Graf von Faber-Castell Lapis lazuli

[Yazeh]

Graf von Faber-Castell Lapis lazuli

This was the 3rd ink, part of 5 ink blind test.
Many thanks @Lithium466 for the sample. This is my first GvFC ink

Photo courtesy of Fasber-Castell
This is a dryish, faded Royal blue, with almost no water resistance. It needs a wet pen and a wider nib.
It’s very well-behaved on copy paper, but the colour is boring and does not capture the depth and the beauty of Lapis lazuli. I doubt any ink can.

Frankly, you’re better off, buying a similar ink, with cheaper packing and less pretentiousness or buy the cartridge version to test. The best thing about this ink was using it for washes and cleaning it. With a few flushes and the pen was clean as a whistle.

Chroma:
This is the loveliest thing about it.

ChromaGraf von Faber-Castell Lapislazuli.jpeg
Writing Samples:
Instead of using a Japanese Ef nib, I reverse wrote with Lamy Ef. Don’t be fooled by the scan, the shading is subtle.
Note C refers to the code name of this ink.
Rhodia- SampleC.jpg

Midori-SampleGraf von Faber-Castell Lapislazuli.jpeg

TR68gr-SampleGraf von Faber-Castell Lapislazuli.jpeg

Hammermiill-SampleC.jpg



Photo:
Graf von Faber-Castell Lapislazulijpg.jpg

Comparison:
The R&K is Königsblau.
Comparison C.jpg
Water test:
Left side 10 seconds under running water. Sample was written with glass nib. So amount of nib is more than a normal nib.
Watertest -Graf von FaberGraf von Faber-Castell Lapislazuliastell Lapislazuli 1.jpeg

Art Work:
I really enjoyed doing washes with this ink. It’s such a pleasant colour and easy to work with. You might see the other works when other reviews pop up
Days of Wine and cheese
Noodler's Lexington Gray / Eel Red Rattler's Red



• Pens used: Lamy (reverse EF/Ef / F/M/B, BB)
• What I liked: Chroma, Drawing with and cleaning.
• What I did not like: Writing experience.
• What some might not like: Dryish ink. It’s a faded royal blue.
• Shading: Yes there, is but not so visible as the scan makes you believe.
• Ghosting: Very faint on copy paper
• Bleed through: Only with a wet/wide nib, in my case a heavy-handed flex nib.
• Flow Rate: Dryish
• Lubrication: On the low side.
• Nib Dry-out: Did not notice.
• Start-up: Ok
• Saturation: Pastel
• Shading Potential: Meh.
• Sheen: No.
• Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Only with a primed feed with lots of flex.
• Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice.
• Staining (pen): No.
• Clogging: Did not notice.
• Cleaning: Very easy.
• Water resistance: Dismal
• Availability: Cartridges, 75 ml bottles.

Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples or any other comments. The more the merrier

[LizEF]

Oh, it's my favorite color! I do like the look of the GvFC bottles - I have one in Olive Green. Funny when the best thing about an ink is how easily it cleans out of your pen...

Those quotes! Especially the first two!

And the best parts: swatch-kitty, water-test kitty, and Mouse & Kitty in Paris!

Thank you, Yazeh, for the laughter and smiles that made me forget about the ink color.

[dneal]

When I saw the title, I had high hopes this was going to be a review of Montblanc's excellent (but limited edition) Lapis Lazuli, but made by GvFC (in their generally water resistant formulas).

Disappointed is an understatement.

Thanks for the review! Sometimes disappointment is useful too.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Ah! Vin, avec fromage? Wish I was there with Kitteh and Mousie.

Although my ink hoard includes many similar colors, like some of your comparisons (Eclat de, Malibu), I now have Lapis in a sopping-wet Nemosine Singularity. It comes out a summery pale blue, like the early morning sky before humidity drives you indoors. So I like it, for the season. I'll use it throughout.

Have to say, though, Lapis gave me trouble in all the other pens I tried, including a NoNami Clickee, and an equally gushy Waterman Phileas. But I love your reviews and sketches. Thanks. Please keep them coming, Monsieur Yazeh! 💝 👏🏻 😸

[Yazeh]

Oh, it's my favorite color!

I do like the look of the GvFC bottles - I have one in Olive Green.

I've found the easiest way to get the rid of bottle temptation is to buy an empty one

Funny when the best thing about an ink is how easily it cleans out of your pen...

Yep and get rid of it

Those quotes! Especially the first two!

Anything for a smile

And the best parts: swatch-kitty, water-test kitty, and Mouse & Kitty in Paris!

Thanks!

Thank you, Yazeh, for the laughter and smiles that made me forget about the ink color.

🙏🙏🙏

[Yazeh]

When I saw the title, I had high hopes this was going to be a review of Montblanc's excellent (but limited edition) Lapis Lazuli, but made by GvFC (in their generally water resistant formulas).

Disappointed is an understatement.

Thanks for the review! Sometimes disappointment is useful too.

So true.
As, I said, this was part of a blind test. I thought it's one of those run of the mill washed out royal blues, but when I learned the "identity" of the ink, I was both disappointed and relieved

[Yazeh]

Ah! Vin, avec fromage? Wish I was there with Kitteh and Mousie.

Although my ink hoard includes many similar colors, like some of your comparisons (Eclat de, Malibu), I now have Lapis in a sopping-wet Nemosine Singularity. It comes out a summery pale blue, like the early morning sky before humidity drives you indoors. So I like it, for the season. I'll use it throughout.

Have to say, though, Lapis gave me trouble in all the other pens I tried, including a NoNami Clickee, and an equally gushy Waterman Phileas. But I love your reviews and sketches. Thanks. Please keep them coming, Monsieur Yazeh! 💝 👏🏻 😸

Thanks for sharing your experience. And indeed there are days, I wish I could do an re-appearing act on a café, despite the dodgy political times in France.
I also misread, at first the name Éclat de Malibu which seemed quite cool.

[Chrissy]

Thanks for the review.

I've tried a few GvF-C inks and have always found their flow and lubrication reasonably good in well behaved inks, Previous ink reviews also mention this. Though this colour is a disappointment that was my only disappointment about it. Maybe the low saturation makes a difference. Cobalt Blue is a much better colour. These Art Deco bottles are fabulous.

[Yazeh]

Thanks for the review.

🙏

I've tried a few GvF-C inks and have always found their flow and lubrication reasonably good in well behaved inks, Previous ink reviews

Thanks for reminding me of the review. My first experience was dodgy, as I was using a cartridge. The ink refused to flow, and stuck at the end of the cartridge . In the end, I used a syringe and tried it again, day and night.

also mention this. Though this colour is a disappointment that was my only disappointment about it. Maybe the low saturation makes a difference. Cobalt Blue is a much better colour. These Art Deco bottles are fabulous.

You're right the colour was quite disappointing and there are cheaper inks for the same price. As for the bottles, they sure look nice.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I tend to look at ink color from an artist pigment perspective. Found this article on lapis lazuli:

https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/lapis-lazuli-pigment/

[Yazeh]

I was play with a sketch idea on Fabriano sketchbook paper with Büroservice Bergman's IG red ink and bleach, and Sailor Storia Fire Red (which despite the claim doesn't remind me of fire). Then I decided to "save" the stretch by applying liberal amount of GvFC Lapis Lazuli.
The idea came from multiple sources, the olympic torch, fire in Mesopotamian cultures, Fire temples and the art of bas-relief.

Anyway, I wanted to show off the deep blue, I believe there were 5 brushstroke, the last being emptying the end of the ink vial directly on the paper. Note the paper is absorbent, so I might have needed less on Canson paper.

[LizEF]

That looks like a danger to tails!

[Yazeh]

That looks like a danger to tails!

Unless you're a statue