Help me find a blue black

[stub]

Okay.

I am looking for a Blue Black and having a devil of a time.

WAY TOO MANY UGLY TEALS BEING CALLED BLUE BLACK OUT THERE.

The good

Platinum. I like the stuff a lot but it is way too dry for a few of my pens. It is a nice IG Blue that starts out a bit dusty and with lots of blue and dries and ages to a nice color. A really really nice ink and great in my Parker Vac and my juicy Sheaffer Statesman and a few of my wetter pens and better flow than many IG inks but not optimal in a few of my pens.

Montblanc JFK. Sweet baby Jesus I love this ink and would buy it by the gallon where it not limited. But yeah. It is limited. grrr.

Pelikan Tanzanite. GREAT color. GREAT GREAT GREAT. Pretty good flow (for Pelikan, an ink brand I do not get along with) but zero lubrication. I am mystified by claims this has lubriation. Flow, sure, lube, none. A truly handsome ink but like writing with water.

The bad

All them awful hideous teals. Blue Black not Blue Green. Sickly ugly Blue Green. Yuk.

Pilot Irosihzuku Tsuki-yo
Great on the internet. Total yawn in meat-space.

Pilot Blue Black
Not bad really but a tad too dusty and light. I used a lot of this over the years but really do find it dusty.

Everything Diamine
Love Diamine but have yet to see a Blue Black of theirs I liked. The 1382 (whatever) anniversary BB was pretty much weak black. Their standard blue black is puke inducing. Exception: Chopin from the music set. I will buy this if I ever see it. Looks quite a bit like JFK in fact.

Sheaffer, okay… meh. I'll use it till it is empty.

So you see I like Chopin, MB JFK, Tanzanite you see the area I am in, blue-y blue blacks with a bit of saturation, not too dusty, not charcoal black with zero perceptible blue in it and as little teal/green as humanly possible. Now I want that ink to flow well, clean up well (JFK and Tanzanite clean up very well), with decent lubrication and READILY AVAILABLE.

Tanzanite is really close for me. If it had any lube at all my search would be over. Ackerman #10 looks great but is not available in these parts.

IG BlBlk 4001, which I can still get here is just hell. I really don't know how anyone can write with that juice. Weak. Dry. No thanks.

Suggestions?

[migo984]

Sailor Jentle Blue Black perhaps?

[stub]

Sailor Jentle Blue Black perhaps?

I tried this ink and it shocked me. I ordinarily love Sailor inks. But this was a chalky blue and hardly a blue black at all and unusually low saturation. I really expected to like it and for the first time in my life was disappointed with a sailor ink. I could not get it out of my pen fast enough.

[migo984]

Sailor Jentle Blue Black perhaps?

I tried this ink and it shocked me. I ordinarily love Sailor inks. But this was a chalky blue and hardly a blue black at all and unusually low saturation. I really expected to like it and for the first time in my life was disappointed with a sailor ink. I could not get it out of my pen fast enough.

Hmmmm, well that's strange. My Blue-Black is a nice, wet dark, dark blue, with just a tint of black. Exactly as I think a blue-black should look. Agree it's not the most saturated of Sailor inks, but as most are super-saturated the comparison seems rather meaningless. And mine is a long way from "chalky".

I have a lot of Sailor inks & this is up there with some of the best. But as you've tried it, and don't like it, I guess your search goes on........

[naimitsu]

I tried this ink and it shocked me. I ordinarily love Sailor inks. But this was a chalky blue and hardly a blue black at all and unusually low saturation. I really expected to like it and for the first time in my life was disappointed with a sailor ink. I could not get it out of my pen fast enough.

I had the same reaction to the regular Jentle Blue. And like you, I'm usually a huge fan of Sailor inks!
It also didn't help that the ink smell was so strong t hat I couldn't use it. That's why I gave away my bottle of Diamine Sargasso Sea. Too inky smelling for me, and that wasn't nearly as pungent as the Jentle Blue!

I've been on the hunt for a Blue-Black that I don't hate as well.
So far my failures have been:
Diamine 1864 Blue-Black
Pilot Iroshizuku Shin Kai
de Atramentis Ferdinand von Zeppilin
de Atramentis Giuseppe Verdi

Though there have been a few that I did like:
Montblanc Blue Hour
Montblanc Tolstoy (I know it's supposed to be a sky blue, but it looks blue-black to me out of a Pilot VP EF)

I'm tempted to try a few more darker blues in my EFs to see if it does the same thing as my Tolstoy.

[jodylud]

Noodler's '54th Massachusetts'

[RocketRyan]

I like the Lamy one, seems to do what it says on the tin.

[Pterodactylus]

I do not agree with you Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black is IMO a great ink (one of my all time favorites) proved itˋs qualities over decades.
Imo one of "the standard" inks.
IMO it is not much different than Tanzanite color wise and also from its behavior.
Tanzanite might be a little bit wetter, but beside of that......
And of course 4001 is much cheaper or let me say it the other way around, not overpriced.

But ok opinions are different.

You could try ESS Registrars Blue-Black another all time favorite (IG) ink of mine.

[migo984]

Noodler's '54th Massachusetts'

54th Mass. can be very naughty in storage. Here are 2 pics. The top swab was taken on receipt of bottle. The second taken 5 months later. As is recommended for many Noodler's inks I shook the bottle vigorously in case of settlement, but it made no difference :(

Lots of people love it though, despite its reputation :)

28508

[naimitsu]

Noodler's '54th Massachusetts'

54th Mass. can be very naughty in storage. Here are 2 pics. The top swab was taken on receipt of bottle. The second taken 5 months later. As is recommended for many Noodler's inks I shook the bottle vigorously in case of settlement, but it made no difference :(

Lots of people love it though, despite its reputation :)


There are people who still love Noodler's BSB despite it's reputation as well!
Noodler's is a very polarizing brand... so I'm just gonna walk away slowly now ;)

[Mister5]

I know you said you don't like Diamine, but have you tried Diamine Registrar's Blue Black?

[migo984]

Noodler's '54th Massachusetts'

54th Mass. can be very naughty in storage. Here are 2 pics. The top swab was taken on receipt of bottle. The second taken 5 months later. As is recommended for many Noodler's inks I shook the bottle vigorously in case of settlement, but it made no difference :(

Lots of people love it though, despite its reputation :)


There are people who still love Noodler's BSB despite it's reputation as well!
Noodler's is a very polarizing brand... so I'm just gonna walk away slowly now ;)

Reputation is one thing, but actual experience of poor quality is another. I don't mind "quirky" but I do like my inks to stay the colour they were when I bought them! :)

[naimitsu]

Noodler's '54th Massachusetts'

54th Mass. can be very naughty in storage. Here are 2 pics. The top swab was taken on receipt of bottle. The second taken 5 months later. As is recommended for many Noodler's inks I shook the bottle vigorously in case of settlement, but it made no difference :(

Lots of people love it though, despite its reputation :)


There are people who still love Noodler's BSB despite it's reputation as well!
Noodler's is a very polarizing brand... so I'm just gonna walk away slowly now ;)

Reputation is one thing, but actual experience of poor quality is another. I don't mind "quirky" but I do like my inks to stay the colour they were when I bought them! :)

Oh, I agree with you on that!
Though your comparison did clear up why my 54th sample looked sad when I got around to sampling it. It did darken slightly in the pen when I let it sit for a month, but not nearly to the original color!

[Mister5]

Noodler's '54th Massachusetts'

54th Mass. can be very naughty in storage. Here are 2 pics. The top swab was taken on receipt of bottle. The second taken 5 months later. As is recommended for many Noodler's inks I shook the bottle vigorously in case of settlement, but it made no difference :(

Lots of people love it though, despite its reputation :)


There are people who still love Noodler's BSB despite it's reputation as well!
Noodler's is a very polarizing brand... so I'm just gonna walk away slowly now ;)

Reputation is one thing, but actual experience of poor quality is another. I don't mind "quirky" but I do like my inks to stay the colour they were when I bought them! :)

Oh, I agree with you on that!
Though your comparison did clear up why my 54th sample looked sad when I got around to sampling it. It did darken slightly in the pen when I let it sit for a month, but not nearly to the original color!

I've experienced the same thing with 54th Mass - it was exactly how it should be when I got it but now it's a little bit washed out, and has that damn green/teal thing going that you don't like (and I don't like).

I'll say that Platinum Blue Black looks just like a plain old blue ink in a medium Platinum nib but in an extra fine it looks like a good blue black - I'm using the Platinum cartridges on those.

I love Pelikan Tanzanite but the price is a bit steep.

[notsim]

what about diamine registrars ink?

[KrazyIvan]

Oddly enough, I enjoy teal blue blacks. Waterman mysterious blue, Montblanc blue hour are my favorites. I have bottle of Lamy Blue Black that I purchased a few years back before they changed the formula but it did not do it for me. What I've found is that those chalky blue blacks look nicer in a wet fine nib. Since I prefer 1.1 mm, they come out chalky.

[Dr.Danger]

I like Lamy's, but I use fine and medium nibs. Maybe b and bb look different.

[jcgara]

Try mixing Pelikan Blue-Black and Pelikan Royal Blue 1 to 1; it's a bluer blue black and isn't as grey as Pel BB.

[EHV]

I love Edelstein Tanzanite and MB JFK as well.

I think a try of Lamy's Blue/Black is worth it. I've had different performance in different pens and it may work for you.

Otherwise, perhaps an odd recommendation but......KWZ Iron Gall Turquoise. If you can wait just a while after application, I think that you may get what you want. Good flow and decent lubrication too. No issues with cleaning for me either.

Here is an excellent review of it.

http://penhabit.com/2015/11/18/ink-spot-kwz-iron-gall-turquoise/

[stub]

[QUOTE=migo984;190478]Sailor Jentle Blue Black perhaps?

I have a lot of Sailor inks & this is up there with some of the best. But as you've tried it, and don't like it, I guess your search goes on........

Actually, and this is embarrassing. I am totally misremembering. It was Sailor blue that looked all washed out.

It turns out that, believe it or not (I have sooooo many Sailor inks). I have not actually tried their Blue Black.

So that goes on the list.


I have tried the Diamine Reg. ink. Nice ink, but the flow is the same really or less than the Platinum IG ink so that is a lateral move. I am looking for a Blue Black that is a true (subjective as that is) Blue-black-esque color but NOT IG.

So the Sailor goes to the top of the list to try next. Strong candidate indeed.

I did also try the Anniversary Blue Black. Great flow and lubrication but really this was a dark charcoal ink, way too dark for me. Much as I like those Anniversary triangles the Blue Black was given away after a few fills. If I want something that dark i go with Oxford or Take Sumi or just black.

FPN Starry night was another Blue Black that had great flow and lubrication but was just a few clicks shy on the the color wheel from being pretty much straight up black.

The reason I like Tanzanite and MB Navy Blue is that is has some blue in it.

No teals, no blacks and I am set with my IG ink (Platinum, overlooked imo) I am looking for a non IG Blue black that is genuinely bluish black.

Sailor looks like a strong candidate as does Akkerman #10 but I can't get that here.

Sorry for all the 4001 Blue Black lovers. I don't like that ink. Never have, never will. I didn't like it 30 years ago, I don't like it now. The color is okay (though not as nice as Tanzanite, which is darker and even sheens a little) but that ink just has nasty nib feel and too reluctant flow. In fact I like the Platinum as much or better than the old MB IG ink or the 4001. So if I am going IG, i'll just use that lovely ink.

[grainweevil]

I have tried the Diamine Reg. ink. Nice ink, but the flow is the same really or less than the Platinum IG ink so that is a lateral move. I am looking for a Blue Black that is a true (subjective as that is) Blue-black-esque color but NOT IG.

<snippage>

Sailor looks like a strong candidate as does Akkerman #10 but I can't get that here.

I believe Akkerman #10 is also an IG. And I agree about Platinum BB; a tragically under-appreciated ink. I wonder if adding a surfactant to it is a possibility?

[Pterodactylus]

I have tried the Diamine Reg. ink. Nice ink, but the flow is the same really or less than the Platinum IG ink so that is a lateral move. I am looking for a Blue Black that is a true (subjective as that is) Blue-black-esque color but NOT IG.

<snippage>

Sailor looks like a strong candidate as does Akkerman #10 but I can't get that here.

I believe Akkerman #10 is also an IG. And I agree about Platinum BB; a tragically under-appreciated ink. I wonder if adding a surfactant to it is a possibility?

It is an IG ink and very similar to the Diamine Registrars.... as it is manufactured by Diamine.

[The Good Captain]

Shame you don't like 4001 Blue-Black, but good in a way. All the more available for me.
I like a mix of Aurora Blue:Aurora Black at about 3:1. I might try 4:1 for the next batch, just to give a little more lightness.

[sgtstretch]

I like Sailor Blue Black, and I'm trying out Sailor Kobe #7, and really like it too. Iro Shin-Kai is also pretty nice.

[stub]

Looks like I'll stick to my Platinum for my wet pens and try Sailor for the stingier pens or just finish out this Pelikan Tanzanite, which really is a nice color. I just figured with all the Blue Blacks out there there had to be a good easy flowing "genuine" looking non IG Blue Black out there.

The Sailor might work out. Looks good in reviews, but then so did the Iroshizuku Blue black(s) and I didn't like those at all in real life. I have no idea but Shin-kai just look like it is somehow missing something. Really hard to put my finger on it but I was pretty excited to see it on line and underwhelmed in real life. But Iroshizuku isn't readily available here anyway. I brought my Asa-gao back from Japan.

I still have about 10mls of Shin-kai maybe I should try again.

I didn't know the Akkerman #10 is IG. Certainly looks different than Diamine Reg. ink. TAS over on FPN had a good example of it and it looked darker.

Thanks all..

(If only they sill made old Parker Blue-Black with Solv-x haha)


http://inkymadness.tk/Parker/Blue-Black%20with%20Solv-X%202.jpg

[stub]

(might also try Lamy, that is VERY available here)

[KKay]

Sheaffer Skrip Blue Black (I haven't tried it), Diamine-Oxford Blue...I know you said Diamine blues don't do it for ya, but this is a newer one. I had a sample of Oxford Blue, but it didn't seem like a "buy" for me. I happen to love Diamine-Blue Velvet. These might've been discussed already. If so, sorry about that. For a darker blue, I really like Diamine-Midnight. So you probably already saw the 3 Diamine inks I mentioned. I like Waterman Blue Black...but I hear it will fade over time. My ink has not turned teal at all.

[stub]

Sheaffer Skrip Blue Black (I haven't tried it)

Decent budget choice. A little off color wise but have used it off and on. Currently have it in a desk pen. I oddly really like Skrip Blue, which is a nice no fuss budget medium blue with decent flow and lubrication and in a wet pen and good paper will even sheen a little. But I don't love Skip Blue-black. It isn't terrible though.



Diamine-Oxford Blue...I know you said Diamine blues don't do it for ya, but this is a newer one. I had a sample of Oxford Blue, but it didn't seem like a "buy" for me.

I used Oxford blue all summer. Not a bad ink but not at all a blue black and indeed not a pure blue either. Looks bluer in reviews than in real life where it definitely has a lot of green. A nice classy ink though with a lot of punch. But not anywhere near blue black so I am somewhat confused about why you bring it up.



I happen to love Diamine-Blue Velvet.
I do too. One of my most used inks. Always in some pens. Wish it came in the 80ml bottles. But again, not a Blue-black so I am confused why it is here.



I really like Diamine-Midnight. So you probably already saw the 3 Diamine inks I mentioned. I like Waterman Blue Black...but I hear it will fade over time. My ink has not turned teal at all.

I like midnight as well. It is my laxative ink and used in my most stingy pens.

I want so bad to like Waterman Blue Black. God knows I adore Fl. Blue and probably have moved through more bottles of it than anything else. But the Waterman Blue Black is a weak tea indeed.

[KKay]

Maybe it depends on your pen, ink, and paper. The inks I mentioned look blue-black to me. Maybe I was using a wider nib than you. I looked these up for you. I can't help you with more choices. In some pens some of them aren't as blue black, in other pens the inks I mentioned do look blue black to me. I would've said Noodler's-Navy just for the heck of it, but once again, I guess it depends on the pen. I haven't tried that, but I've seen samples of it online. Some look much darker than others. I am sorry that I couldn't help you more, but I tried.

[stub]

Thanks all. Thanks Kkay. I'll try Sailor and see how that is.

[Sammyo]

I have to say that Sailor Jentle Blue-Black is my goto. Every time I've used it (cartridges and bottles) it has been a rich colour with some sheen to it. It is actually the ink that stopped me going crazy over "COLOURFUL" inks and appreciate a good writing colour with great performance.
(However, everybody's experience is different and others may disagree and that is OK ;) )

[Woody]

Stub. . Expensive but you'd love Bung box 4B. Great stuff.

[Chrissy]

I like Diamine Midnight. That's not a teal blue-black like Twilight is, and it's quite similar to Mb JFK.

I prefer dark and really dark blues rather than blue-blacks, and Midnight fits the bill for me. :)

Also Diamine Regency Blue goes darker in many of my pens after a week.

[Jon Szanto]

This might be a bit odd, but a few weeks ago I got the bug to buy one of those "coke bottles" of Pilot Blue-Black. 350ml for $22.00. I had never thought of the ink before I was at the last pen show and Dan Smith was using it for his pen work. Took a pen home with the ink in it and... I actually like it. It reminds me of the Sailor Jentle b/b as well, or any other basic, middle-of-the-road b/b. And then, just the other night, I decided to test it next to Namiki Blue, which has been a go-to ink for me when I have any concern about water-resistance. Sure enough, though not advertised, this ink does remarkably well under running water!

So, I've got enough ink to last for a long, long time, and it will be really handy when working on pen restores, because the cost-per-ml is so low yet is still a good ink, that I don't even give it a thought. You might try getting a sample (hit me up if you want some) and decide before you buy the big bottle. I didn't look, but I'm sure it's available in smaller, though probably not the same bargain.

And, hey, if you're feeling swank, I can 2nd the vote for Bungubox 4B, a really nice ink.

[stub]

I'd love to try Bungbox 4B and Sapphire but I live in Korea, the land that fountain pens forgot. But 4B looks really nice as do many of the bungbox inks. If I ever get to Japan again I will be sure to try to pick up a couple. I also like the looks for Omaezaki Sea and the Piano Mahogany and a few others. Alas ... maybe someday.

[stub]

Also Diamine Regency Blue goes darker in many of my pens after a week.

Glad to know this is not just me. hah!

[Brilliant Bill]

While it's not listed as a "blue black" per se, I've found the only ink I consider a true blue-black is...

R & K Leipziger Schwarz

It's considered a black ink, but what I see is an extremely dark, pure blue-black.

I wanted a blue-black like this for my Sailor KOP, and I did a lot of research and ran a lot of so called blue-black inks through the pen. Nothing even came close to what I was looking for. The R &K finally hit the mark for me.

[naimitsu]

This might be a bit odd, but a few weeks ago I got the bug to buy one of those "coke bottles" of Pilot Blue-Black. 350ml for $22.00. I had never thought of the ink before I was at the last pen show and Dan Smith was using it for his pen work. Took a pen home with the ink in it and... I actually like it. It reminds me of the Sailor Jentle b/b as well, or any other basic, middle-of-the-road b/b. And then, just the other night, I decided to test it next to Namiki Blue, which has been a go-to ink for me when I have any concern about water-resistance. Sure enough, though not advertised, this ink does remarkably well under running water!

So, I've got enough ink to last for a long, long time, and it will be really handy when working on pen restores, because the cost-per-ml is so low yet is still a good ink, that I don't even give it a thought. You might try getting a sample (hit me up if you want some) and decide before you buy the big bottle. I didn't look, but I'm sure it's available in smaller, though probably not the same bargain.

And, hey, if you're feeling swank, I can 2nd the vote for Bungubox 4B, a really nice ink.

So I had to go look up what you meant by "coke bottles"... I'm assuming you meant this: http://www.japanpen.com/product/101 ?
If so, they're pretty cool.

And I have an unopened bottle of 4B... sounds like I need to crack that open and fill a pen ;)

[Jon Szanto]

So I had to go look up what you meant by "coke bottles"... I'm assuming you meant this: http://www.japanpen.com/product/101 ?

Yep. I got one off Amazon. I can share with friends, include a sample vial with pens that get sold, etc. Pretty good value if you have use for a bunch of ink! :)

[naimitsu]

Yep. I got one off Amazon.

Hmmm... your Amazon searching skills must be better than mine! I couldn't find the giant bottle there. May have to give it another go ;)

[Jon Szanto]

Yep. I got one off Amazon.

Hmmm... your Amazon searching skills must be better than mine! I couldn't find the giant bottle there. May have to give it another go ;)

Try this. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P35A74/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[WmEdwards]

Montblanc Leo Tolstoy "Sky Blue" is a blue leaning "blue back" in finer nibs, and darker in a big stub. I really like it. Montblanc "midnight blue" is a bit "blacker" blue black you might try (if you have and I missed it, sorry!).

[Sammyo]

And I have an unopened bottle of 4B... sounds like I need to crack that open and fill a pen ;)
:jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw::jaw:

[stub]

ahoy pen nerds.

I tried Sailor. Great flow and lubrication as expected and has all the qualities desired (even phenol!) but appearance is a box of meh. Looks close to Tanzanite in samples on line but in meatspace it is really dull looking.

Tried another go around with Shin Kai. Not as bad as I remembered, again, great flow and performance, and a bit lighter than I like but not terrible. I have it in an pen now and will write it dry. I don't love it. I don't hate it either.

Filled my Sheaffer Premier Vacuum-fil monster with Pelikan Tanzanite (that sucker gobbles some ink!). I don't love the properties of this ink, good flow, but low lubrication and it (like Pelikan Edelstein Aventurine) feathers like crazy on bad paper. But I just absolutely love the look of it. It is a really handsome ink, charcoal with blue/purple overtones and that red sheen and the strange mix of pop and saturation with very vintage-y chalky bits above where it shades. It is a very beautiful looking ink and is much much much much nicer to look at then all the others I have tried: Pilot Blue-black (which I have used many bottles of), Platinum (which I still like but is a bit chalky and while good flow for an IG ink it still is not a free flowing ink), Sheaffer, Shin-kai, half a dozen Diamines (1872 or whatever it is called which is just black really, their regular puke-y teal etc.), Diamine Chopin is AMAZING but I am not buying the whole set to get that ink (gorgeous though it is), 4001 Peli, MB New and old, the quasi-blbk JFK Navy, which I adore but is winding down, Waterman, etc & co.) ... There are some Bungholebox and Kobebeef ones I'l like to try but I am a bit worn out on these hard to obtain inks. Pelikan has availability going for it too, I can walk down the street and get a bottle of it no hassles. I was so hoping to love the Sailor.

Pelikan Tanzanite wins. Maybe something will come along to replace it. I'll use the rest of the Sailor and Shin-kai or include it in a pen sale but Pelikan Tanzanite is by far the most handsome of the readily available non-limited Blue Blacks I've tried so far. As a life long Pelikan ink hater this is weird to me. haha. Tanzanite is full of charm, part vintage-retro but more saturated, some grey bits some blue/purple tinted bits, NO DAMNED GREEN. It is a nice looking ink.

So pens are inked, back to work!

STUBBB

[datainadequate]

Diamine Chopin is AMAZING but I am not buying the whole set to get that ink (gorgeous though it is)

You can buy single "refill" bottles for those sets (http://www.cultpens.com/i/q/DM41985/diamine-30ml-ink-set-refill).

[stub]

Diamine Chopin is AMAZING but I am not buying the whole set to get that ink (gorgeous though it is)

You can buy single "refill" bottles for those sets (http://www.cultpens.com/i/q/DM41985/diamine-30ml-ink-set-refill).

Thanks for the tip. If I am ever in the UK i'll give that a go. Shipping to Korea would likely be more than the price of the ink itself. It is nice color though.

[HoLmeslice]

For what it's worth, I've got a bottle of KWZI Iron Gall blue-black, and it's pretty solid. Goes on blue, and dries to a wonderful blue-black color. I think it could help you in your search for inks of this color.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stub]

For what it's worth, I've got a bottle of KWZI Iron Gall blue-black, and it's pretty solid. Goes on blue, and dries to a wonderful blue-black color. I think it could help you in your search for inks of this color.


Thanks for the tip. KWZI seems to have a lot of neato inks. Maybe next time I travel to the US or EU.

[stub]

Bump to say (since I absolutely can not get myself to dump ink down the drain) that after a full snorkel full of Sailor Blue Black, it is better than I though initially. As for Iro Shinkai, while I don't have the hot burning love others have for this ink, it does perform nicely in a couple of my pens and isn't a bad looking ink if not as handsome as Tanzanite.

In fact, since the snorkel is a bit of effort to clean I am actually going to keep filling it with the Sailor for a while. It has nice flow, is pretty dark and smells like ink (haha).

So my being too lazy and to stingy has lead me to re-evaluete the Sailor. I don't love it but I like it enough that I am not PIFing the bottle. I'll use it.

Blue blacks have so much charm.

[stub]

I tried both the KWZ Iron Gall Blue Black and the KWZ Standard Blue Black. The KWZ Standard Blue Black comes closest to my original search criteria of a non IG easy flowing Blue Black with some punch (like the Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite but with out all the feathering) but not being actually a charcoal near-black (FPN Starry Night, Diamine Anniversary Blue Black) or a ugly green teal.

So the winners so far have been the Sailor (which is a bit dusty and grey but really does have its own charm and has grown on me) which has typical good Sailor flow, lubrication and behavior and this KWZ Standard Blue Black.

Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite does have a pretty and wonderfully unique color but the feathering was a bit of a bummer.

Blue blacks are a fun adventure in a way. There are so many small differences.

KWZ Iron Gall Blue Black is not really part of this search as I noted I am looking here for a NON IG Blue Black as I was already pretty happy with Platinum Blue Black as my IG option (of course it really is an IG Blue, but a pretty one)... but this ink also seems promising an the KWZ inks are a nice price so I threw it in my cart and I will try it out more extensively.

KWZ Standard Blue Black is not bad. Not merely charcoal but some real visible blue in it, really close to bog standard Blue Black. Less shading and character than the Sailor but would be a very good daily work ink especially at the nice price and no nonsense bottle.

[KrazyIvan]

Just throwing this one out there as I ran into it while browsing inks. Monteverde Blue Black.

http://www.yafaoutlet.com/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/700x700/c96a280f94e22e3ee3823dd0a1a87606/b/l/blue-black.jpg

[stub]

The older Monetverde Blue Black was nice and was looking to score a bottle but then noticed that the whole line had been revamped. Bummer.

[stub]

2 quick updates:

The KWZ Blue Black was really nice in every way but olfactory. Good color. Good flow. Looked boss coming out of my Eversharp Symphony. But I just can not get past the smell. It isn't phenol but something else that smells like feet or a other body parts. Hidous.

Sailor Blue Black. My luke warm endorsment of this ink needs an upgrade: :thumb:

This ink is boss. Great behavoir. Super nice flow and lube. Rich complex color if the flow is generous. In a dry pen, or a pen that has some water still in it, this ink is not that much fun and looks one dementional and boring. In a moderate to wet pen it is a super rich complex swirly wintery storm of greys and blues with a little sheen at the spots where it pools. A very handsome dark rich blue black ink. If it evaporates and darkens a little it get sexy smoky hot. A slightly darker more saturated version of this would be increadible. As it is, it is pretty great.

Additionally, can verify that Maruzen Athena Ink Blue Black is 100% one and the same as Sailor Blue Black. No difference other than the bottle. So now I have 2 bottles of this, so it is good that I like it more now.

[titrisol]

I bought Monteverde Black (it was cheap) and it is a meh ink.
IN the dry lamy F nib it looks gray, but in wetter nibs (eg Wearever school pens) it looks great but never dries
I would order a few cartridges of the BB ink (or a variety pack I saw somewhere) to test their colors.
According to this review, it is more grayish than blue or teal...
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/181314-review-monteverde-usa-blue-black-w-itf/

Re: BB Inks, I grew up with Parker's Quink BlueBlack and love the look of it, the new one (Waterman misterious blue) not so much.

[Rollo the Cat]

I never saw it in person, but J. Herbin's Blu Nuit might be to your liking.

[Silverbreeze]

Isn't Aurora doing a Blue-Black

Also if you aren't dealing with Celliod or Sac pens Noodlers 54th Mass


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[Chrissy]

Isn't Aurora doing a Blue-Black

Also if you aren't dealing with Celliod or Sac pens Noodlers 54th Mass


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Aurora has launched a new Blue-Black, but I'm not sure whether it's currently available outside of the US.

[titrisol]

Anyone tried Diamine Prussian blue???
It looks quite nice on he screen

[Wade]

I really enjoy Waterman Mysterious Blue, but I think most would find it more of a blue/grey than blue/black.

Likewise for Chesterfield Sodalite, which is re-bottled Diamine Prussian Blue, more blue/grey.

I'm also enjoying a bottle of Chesterfield Night Sapphire which I believe equates to Diamime Blue/Black.

[Pennanngalan]

Anyone tried Diamine Prussian blue???
It looks quite nice on he screen

I bought a bottle of this a couple months ago. I like it, some people believe that it is too light but that has not been my experience. I tried it out in a Parker IM with a Cross Adventura 2 medium nib and it was almost black to my eye and very feathery. Took it out of that pen almost immediately, as I like the shading aspect of FP usage. I currently have it in a Jinhao 950 with a medium nib. Here, it shows the shading but can be quite feathery on poor quality paper.

I usually use it in my Conklin Duragraph with a fine nib. This pen is a fairly dry writer so most of the ink I have tried using in it have not been satisfactory. The Prussian Blue, on the other hand, works quite well. The line has good shading and is more than dark enough for me. Additional note, when used next to a true blue/black, say... Noodler's 54th Mass., it does look pale

This is not really a blue/black though. It is more of a dark slate blue, light in the thinly inked parts of each letter and nice and dark where it is supposed to be.

Final analysis, I will buy it again, I would recommend you try a sample if you are able, but it may not be what you are looking for.

[stub]

I'll try the Aurora of course. The 2 inks they already make are just outstanding in every way but again must reaffirm my undying love for Sailor Blue Black. I am really surprised more folks are not into it and that I have seen so many "meh" or "this ink suck (see:Penhabit)" type reviews. It is a great color, had great properties and performance. I have it in like 8 pens right now. It is by far the best regular production non-IG Blue Black I have yet used. I love the color on the Pelikan Tanzanite but the performance of the Sailor is vastly superior. Better flow and lubrication, less feathering, just as easy to clean out.

I didn't love the Tolstoy. Not my color. Too inbetween a bright sky high or a plain blue, hints of teal. Just not my thing, much as I adore MB inks.

As for a darker Sky High/Konpeki cerulean color, Sailor Summer Sky. I miss that ink.

Despite the above, I am indeed anxious to try the Aurora. Aurora has long been my black of choice and I really enjoy Aurora Blue, which is a rock solid royal blue. A quite a bit drier than the black ink but excellent overal performance. It is my "travel" ink since it comes in Parker style carts so often I will toss a Parker 45 and a box of Aurora Blue in my bag if I have to travel and nice blue black would be fantastic as the modern TWINK Blue Black is dreadful.

[writingrav]

I'm looking forward to adding the Aurora to.my sample.

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[Lady Onogaro]

I like De Atramentis Sherlock Holmes (Night Blue).

[titrisol]

Maybe a bit late...I got a diamine sampler with TEAL, Blue-Black and Prussian Blue
So far the Prussian Blue is my favorite!
It goes in blue, but fades to a lovely shade of blue-gray after a day or three
Teal is way too green
Blue-Black is nice, but feels plain
32216
32217

[KKay]

Aurora-Blue Black is quite nice and very well behaved.

[stub]

TEAL BLUE BLACKS ARE THE WORK OF SATAN

[stub]

The Aurora has still not have arrived in Korea but I am looking forward to it and that Diamine Chopin, I would love to get my paws on that but the Diamine dealers here only have the flower set and only sell the whole set.

[KKay]

Stub, you can order from Diamine directly. I have done that twice. They even let you have an extra sample that YOU choose. I love that. Shipping is reasonable. They did make a boo boo on my last order, and I'm hesitant to order again...they put my email address right on the BOX/PACKAGE. I couldn't find a way to contact them, and I wasn't calling international to tell them. That was some time ago. Still I cringe when I think about that.