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View Full Version : Ink Review: Graf von Faber-Castell Deep Sea Green



Chrissy
June 24th, 2016, 08:56 AM
Today I'm reviewing a new ink that I have just received. Graf von Faber-Castell Deep Sea Green.

This was the previous new addition to the G.v.F.C family before they issued their latest colour, Violet Blue. It's been out of stock for a short time, so that's why I didn't manage to review it before I went on holiday to Florida.

The first thing I must mention about this ink is the absolutely fabulous bottle. It's based on an Art Deco design, and I think it is the best of all of the ink bottles I have, and those of you who know me will know that I have a few. :bounce:
This bottle is sophisticated and sumptuous, so heavy, and as steady as a rock, so that it will never accidentally tip over. Even for clumsy people like me. The cap goes on tightly and solidly and fits the bottle cap like a glove. So you don't get so much messy and wasted ink around the glass bottle threads, or inside the cap threads. No ink was was in those threads anywhere when I received my bottle in the mail. I'm quite picky about keeping the tops and caps of my ink bottles clean, so this one saves me the effort of wiping it when I use it. I suppose that weight of the bottle does make it more expensive to ship anywhere, but in my humble opinion it is so worth it. Also, this bottle holds a huge 75ml of ink, so it's much bigger than many others on the market.

Now I've admired the bottle so much, let me talk about the Deep Sea Green ink. I really like the colour. It's like a greyish/blue-green teal. It's bluer than Pelikan Edelstein Aquamarine, and is a cooler colour. However, it fits it's name very well. It may not be the most saturated ink, but it's not at all watery in use, and it has lots of great shading and some natural sheen. I found drying time relatively slow by comparison to some other inks I've recently reviewed, but I didn't find that a problem. It performs very well. Feeling smooth and lubricated when flowing from the nib onto the paper. It was a pleasure to write with as it feels reasonably wet while you write, and I like that in an ink.

Edited: According to the information I have read about Graf von Faber-Castell inks, they are all indelible and waterproof. My water test just managed to smudge it a little.

Bearing in mind the 100gsm paper I use is thick with a shiny surface, and I used a Pilot M nib, and a Lamy 1.1mm nib, this ink took 20-22 secs to dry. This dry time was reduced on different papers.

It flows through the pen very well and lubricates the nib very well. I saw no skips or hard starts while I did swabs and dry time tests.

It is currently available in 75ml glass bottles and International sized cartridges.

Within the UK it usually sells at £25 in many online outlets.

52410

SIR
June 24th, 2016, 10:46 AM
I recently acquired this ink too, I can agree it is a very wet ink - it flows out of my brush pen like water.

Apparently it is certified for permanence to ISO 12575-2; so, indelible, if not actually waterproof, for all practical intents and purposes.

Anne
June 24th, 2016, 02:22 PM
Thank You for doing this review. This ink was on my buy list and will stay there as a result of your review. Like SIR mentioned, it is supposed to be an indelible ink, but other reviews I have
seen also mention that it does not go as far as being waterproof. I originally thought when I read on Graf von Faber Castell's site that the ink was "document proofed" that it meant Waterproof.
In addition, I remember that a few of the inks, I believe Hazelnut was one, that said it was only light fast and now I see that every ink on their site is listed as document proof. What??!
A formula change since I visited their site maybe?
I guess there are degrees of indelible - ness?

Chrissy
June 24th, 2016, 03:06 PM
Well it certainly smudged as shown when I placed a blob of water on there, and i left it on there for a couple of minutes. It's very close to waterproof looking at the dots in the centre, but it did smudge. Maybe it is waterproof or indelible, or both?

Anne
June 24th, 2016, 03:52 PM
Well, I will have to get it at some point:). It's just weird that a few of their inks that were not specified as document proof, now are. Now they have gone and stretched my list for more of their inks!

SIR
November 26th, 2017, 07:34 AM
Random update: i just finished a fill of this ink which had been in a pen for the longer part of a year if not more, and it flushed out in about three turns - unbelievable, absolutely clean, no residue!

Chrissy
November 26th, 2017, 07:39 AM
Random update: i just finished a fill of this ink which had been in a pen for the longer part of a year if not more, and it flushed out in about three turns - unbelievable, absolutely clean, no residue!

Thanks for that. It's always worth knowing which inks clean out of pens quickly. :thumb: