Massdrop have very kindly sent me 5 of these Private Reserve Inks to have a play with.
Chocolate – A thick dark brown ink that bleeds easily when added to water with reddish browns leaching into the wash areas and a cyan blue at the very edges. Reacts with the bleach eventually turning gold. A deep rich brown when used for writing. Very similar to Waterman Havanna Brown.
Fiesta Red – A dull deep red ink that bleeds easily when added to water with slightly pinker reds leaching into the wash areas. Reacts with the bleach eventually turning white gold. A deep rich red when used for writing. Of all the reds I have tested to-date this is a unique colour.
Sherwood Green – A deep green ink that bleeds easily when added to water with yellow greens and blues leaching into the wash areas. Reacts with the bleach eventually turning gold. A dark rich green when used for writing. Very similar to Diamine Woodland.
Tanzanite – A deep blue/purple ink that bleeds easily when added to water with lighter blues and purples leaching into the wash areas. Reacts with the bleach eventually turning white. A dark rich purple when used for writing. Very similar to Diamine Imperial Blue.
Lake Placid Blue – A flat even royal blue ink that bleeds easily when added to water with lighter blues and hints of purple leaching into the wash areas. Reacts with the bleach eventually turning white. An even royal blue when used for writing. Similar to Diamine Royal Blue.
The inks tested are very similar in behaviour and content to the Diamine inks and with a fairly similar price point too but strangely, when dry, the colours have a slightly matt finish to them and consequently appear flatter, not as vibrant as the Diamine. I’d like to test some more of these to quantify that last statement.
FOUNTAIN PEN INK ART 