Ink Review: Diamine Safari (150th Anniversary ink)

My latest ink samples from Diamine include one of their 150th Anniversary inks: Safari So that's the ink I'm reviewing today. It's what fountain pen inks users might describe as a 'murky green ink'. These 'murky green' coloured inks are becoming more and more popular

Diamine Safari is more green than Salamander, Noodler's VMail Burma Road Brown and Montblanc Racing Green, although it can occasionally look a little more brownish on some papers, depending on the nib used. It's a good performer in all of the pens and on all of the paper I tried it with. It's not deeply saturated but I saw lot's of shading and no noticeable sheen.

It felt quite wet in my Lamy NexxM with M nib. Both pens I used wrote straight away without any hard starts or skipping. The flow was very good, slightly wet, with my M nib and the lubrication also felt good along a line. The dry time on all of the papers I used was 18-20 secs, which some may consider is quite a long dry time. Once dry there was no smearing.

Although I forgot to do the water test before I scanned the main review sheet, this ink has great water resistance despite not being sold as a water resistant ink.

This is one of my favourites of the 150th Anniversary series. I like the murky yellowish green colour. In fact I prefer it to some similar inks in this colour range that usually just look either very dark brown or almost black.

• This isn't sold as a waterproof ink, but it exhibits very good water resistance.
• Bearing in mind the review form paper I use is thick with a shiny surface, and I used a Lamy M nib and a Lamy 1.1mm nib, this ink took 18-20 secs to dry from both nibs on each of the different papers I used. No smear after dry.
• It exhibited very good flow and good lubrication and I found it smooth to write with. I saw no skips or hard starts while I did swabs and dry time tests.
• It is currently only available in 40ml bottles.
• Diamine sell it directly to end-users on their web-site.
• It's a little more expensive than the standard series

Attachment 29055

Some similar swatches
Attachment 29054

Rhodia Paper
Attachment 28912

Cheap printer paper
Attachment 28913

Blot on Kitchen towel
Attachment 28914

Box and Bottle
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/fo...e_safari_5.jpg

Nice. Personally I quite like the murky greens! :P

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Originally Posted by Monkey

Nice. Personally I quite like the murky greens! :P

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Me too, but I prefer those that look like more like green. :)

I love inks that have good shading. This one looked particularly lovely on the Rhodia dot pad. I may have to get a sample of this one! Great review once again!

Nice green, I've just started using waterman's harmonious green and love it. It's a green green, and pretty cheap too.

Yes, it is a lovely ink. Great review too.

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Originally Posted by The Good Captain

Yes, it is a lovely ink. Great review too.

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Originally Posted by KKay

I love inks that have good shading. This one looked particularly lovely on the Rhodia dot pad. I may have to get a sample of this one! Great review once again!

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Thanks and you're welcome. :)

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Originally Posted by Chrissy

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Originally Posted by Monkey

Nice. Personally I quite like the murky greens! :P

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Me too, but I prefer those that look like more like green. :)

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Haha, I'm actually not sure I prefer one over the other. I like green, but it's not a favorite, so I'm often a bit ambivalent on the particulars.

Diamine Salamander and Stipula Musk Green are favorites, this one looks like it will fit right in. 😄

Thanks for a very enjoyable review! I forgot I had this ink, and I'm going to load it up and feel like I just got a new ink!

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Originally Posted by KrazyIvan

Diamine Salamander and Stipula Musk Green are favorites, this one looks like it will fit right in. 😄

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They are both darker than Safari, but they are still very nice inks. There is still room for Safari. :)

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Originally Posted by xtyc

Thanks for a very enjoyable review! I forgot I had this ink, and I'm going to load it up and feel like I just got a new ink!

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Thank you, and you're welcome. :) I also have some inks that I've forgotten. Maybe I should load some up too. :)

Thanks for the review. That is a nice looking green, I think. Lovely shading.

Love. Green. Ink.

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Originally Posted by VertOlive

Love. Green. Ink.

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Have you tried Oster Melon Tea? I think you would like it.

I do love Diamine Safari, too, though.

Monteverde Olivine is a very attractive green ink, and it behaves well.

The 18-20 seconds drying time rules it out for me but then its not such an attractive color anyway, a definite miss.

Yes it's not a quick dryer.....

Really appreciate your extensive reviews. Good Stuff!!!

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Originally Posted by Sagebrush64

Really appreciate your extensive reviews. Good Stuff!!!

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You're welcome. :)