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fncll
September 27th, 2013, 02:50 PM
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/9970635215_2283e03917_n.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fncll/9970635215/)
Docket Diamond Fine Writing Tablet (box) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fncll/9970635215/) by ChrisL_AK (http://www.flickr.com/people/fncll/), on Flickr


[As always, comments and suggestions for improvement are WELCOMED! Also blogged on inkProne (http://inkprone.passiontask.com/2013/paper-review-docket-diamond-premium-writing-tablet/)]

Verdict

Buy it! The Docket Diamond Premium Writing Tablet handled every pen and ink I threw at it with basically no feathering or show/bleed-through. I'm pretty sure there isn't a legal-pad style tablet out there that comes close to it. If you have a need for a pad for a clipboard or similar application, this is practically paper porn.

But that's not doing this paper justice: it's competitive with the best paper out there. The feel is substantial and the laid finish is a real laid finish, not the faux laid you'll see on some cheaper papers...enough, in fact, that your xxx-fine and sharp-as-a-razor italics might dig in a bit. Think G. Lalo Verge de France style finish and then add a bit more texture.

I own a lot of paper. And I mean a lot: at least 80 varieties (in hundreds of different packs, tablets, pads and notebooks) from vintage onionskin and typewriter paper to all of the top fountain-pen lovers' favorites, and I keep coming back to this paper...

Features


24lb; laid finish; ivory; watermarked
50 micro-perforated sheets; 10mm (legal) rule (one side only)
8.5 x 11.7 in. ; 8.5 x 10.75 in. finished size
Rigid backboard with blue marble headtape


Performance
(Scale 0-5, 0=none 5=like a mofo)


Feathering: 1
Show-through: 0
Bleed-through: 0 (obviously, unless you use invisible ink)
Dry Time: 1


As you can see, it even survived my patented KiSS---knife, swab, scribble---test with no show-through or bleeding.

Cost Comparison


Ampad Gold Fibre Retro Legal Pads: $31.50/600 sheets = .05/sheet
Ampad Gold Fibre Retro Pad: $7.50/70 sheets = .11/sheet
Clairefontaine Wirebound Pad: $12/80 sheets = .15/sheet
Clairefontaine Triomphe Pads: $9/50 sheets = .18/sheet
Kokuyo Campus Loose Leaf Shikkari: $9/50 sheets = .18/sheet
Rhodia Premium Notepad: $13/70 sheets = .19/sheet
Docket Diamond Premium Writing Tablet: $19/100 sheets = .19/sheet


The Docket Diamond tablets really are premium tablets and they cost accordingly, though not particularly expensive compared to their real peers. Keep in mind that none of the competing tablets listed here have the laid finish or are watermarked...and most don't have an ivory-color option.

The closest paper I know of is Southworth Antique Laid Business paper, which is only .06 sheet, but it comes in loose sheets and isn't lined. Similarly, G. Lalo Verge de France is similar, but better, except it also isn't lined and weighs in at a hefty .32 per sheet!

Other Reviews, Threads, etc.


Brief Review of the planning pad version (same paper) (http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/237339-docket-diamond-planning-pad/)
Paul Theroux likes it! (http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/221807-author-paul-theroux-on-writing-with-a-pen/)
Diamine Merlot on Docket Diamond? Why yes! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/86761863@N00/7097681633/)


Scans

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/9970630415_d4cd550d03.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fncll/9970630415/)
Docket Diamond Fine Writing Tablet (writing sample) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fncll/9970630415/) by ChrisL_AK (http://www.flickr.com/people/fncll/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3799/9970699046_5212750fe5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fncll/9970699046/)
Docket Diamond Fine Writing Tablet (writing sample, reverse) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fncll/9970699046/) by ChrisL_AK (http://www.flickr.com/people/fncll/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7388/9970758543_cb6535db38.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fncll/9970758543/)
Docket Diamond Fine Writing Tablet (KiSS test)) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fncll/9970758543/) by ChrisL_AK (http://www.flickr.com/people/fncll/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5546/9970624125_506bc4fc4e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fncll/9970624125/)
Docket Diamond Fine Writing Tablet (KiSS test, reverse) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fncll/9970624125/) by ChrisL_AK (http://www.flickr.com/people/fncll/), on Flickr

KrazyIvan
September 27th, 2013, 04:03 PM
Impressive. Most Impressive.

Robert
September 28th, 2013, 04:46 PM
I gotta get me some of that! Thanks so much for the review.

heath
September 29th, 2013, 10:05 AM
Is this the same stuff? http://www.officemax.com/office-supplies/notebooks-pads/legal-pads/product-ARS21156?R=20889282&ssp=true

The price difference is the only reason I'm asking. this would be about $.16 a sheet.