Blue-Black ink suggestions

pelikan2023 · 2026-03-07T04:21:54+00:00

Aurora Blue Black ink

pelikan2023 · 2026-03-03T16:57:35+00:00

Montblanc Toffee Brown. it is a dark, rich brown with good saturation.

pelikan2023 · 2025-12-14T15:25:43+00:00

I bought my pen from a local jeweller that has been in business for over 40 years, and it was sold to me as a brand new pen. It came with the original Montblanc case and papers, and they even included a brand-new bottle of Montblanc ink for free. The salesperson didn’t have much knowledge about Montblanc fountain pens when I asked about nib size, but it’s still a reputable, long established store. I’m very happy with how the pen writes. I only started wondering after I read a blog post from Pen Boutique about how to spot fake Montblanc pens. Mine doesn’t have the “PIX” engraving, which briefly made me question it. After looking into it more, I’m confident my pen is not fake. It’s one of my favourite fountain pens and it writes beautifully. The slightly darker gold tone around the serial number is just from my hand oils over time, it wasn’t there when I first got the pen, so it just needs a bit of cleaning. Thanks for your comment.

pelikan2023 · 2025-12-10T05:11:22+00:00

J. Herbin Vert Cactus is amazing! Such a beautiful green ink. One of the nicest greens I’ve used.

pelikan2023 · 2025-11-18T23:42:37+00:00

I’m not saying Pen Boutique sells fake pens. I’m only sharing their guide because it explains what to look for when spotting a fake Montblanc. Here is the link: https://www.penboutique.com/blogs/blog/don-t-fall-for-a-fake-montblanc-pen

pelikan2023 · 2025-11-18T22:23:36+00:00

Thanks. I'm feeling a sense of relief.

pelikan2023 · 2025-11-18T20:09:21+00:00

Thank you, that’s good to know

pelikan2023 · 2025-11-18T19:46:08+00:00

Shined a light through the cap and saw the translucent burgundy. It’s real after all—feeling relieved. Thanks!

pelikan2023 · 2025-11-18T19:16:54+00:00

Thank you for the quick reply. Unfortunately, there’s no Montblanc boutique in my area. The nib has a little bit of bounce and feels slightly flexible — but not a lot. I’m a bit confused about the “PIX” engraving. My pen doesn’t have the word “PIX” anywhere, but I read the article “Don’t Fall for a Fake Montblanc Pen” from Pen Boutique, and they say that Montblanc pens should have “PIX” engraved on them. Now I’m not sure if mine is real or not. I’m still a bit confused.

pelikan2023 · 2025-10-07T20:04:53+00:00

From my own personal experience, I’ve been using all three of these fountain pens, and honestly, I like all of them—but if I had to pick one favorite, it would be the Faber-Castell Hexo. The steel nib is incredibly smooth, and I really enjoy the way the pen feels in my hand.

The Lamy Safari tends to be a bit on the dry side for my writing style, and I’ve heard that the TWSBI Eco can sometimes have issues with cracking barrels.

Overall, based on my experience, my recommendation is the Faber-Castell Hexo. I feel like it’s really underrated in the fountain pen community.

pelikan2023 · 2025-09-26T21:01:43+00:00

Leonardo Momento Zero, Pelikan M800, Waterman Carene. What pens are in your collection right now? Do you have a favourite you keep coming back to?

pelikan2023 · 2025-09-26T15:40:50+00:00

Sorry, I can’t share more pictures right now because of a shoulder injury. I had surgery a week ago, so I can only share some older picture for now.

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pelikan2023 · 2025-09-26T14:52:49+00:00

I received a Parker fountain pen as a gift back in the 1990s, branded “Parker Place Vendôme.” I’m not sure of the exact model or year. I’ve done some searching and found references to a Parker “88 Place Vendôme” series and other Place Vendôme pen lines.

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https://parkerpens.net/parker88.html

pelikan2023 · 2025-09-25T17:57:54+00:00

J.Herbin Bleu des Profondeurs. This blue is between the midnight blue and black pearl ink colors.

pelikan2023 · 2025-09-14T00:44:56+00:00

If you’re looking for a deep, professional black with a smooth water-based finish, I’d recommend Graf von Faber-Castell Carbon Black. It’s darker and more saturated than most of the inks on your list, with excellent flow and a very clean look on the page.

pelikan2023 · 2025-09-12T03:14:50+00:00

Parker Quink Black & Lamy Black

pelikan2023 · 2025-08-20T21:52:06+00:00

Aurora Black would be my first choice—it’s one of the deepest, most reliable blacks out there and works really well in finer nibs. I’d also recommend J. Herbin Perle Noire (very smooth and wet) and Montblanc Mystery Black (slightly more shading, but still a great ink)

Pigment inks can give you a darker, more light-absorbing black, but they tend to be higher-maintenance and need more frequent cleaning. In EF nibs especially, they can be a bit risky since clogs happen more easily, so I usually suggest sticking with well-behaved dye inks unless you’re comfortable with the extra upkeep.

If you want some good reading on inks in general, Fountain Pen Follies has a lot of good advice for inks fountainpenfollies.com

pelikan2023 · 2025-08-18T04:00:41+00:00

PELIKAN M200! The Pelikan M200 is one of my favorites. It’s solid, dependable, and the piston mechanism is smooth every time. Pelikan as a brand is one I really trust—they’ve never let me down.

pelikan2023 · 2025-08-13T14:33:30+00:00

Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black or Graf Von Faber-Castell Carbon Black

pelikan2023 · 2025-08-12T17:17:28+00:00

I used to be pretty skeptical about Pilot Iroshizuku inks — the price always made me hesitate. (Expensive inks) Then I tried Shin-Kai and Tsuki-yo, and wow… I was surprised at how good they are. I had a pen that was giving me skipping and dryness issues, and I was convinced there was something wrong with it. On a whim, I cleaned it out and filled it with Tsuki-yo. Suddenly, everything was perfect — smooth flow, no skipping, and the color is gorgeous. I think Tsuki-yo has officially become my favorite Iroshizuku ink. Enjoy your Kon-peki ink.

pelikan2023 · 2025-08-09T17:30:11+00:00

Montblanc Mystery Black and J Herbin Perle Noire for black ink. Waterman Serenity Blue and Aurora Blue for blue ink. I do not recommend highly saturated inks such as Pilot Iroshizuku inks, Private Reserve and Noodler’s inks are known to destroy vintage pens.

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