This is a simple notebook perfect for sticking in a pocket. My most typical use of this book has been for those daily items; shopping lists, reminders, quick notes on a call. For all the notes I don’t take in work.
Review: Montblanc LE Miles Davis Jazz Blue
Bought on a whim, it’s a faint blue ink which I’ve seen referred to as cornstarch blue. That’s a good description.
Waterman Intense Black
Another dependable ink from Waterman. There is not much I can add here. The ink is typical Waterman, safe to use, easy to clean, and dries very quickly. The ink is dark grey and matte. I’m on the hunt for a less matte black junk but this just works.
Other reviews.
Review: Rhodiarama softcover notebook
This will be a short post. I’ve reviewed the Rhodia webnotebook previously, you may find my thoughts on the webnotebook by clicking here. The only difference between this book and the webnotebook is the soft cover replacing the hard cover. The paper is identical, i.e. excellent.
Diamine Passion Red
This is a bright ink which pops on the page. Great for marking up documents, it really stands out. Very easy to clean. No fuss whatsoever. There is no shading that I can see. This ink is consistently in use and has been for about two years now.
Currently in my Karas Kustoms INK which has a needlepoint nib from Franklin-Christoph’s Masuyama tuned group.
It’s just lovely.
Note taking – calendar
Right, long overdue for an update. I’m on my third notebook and have made some changes since I posted about version 2.
Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-ryoku
This is a medium green, not too deep yet certainly not light. Works perfectly as a main ink. I have also used it as a markup ink but it’s just too dark to work well in that role. The colour is just right for me on the ivory paper in rhodia notebooks.
As should be the case with an ink this expensive, it’s very easy to manage. No fuss cleaning from any pen I’ve used with this ink.
There is something unquantifiable with this ink, I just enjoy it but cannot articulate why exactly. Perhaps not a great point to raise in a review.
At the time of review this ink is in my Franklin-Christoph 65 Antique Glass, a great fit.
Other reviews
- alt.haven
- Unroyal Warrant – highlights that the ink looks flat when dry, I’d agree but this does not bother me
- Pens! Paper! Pencils!
- Lady Dandelion – since this review was written a number of ink sample services have become available (The Writing Desk, Pure Pens)
- Inkdependence
Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-gao
This is a lovely blue colour, slightly lighter than the Waterman Serenity Blue, my former number one blue. This ink is now in that position. I have paired it with the Edison Glenmont, my number one pen.
The ink is very well behaved and is easy to clean. It is not waterproof but I have no need for such properties. Dry time is good, not too long. I have noticed some feathering but I am sure that this was due to my pen digging into the paper and not caused by the ink itself (the nib currently in use is an EEF).
The ink, to my eye anyway and in lower light, has an appearance of glowing on the page. Not really but I cannot think of a better way to express it. The colour lifts off the page. I have been unable to capture this effect in a photo. I swear, I am not imagining it. I hope I am not imagining it…
Other reviews
Diamine Oxblood
A very deep, rich red with some browns. The name is perfect, it does look like blood. This ink could double up as Halloween make-up should you wish.
This ink is very dark on ivory coloured paper, appearing more of a deep brown than than a red. Therefore I tend to not use it often, preferring to use Waterman Absolute Brown instead as it is lighter.
Like all saturated Diamine inks I have used, there tends to be a build up of residue on the nib. It cleans away quite well but should this clump move on the nib it can interfere with the line being put down by the pen. This has at times changed the writing performance of my nibs from extra-fine to more like stub nibs. It does lead to some interesting results, though not reliably.
Other reviews
Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo
A beautiful purple. Picked up a sample of this from The Writing Desk and after one fill I have decided to buy a bottle. I’ve been looking for a good purple for quite some time, this is bright while not being too much for use in the office. I do get the occasional look but who really cares.
In a wide nib the colour is deep and rich. In a finer nib the colour is lighter, leaning toward pink. It is bright on the page, really standing out. Works very well as a markup ink but I use it as a main ink.
Like its stablemates, it is easy to maintain and clean, which is good as it is expensive.
I note that when I use a wide nib this ink sits on the page when it dries, I can feel the ink as a residue on the page. I have never noticed this with other inks though that could be due to my tendency to only use very fine nibs for writing. This is not a bad point, rather just an observation I have had. It can bleed through even Rhodia 90gsm paper when in a particularly wet nib so care may be required there.
Other reviews
KurleyMcD 