New Ink Review: Diamine Aurora Borealis (in collaboration with r/fountainpens)

[Chrissy]

Diamine Aurora Borealis is the second ink made in collaboration with the r/fountainpen community. It’s a pretty teal ink that they selected.

It’s a reasonably well saturated ink, and exhibits some really nice shading plus an attractive red sheen, although it isn’t a heavy sheen monster like Organics Studio Walden Pond.

I found it flowed well with all of the pens I tried it in, and lubrication was smooth across the page. It never felt dry to write with, although felt slightly less lubricated in my Lamy Al-Star with F steel nib.

My review was written on HP Premium Choice ColorLok 100gsm smooth coated paper from Staples. It’s not very absorbent, and I saw no spread, feathering, show-through or bleed-through.

Dry time was very quick, within 5 seconds on my test.

Aurora Borealis is not sold as a waterproof ink and showed little water resistance.

Some members of r/fountainpens asked if it was similar to J.Herbin 1670 Emerald of Chivor, but that ink leans more blue

Nib Dry-out: Not noticed.
Start-up: Immediate.
Nib Creep / “Crud”: Not seen, even after several days in the pen.
Clean-up: Easy from hands and pens.
Clogging: Not seen.
Available from Diamine Inks UK in 80ml glass and 30ml plastic bottles and from many retailers worldwide.

Diamine Aurora Borealis.jpegDiamine Aurora Borealis 1.jpeg