Sunday, September 10, 2017

INKTASTIC: PELIKAN EDELSTEIN SMOKEY QUARTZ INK REVIEW

Inktastic: Pelikan Edelstein smokey Quartz ink review
This is an ink I've been looking forward to for quite a while. Each year, Pelikan succeeds at putting out a good looking ink year after year in their Ink Of The Year collection. Each year, the color of the next Ink Of The Year release is determined by a competition in which you can mix your own ink. This year's (or rather, last year's) competition resulted in Smokey Quartz, a muted brown ink. My thanks to Joost from Appelboom for providing this ink for review! 
Inktastic: Pelikan Edelstein smokey Quartz ink review
I had actually been anticipating a brown ink for this year, so I'm quite happy with this one. There seems to be a trend of slightly more muted colors for the last three releases, which is right up my alley.

Smokey Quartz is -unlike the gemstone it's based on- not really a grey-brown, but more of a coffee/chocolate brown. Despite it not entirely matching the name, it's still a very nice dark brown ink. The lighter cappuccino cofee brown base is covered with a layer of dark chocolate brown shading. Depending on the nib you use, the base color can be a bit darker, so shading isn't always as pronounced, but it's definitely there.
Inktastic: Pelikan Edelstein smokey Quartz ink review
Edelstein inks are generally well-behaved, and this one follows the trend. It's a smooth, relatively wet ink, flow was good in all pens I tried it with. It behaves perfect on decent paper (Rhodia), no bleedthrough or feathering at all. Dry times were average, maybe slightly on the longer side because it's a relatively wet ink. It's not a waterproof or iron-gall ink, but it's surprisingly water-resistant. 
Inktastic: Pelikan Edelstein smokey Quartz ink review
Inktastic: Pelikan Edelstein smokey Quartz ink review
Lamy Safari, F nib
Inktastic: Pelikan Edelstein smokey Quartz ink review
Lamy Safari, B nib
Inktastic: Pelikan Edelstein smokey Quartz ink review
Lamy Safari, 1.5mm stub 'calligraphy' nib
Inktastic: Pelikan Edelstein smokey Quartz ink review
Smokey quartz is a nice ink in a row of excellent special edition releases. Pelikan does a great job with their Ink Of The Year collection, and I can't wait to see what will come next! Edelstein inks come in cartridges (long international), or really good-looking 50ml bottles. The bottles run for 15 EUR/ 25 USD. 25 USD is steep, maybe a bit too steep, but it's definitely worth 15 euros! Given that enormous price difference depending on where you get it, I think getting them from an EU retailer such as Appelboom is your best bet.
Appelboom pennen
Note: Appelboom is a sponsor of this blog. This product was provided, free of charge, so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affilate links.
Inktastic: Pelikan Edelstein smokey Quartz ink review

3 comments:

  1. Sorry to be commenting as anonymous, but you don't support any ID option I can use without signing up for something new. I agree with your sentiment about the color/name mismatch. In fact, I've taken to calling it Topaz or Smoky Topaz rather than Smoky Quartz. I do like it though. I only have one other brown toned ink and this is nicer.

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  2. Just bought this from Seitz-Global for under $18 USD...delivered from Germany. That’s $10 lower than USA vendors sell it for...not counting shipping! This looks very fine. I recently ordered a Waterman Carene in Amber finish with the factor stub nib from “nibs.com” and this ink looks ideal. Nice review, thanks.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, those price differences often don't make any sense. Sometimes US pricing is higher, sometimes it's lower (even for European products, like the Lamy 2000), I don't really know why. Enjoy your new pen and ink!

      Thanks for reading!
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