Diamine x Niche Pens Alexandrite

[Yazeh]

Diamine x Niche Pens Alexandrite

Many thanks @JungleJim for the sample.

Ink is made by Diamine for Niche pens aka Purepens Uk. Ink comes in both shimmering (30 ml bottles) and non-shimmering (30 ml /80 ml bottles). This sample was the non-shimmering version.

It’s a gorgeous, saturated teal /turquoise, with beautiful shading and a red sheen on most papers. The writing experience is so exquisite that makes you forget about the world. Dry times are about 25s on Rhodia, so ink is not suitable for lefty over writers. I left the ink for a long time in the pen. Surprisingly cleaning while needed quite a bit of flushing was easy.

While there's some water resistance, you don't want this ink anywhere close to sweaty palms/ pools etc. The amount of dye that washes out is impressive

Ink is best used with Japanese paper, where the shading/ sheening is most prominent. Copy paper is not for this ink and with Rhodia the sheen is present mostly with the wettest pen (Nib creaper)

The wetter the pen, the more prominent the sheen, the dryer the “sheen” becomes shading.
The sheen is very subtle with EF-F nibs on Midori, Tomoe River 68gr, obvious with M, B nibs, disappeared with the stub, and with Semi-flex nib creaper it became prominent.

On Iroful paper, the shading appears as sheen, with the flex nib, the sheening was massive.

Chroma:
Chroma- 62.jpeg


Writing Samples:

Rhodia -62.jpg

Midori 62.jpeg

Tr68gr-62-62.jpeg

Iroful 62.jpg

Hammermill20-62.jpg

Photo:
Papers are Midori /Tomoe River 68 gr /Iroful
Nibs are B/Stub/ Semi-flex
Sheen.jpg
Comparison:
Comparison-Alexandrite.jpg
Water test:
Left side 10 seconds under running water. Sample was written with glass nib. So, amount of ink is more than a normal nib. Sample was left 1 hour under fan.
While there's some resistance to water, you really don't want this ink any place near water
WatertestAlexandrite.jpeg

Art Work:
Sailor Kiwa-guro, Diamine X Niche Pens Alexandrite and Noodler's Polar Brown.



· Pens used: Lamy (Reverse Ef, EF/F/M/B, 1.1) , Noodler’s Nib creaper
· What I liked: Writing experience, artwork and cleaning. I also liked how you could have both shading/ sheen.
· What I did not like: Long dry times, and close to water it can be messy (nit picking)
· What some might not like: Long dry times, copy paper.
· Shading: Gorgeous.
· Ghosting: Yes, on cheap paper.
· Bleed through: Yes, on cheap paper.
· Flow Rate: Wet
· Lubrication: Excellent.
· Nib Dry-out: Did not notice.
· Start-up: Great
· Saturation: Saturated
· Shading Potential: Yes baby!
· Sheen: Yes
· Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: A tiny bit on copy paper. .
· Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice.
· Staining (pen): Not at all.
· Clogging: Did not notice.
· Cleaning: Quite easy.
· Water resistance: Non-existent.
· Availability: 30 ml (shimmering), 30 ml/ 80 ml bottles (non-shimmering)

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

[LizEF]

Great review, Yazeh - and intro to the store's line of inks - I didn't know about that.

I like the color, but am hoping it's somewhere between the more green shade of the scans and the more blue shade of the photo. Teal can be so hard to capture. I like the shading better. The sheen is nice - good job capturing the sparkle in the photo! I'm ambivalent about sheen, so I don't go looking for it, but appreciate it when it does show up (though not the flakes it sometimes scatters everywhere).

Funny quotes. Mr. Mouse is still the gentleman. And I really like the traveling birdie.

Thanks for all the work I know goes into these!

[Yazeh]

Great review, Yazeh - and intro to the store's line of inks - I didn't know about that.

I like the color, but am hoping it's somewhere between the more green shade of the scans and the more blue shade of the photo. Teal can be so hard to capture. I like the shading better. The sheen is nice - good job capturing the sparkle in the photo! I'm ambivalent about sheen, so I don't go looking for it, but appreciate it when it does show up (though not the flakes it sometimes scatters everywhere).

Funny quotes. Mr. Mouse is still the gentleman. And I really like the traveling birdie.

Thanks for all the work I know goes into these!

Thanks for your kind works and encouraging comments!
Once upon a time, there was Guess this ink thread, it went for 1266 pages! It was especially popular during the pandemic. That's where I discovered a host of different and rare inks. I was so glad when Junglejim sent this over, because the ink had caught my eye.
Purepens has a host of other inks:
https://www.purepens.co.uk/collectio...itle-ascending
Much like Cultpens.
I'll see if I can post a few photos, but this is definitely a teal /turquoise ink and the sheen/shading is paper/pen (wetness nib). The wetter the pen, you have sheen. If you use Rhodia, you'll have shading

[Sailor Kenshin]

Ooo, a gray component. Nice.

I've had samples of Yama Dori and BBH, but can't remember anything about BBH. Yama Dori is sheeny, too.

Mousie being gallant again. Though I can still see a watery image.

Yazeh, thanks once again for making life colorful with your detailed, entertaining InkSplorations! Keep 'em coming!

Henny Youngman quotes for the win!

[Yazeh]

Ooo, a gray component. Nice.

I've had samples of Yama Dori and BBH, but can't remember anything about BBH. Yama Dori is sheeny, too.

Mousie being gallant again. Though I can still see a watery image.

Yazeh, thanks once again for making life colorful with your detailed, entertaining InkSplorations! Keep 'em coming!

Henny Youngman quotes for the win!

Thanks for your kind comments. Much appreciated. It's quite a feat to have one-liners like Henny Youngman.
I don't recall much of the Bad series but no sheen what so ever, but I believe they were capricious inks in general
Mouse tries to be galant, but it's not easy. Kitty wan't to be galant from time to time

[Chrissy]

Just to mention that Niche Pens became solely Pure Pens back in 2011. I haven't seen or heard the original name Niche pens (set up for the sale of Pelican pens) for many years. The site and newsletters seem to be established as Pure Pens and I recommend anyone looking for this ink should search for that name.

[Yazeh]

Just to mention that Niche Pens became solely Pure Pens back in 2011. I haven't seen or heard the original name Niche pens (set up for the sale of Pelican pens) for many years. The site and newsletters seem to be established as Pure Pens and I recommend anyone looking for this ink should search for that name.

Thanks Chrissy for clarifying the Niche Pens back story. Much appreciated 🙏

[calamus]

I found Pure Pens and ordered some of that gorgeous Alexandrite ink. I am a sucker for teal. Anyway, I was shocked at how good their prices were. $5 for 30 ml and $10 for 80 ml, and shipping about what it is within the US. And their prices on fountain pens are amazing, too. What a score! Thank you Yazeh!!

[Yazeh]

I found Pure Pens and ordered some of that gorgeous Alexandrite ink. I am a sucker for teal. Anyway, I was shocked at how good their prices were. $5 for 30 ml and $10 for 80 ml, and shipping about what it is within the US. And their prices on fountain pens are amazing, too. What a score! Thank you Yazeh!!

Wow! Hope you enjoy the ink as well as the price. Keep us posted

[calamus]

It arrived! Here's a snapshot, but it doesn't do the ink justice. In real life it's an electric teal. I love it!!!

alexandrite.jpg

[Yazeh]

It arrived! Here's a snapshot, but it doesn't do the ink justice. In real life it's an electric teal. I love it!!!

I'm so glad! Enjoy it

[Sailor Kenshin]

Forum running slow lately for anyne else? Or is it just me….

[LizEF]

Forum running slow lately for anyne else? Or is it just me….

Nope, it's been running slow for days. Either something changed on the server end, or they're getting a DOS attack or doing upgrades ( ) or something....

ETA: It's initial page loads that are slow. Anything that stays on the same page - like quick reply - doesn't seem to suffer.

[junglejim]

Forum running slow lately for anyne else? Or is it just me….

Yeah, several days now. I think a certain *someone* in Dunedin is trying an amateurish ddos on the fpg website. If he was successful none of us would be able to get in.

[junglejim]

It arrived! Here's a snapshot, but it doesn't do the ink justice. In real life it's an electric teal. I love it!!!

alexandrite.jpg

Yes! When I first got a bottle I fell in love with Diamine's [ Pure Pen's ] Alexandrite. It's also my favorite gemstone and DW (Dear Wife) has a 1 carat ring that I got her for an anniversary present ages ago.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Thanks to those of you who let me know I am not hallucinating nor crazy. At least in that respect. 😜

[Chrissy]

Forum running slow lately for anyne else? Or is it just me….

Yeah, several days now. I think a certain *someone* in Dunedin is trying an amateurish ddos on the fpg website. If he was successful none of us would be able to get in.

To be brutally honest, if it caused something to happen that the owner/server was alerted to, maybe it might be better if someone did successfully break in. That way the perp could be reported to the authorities concerned and lose his server due to his actions. At least it might be better than it is now as it surely couldn't be any worse.

[AmericanMonk]

This is one of my favorite inks and one of only 2.5 inks that have a permanent place in a pen (a peacock-colored Jinhao Centennial 100 with a Fine nib). I'm glad to see someone finally do a review of it. It's been an under-the-radar ink for too long. I've been wanting to create a review but haven't made the time.

The scans make it appear too much like Noodler's Upper Ganges Blue, IMO. Alexandrite is more vibrant than the that. The photos do it more justice.

Edited to add: I'm a lefty and would give this ink (when used with my Jinhao) a stamp of approval. I haven't noticed the dry time being long, but I don't regularly use the papers used in the review. My everyday papers are a tan sugarcane paper and dollar store/brandless/local supermarket-branded school grade papers harvested from Vietnamese sources (roughly equivalent to post-it note quality).

Thanks, Yazeh!

[calamus]

The other thing about this ink that I've noticed is that it's a sheen monster! a vibrant red sheen on almost every letter, and on all kinds of paper. Truly remarkable.

[Yazeh]

This is one of my favorite inks and one of only 2.5 inks that have a permanent place in a pen (a peacock-colored Jinhao Centennial 100 with a Fine nib). I'm glad to see someone finally do a review of it. It's been an under-the-radar ink for too long. I've been wanting to create a review but haven't made the time.

The scans make it appear too much like Noodler's Upper Ganges Blue, IMO. Alexandrite is more vibrant than the that. The photos do it more justice.

Edited to add: I'm a lefty and would give this ink (when used with my Jinhao) a stamp of approval. I haven't noticed the dry time being long, but I don't regularly use the papers used in the review. My everyday papers are a tan sugarcane paper and dollar store/brandless/local supermarket-branded school grade papers harvested from Vietnamese sources (roughly equivalent to post-it note quality).

Thanks, Yazeh!

Glad my review confirmed your experience.

Ink is very vibrant yes, and scans often range the nature of the ink. And yes photos, show the true beauty of the ink, especially on Japanese Paper, where sheen and shading mix.
Lefty here too, though I'm an underwriter, so long dry times don't affect me as much. But from what I gather, the papers you use are on the absorbent side and thus the dry time problem is mitigated.