Graf von Faber-Castell Yozakura Ink: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

Yozakura means "night cherry blossom," and that certainly describes the color of this ink from Graf von Faber-Castell. It is the dusty pink color of cherry blossoms in the evening light of Japan.

The 75ml bottle is beautiful in its own right. It is made of glass in an oblong shape with a thick, stable base. The cap is gilded in silver with the Graf von Faber-Castell logo on top.

Yozakura ink is dry and light, especially in finer nibs. It does not exhibit any sheen but offers good shading. Graf von Faber-Castell states that it is indelible ink, though in my water test it faded slightly.

The ink has a salmon tinge to it, as you can see on the Col-o-dex card. Because the ink is waterproof, chromatography doesn't separate the colors effectively.

A large, wet nib brings out the best in this ink with lots of shading, color variation, and pooling.

I used my TWSBI 580 EF nib to test the ink in longer writing sessions. This wasn't the best choice, in retrospect, because the ink is so dry and light. It's almost unreadable in my MD Paper journal. However, I think it would work much better in broad and stub nibs that have a wet flow.

Yozakura is similar to Robert Oster Sushi (reviewed here). It's a bit darker than TWSBI Pink and much lighter than Kyo-iro Keage-Sakura and Iroshizuku Tsutsuji.

I love dusty pinks and purples, so I created a mandala with Yozakura and Kyo-no-oto Sakuranezumi (reviewed here). This isn't one of my better mandalas, but I like the color combination.

You can purchase Graf von Faber-Castell Yozakura from Vanness Pens. 75ml costs $32.00. That's a lot of ink, so you might want to try a 4ml sample first ($4.00).

(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Diamine Havasu Turquoise Ink Review

There is something to be said for a brand that has been around for over 150 years like Diamine. They do one things, and do that one thing very well: Make ink. It’s not all fountain pen ink - they are an industrial manufacturer as well - but fountain pen ink is what we know and love them for.

And love is a term that many people will use when describing Diamine Havasu Turquoise. This bright blue has been a favorite of fountain pen users for years, and for good reason.

As I was writing this review up I got to thinking just how long Havasu Turquoise has been in existence? At least a decade, maybe two? How great would it be if historical companies like Diamine had something like a production Wiki to where we could see the launch year, the date of any formula changes, and the date of retirement for any inks that were shelved. I think that would be pretty cool, not only for research, but for story-telling. I know that’s asking a lot, but one can dream!

Regardless of when Havasau Turquoise was launched, it has been at the core of Diamine’s offerings for years, right up there with other classic colors such as Ancient Copper and Oxblood. Named after Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon region of Arizona, it is a bright blue with moderate shading, and a tiny hint of red sheen around the edge of the lines. In other words, exactly what I want in an ink.

As great as I think this ink is, what makes it even better is the price. You can grab a 30ml bottle for $7.50, or jump up to an 80ml bottle for $16.50. In a world where I’ve happily paid over $20 for a 30ml bottle, Diamine inks are a steal at this price for this quality. They are great every day inks, easy to use and clean, and perfect for beginners and experts alike.

It’s no wonder they have been in business since 1864.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Colorverse Office Series Blue Black Ink Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

I've been on quite a blue black ink kick lately, and the latest contender in this list is from Colorverse. Part of their Office Series, their take on Blue Black is what I consider to be a traditional, middle-of-the-road interpretation of this classic color. In short, I love it and think it's something you should try out if you're in the market for a blue black ink for your favorite pens.

When it comes to blue black inks, there can actually be quite a bit of variation and differences of interpretation in terms of color. Some blue black inks may be so dark that you can barely make out any blue, while others take on a dusty blue or denim hue. Those are two opposite ends of the spectrum, but you can also see hints of purple or gray in some inks, as well as some red sheen in some cases. This is great in terms of variety, but it can also be frustrating if your idea of a blue black ink doesn't match up with the ink manufacturer's vision.

Colorverse's blue black is what I consider to be a definitive example of a true blue black. People will surely disagree with this statement, but that just goes to show that colors are incredibly objective perceptions that vary across all human beings. This blue black ink has a dark and luxurious tone while also being obviously blue. You don't have to look too closely to detect the deep blue, and it also doesn't have any stray colors that creep out in the light strokes and bright light. It's true to itself and the name given to it. It's not the most exciting color, but it's a beautiful example of a classic ink color.

So, getting into the specifics of this particular ink, the first thing I noticed when using this ink (besides the color!) was how smooth it feels on the page. I've been really impressed by all of the Colorverse inks I've tried before, and this one is no exception. Ink flow is smooth out of the nib, and it lays down evenly on the page without letting too much out at a time. And, even the ink flows easily, it doesn't go crazy on more absorbent papers and feather out across the uncoated paper fibers. It's well-behaved, and I feel comfortable using it on any kind of paper — fancy or ordinary.

There isn't any visible sheen with this ink, and there also isn't a lot of variation in color or shading. It's a no-nonsense ink that works well and doesn't offer any frills. There's a reason that Colorverse included this in the "Office Series," and that's totally okay. There's a place for vibrant, loud inks in the same way there's a place for more subdued and "boring" colors. This ink will fit in great at the workplace (remember when we were around other people and could talk about pens and inks?) but also looks great in a Field Notes or bullet journal. There's enough visual interest in the color and ink properties to make it better than other similar inks.

One area where this ink really surprised me is the dry time. In most cases, and even when using it with a wet medium cursive italic nib, the ink was dry by around 12 or 15 seconds. Larger glops took a little longer (in the 20-second range), but on average there wasn't much time involved before the ink was smudge resistant.

I've really enjoyed using this ink, and it's quickly raced to the top of my list of favorite blue blacks. If you're curious in trying out a blue black ink, this is an excellent place to start. At $13.50 for a 30ml bottle, it won't break the bank, and you can even order a 4ml sample vial to try out if you're not sure you want to commit to the full bottle. Give it a shot in your next order with Vanness!

(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!