Ink Review: Diamine 150th Anniversary Ink: 1864 Blue-Black

[Chrissy]

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

This one is from the latest Diamine 150th Anniversary inks 1864 Blue-Black. It's quite a saturated blue-black shade compared with Waterman Mysterious Blue. To my eyes it seems to contain more black than some other blue-blacks I have seen


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 medium, this ink took 16-18 secs to dry


It flows reasonably wet, and lubricates the nib OK.


It is currently available in 40ml cake slice shaped glass bottles.


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

18017

[The Good Captain]

This is a wonderful dark blue-black ink and probably my favourite of the 150th series. I liked it as soon as I saw and used it which is always a good sign!

[Chrissy]

This is a wonderful dark blue-black ink and probably my favourite of the 150th series. I liked it as soon as I saw and used it which is always a good sign!
Is it darker than the standard Diamine Blue-Black?

[klpeabody]

Ooh, this is a nice one. Thanks for the comparison to Mont Blanc Blue-Black (or Mont Blanc Midnight Blue, whichever). The first thing I thought when seeing your scan was that it reminds me very much of MB Midnight Blue, although Diamine seems more blue/black less grey. Both are still outstanding, IMHO.

[The Good Captain]

This is a wonderful dark blue-black ink and probably my favourite of the 150th series. I liked it as soon as I saw and used it which is always a good sign!
Is it darker than the standard Diamine Blue-Black?

Yes - I would say considerably darker. In some lighting conditions, it does appear black.

[Chrissy]

Ooh, this is a nice one. Thanks for the comparison to Mont Blanc Blue-Black (or Mont Blanc Midnight Blue, whichever). The first thing I thought when seeing your scan was that it reminds me very much of MB Midnight Blue, although Diamine seems more blue/black less grey. Both are still outstanding, IMHO.
Thanks for your comments. The bottle of Mb blue-black that I have is simply labelled 149. It's the older type of shoe bottle, and it came in my large square 149 box. That's the older, floppy black velvet, lined box type, not the latest white faux suede, spongy lining, type. The bottle's only label says 149 ink and as it isn't black, I knew it had to be blue-black because those are the only two inks that were ever labelled 149. Does that mean it's the one before Midnight Blue?

[klpeabody]

Ooh, this is a nice one. Thanks for the comparison to Mont Blanc Blue-Black (or Mont Blanc Midnight Blue, whichever). The first thing I thought when seeing your scan was that it reminds me very much of MB Midnight Blue, although Diamine seems more blue/black less grey. Both are still outstanding, IMHO.
Thanks for your comments. The bottle of Mb blue-black that I have is simply labelled 149. It's the older type of shoe bottle, and it came in my large square 149 box. That's the older, floppy black velvet, lined box type, not the latest white faux suede, spongy lining, type. The bottle's only label says 149 ink and as it isn't black, I knew it had to be blue-black because those are the only two inks that were ever labelled 149. Does that mean it's the one before Midnight Blue?

I'm not an expert on these things, but that would be my guess too. =)

[ceebert]

It is available in international short cartridges, and feathers minimally on copier paper, so now I can use metal Kawecos at work. In F/XF nibs, it passes for black only until you compare it to a ballpoint, when the presence and flash come through.
Really, what DOESN’T look good compared to a ballpoint? My dog looks better than a ballpoint, and he’s a dog! See? Q.E.D. And great ink.

Note: This past week, I’ve been auditioning big nibs for an italic grind - far larger than I would normally use at work - and even in a Broad Kaweco #5, this ink feathered on supergarbagecopier paper LESS than Aurora Black. A really very quite special case, but impressive.