quite a lot browner. Like blood that has dried after several days.
Syrah and Burgundy Royale are darker.

[arrow]

Thanks a lot Chrissy. I just bought Burgundy Rose a few days ago, but I like the large 80 ml bottles that last a while. I just have to try Red Dragon. On my computer screen your oxblood test turns out less brown than on my paper.

[TSherbs]

Is it more red than Oxblood? Oxblood turned out a bit to brownish, and I need a dark red.
Yes Red Dragon is more red than Oxblood. I've reviewed Oxblood (http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/11002-Ink-Review-Diamine-Oxblood) and it's quite a lot browner. Like blood that has dried after several days.


Agreed. I grade school papers with Red Dragon. Great ink, great red.



Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk

[tde44]

Just loaded up an EF pen with it and the ink flows well and is beautiful on all papers - even plain copy paper with the EF nib. It's now my new favorite red.

[Jon Szanto]

It is kind of funny when old threads keep popping up, but it certainly is warranted with Red Dragon. This is one of the very first inks I ever did a 'shoot-out' with, picking up a number of samples of reds and trying to decide. That was almost 10 years ago and RD remains my favorite red ink. I've never had issues with it and it looks great, very red but not perky and cheerful! Always a go-to.

[arrow]

I have been using Red Dragon for a bit now, it behaves well in pens, but for dip nibs I need to be careful. I like the red color, it comes of as a nice dark red. I may need to add yet another red.