This is the second ink I received from Karen at Exaclair. The first ink I received and reviewed was J. Herbin Orange Indien, which can found here.
I used the ink on three different papers: Clairefontain, Rhodia, and Piccadilly. I used the same pens as I did with the Orange Indien review except for the Parker 51.
Click the images for a supersized scan. Warning, they’re large (~6MB).
As with every ink I’ve used on my Clairefontaine paper, this ink performed exceptionally well. I noticed it doesn’t feel watered down and provides a very smooth writing experience, even with the italic nib in my Faber Castell Ambition. The only thing to watch out for if using this ink on this paper is the drying time. If you’re a lefty it’ll be problematic and you should try it on Rhodia paper. If you’re a righty I don’t think you’ll have to worry about it.
The differences in the writing experiences between Rhodia and Clairefontaine are barely noticeable. They’re both incredibly smooth, hold ink very well, and don’t feather or allow bleed through. I think the drying time for the Rhodia paper is slightly quicker, I’m talking like a second or two. But as I mentioned above, that may be a very important factor for the left handed writer. Other than that they’re so similar I usually don’t have a preference unless I’m using an italic or cursive italic nib, but those details should be saved for a paper review.
My final test was on my Piccadilly pad.
As to be expected the ink feathered and bled through the page, just like nearly every other ink I’ve used in the Piccadilly. Go here to see my review of the Piccadilly pad and what inks I recommend for it. In the written portion on the Piccadilly pad I did comment on the color depth of the ink when used in pens that flow more or less than “standard” (if there is a standard flow). After writing several sentences the color difference between the pens become harder to notice. It’s more pronounced when you start writing after a slight pause. I don’t consider this feature positive or negative, just that it should be noted.
The more I use J. Herbin inks the more I like them. I really like the colors and the way the ink performs. The Vert Empire, along with all other J. Herbin inks I’ve used, flows well in all my pens and exhibit little to no nib creep. If you have a chance to try a sample I highly suggest you do.
