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tandaina
January 15th, 2014, 09:24 AM
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5490/11966084805_d571205d6a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84377112@N05/11966084805/)
photo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/84377112@N05/11966084805/) by JoAndRoses (http://www.flickr.com/people/84377112@N05/), on Flickr

After the Kaweco ink was announced I ordered one bottle as a trial. I chose Orchid Red as it seemed the most likely to be different than all the ink I already have (my husband, on seeing the bottle sighed and said "don't you have ENOUGH INK YET?") :pound: Silly man.

I'm underwhelmed. The color is pretty. But frankly I keep calling it rose because it almost identical to a je hebrin rose scented ink I already have. Spitting image. But that ink is scented (very nicely) and is just a joy to use. The Kaweco ink is well behaved, even pretty well behaved on copier paper with a medium nib.

But frankly it is $$$$. Here's a comparison.

Kaweco ink (30ml) on Amazon (from a German seller) is $15.90 + $4.49 shipping. It'll take about two weeks to arrive, maybe three. (Mine took 2.5) In comparison I can get Pilot Iroshizuki ink from Amazon (50ml) for anywhere from $20 - $25 with free shipping. (And have it arrive in days.) So Kaweco has managed to make an ink that frankly is every bit as $$$ as Iroshizuki, you get a smaller bottle (it is teeny and cute), and while pleasant... Well it doesn't wow like hte Iroshizuki.

If they can get a US distributer, if they could lower the price... If, if... I'm just not impressed. I'll use what I have, but I won't be buying anymore. Not at this price. Maybe as carts this is more attractive as it would fit their small pens, and offer some interesting color options. Bottled? Meh, best thing is how cute and tiny the bottle is.

(Also, frustrating and weird. No where on the bottle, no where is the color listed! Very weird.

reprieve
January 15th, 2014, 10:07 AM
FYI, Anderson Pens carries Kaweco bottled ink (http://www.andersonpens.net/kaweco-bottled-ink-s/2118.htm). It is currently $15.75 per 30 ml bottle.

I admit this washed out, pinkish red doesn't appeal to me at all. That said, I really love Kaweco Purple and Turquoise, and I would purchase those colors in the bottles (I've only used the cartridges thus far). The purple is a dusty, stormy color similar to Diamine Damson or Herbin Poussière de Lune. It's very, very well-behaved, even on cheap copy paper. The turquoise is a close color match to the now-discontinued Caran d'Ache Caribbean Sea. I have also used Kaweco Sepia, which is a lovely, warm brown, but I have other browns that I like just as much so I probably wouldn't pay the premium for a bottle. I haven't yet tried the green, blue, or blue-black, but I have those colors in cartridges. At $4 for a pack of six, the cartridges allow you to try out the ink relatively cheaply before committing to an expensive bottle.

tandaina
January 15th, 2014, 12:16 PM
Yes, I have Caribbean Sea and love it. My bottle is nearly full so it'll be a long time before I need more and then the Turquoise might be in the running for purchase. Glad to see that someone in the US has it now, just after release it was only available via Amazon.

Cookies
January 15th, 2014, 03:53 PM
Gorgeous ink, but I understand why you don't love it. It looks very similar to J. Herbin's Rouge Bourgogne which I'm guessing might be the unscented base of Rose? I am a big fan of all the Kaweco cartridges I've tried. Black, aubergine, blue-black, and turquoise are all fantastic colors with great behavior. The price is a little high for me, though.