Tintenlabor Goldrausch (formerly Gold Black) — Ink Review #198
Tintenlabor Goldrausch – “Gold Rush” (formerly Gold Black)
Ink Review # 198
Originally posted on FPN: Aug 13, 2025
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🧾 Description
Ink: Tintenlabor Goldrausch – “Gold Rush” (formerly Gold Black)
Available: 30/50 ml bottle from Tintenlabor website:
Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1) Ahab with FPR superflex and ebonite feed.
Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall inks. What separates this brand from similar ones is that the iron content is disclosed. In this case, 6 g/L, which is the highest.
The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David.
This is my favorite Tintenlabor ink; it’s unique and fun to use. It starts as gold, then oxidizes to a gorgeous dark brown with lovely shading, or to a glossy black, depending on the wetness of the pen.
With a very wet Ahab, it could bleed through some papers, yet in a Lamy Safari it was fantastic, the same with the Kakuno. After a month, I was sorry to say adieu.
Cleaning is much easier than with other IG inks. After rinsing overnight, there was a black residue inside all sections, which I removed with a Q-tip. I still gave it a diluted ascorbic acid “special treatment” in the pen jacuzzi (tip of a teaspoon in a cup of water) and a bit of rinsing. Everything was clean in less than 18 hours.
Ink is water-resistant / waterproof. The more oxidized it is, the more waterproof.
Note: With IG inks, never use traditional ammonia-based cleaning solutions.
Note 2: Tintenlabor has renamed some of the old inks and discontinued the rest. However, it is my understanding that David will make them for you, if you ask kindly. ;)
In conclusion: if you want the brown colour, opt for a dry pen; if you want the glossy black opt for a wet pen. Ideally, use pens that can be dismantled completely.
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🧪 Chroma
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✍️ Writing Samples (scan)
Note: I did the review before the name change happened.
JEF stands for Japanese EF nib.
Rhodia / Iroful
Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm
Hammermill 20lb
Rhodia/ Iroful
Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm
Hammermill
Oxidization
🔍 Comparison
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💧 Water Test
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🎨 Artwork
Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Tintenlabor Gold Black and Alpstein (grey), Paper is Talens Mixed Media
Home
Tintenlabor Gold Black, Diamine Registrar's, J Herbin Diabolo Menthe, Yellow highlighter, Bleach
Inktober - Day 28 - Skeletal
With apologies to George de la Tour
Tintenlabor Gold Black, Uni-ball Signo White Gel pen, Canson Watercolor paper
The first photograph shows the oxidation process, as the freshly applied gold ink gradually darkens to black.
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- What I Liked: Writing, color, sketching, oxidization to brown or glossy black.
- What I Did Not Like: If I were to nitpick, sometimes it looked transparent with fine nibs.
- What Some Might Not Like: IG ink phobia.
- Writing Experience: Excellent
- Pros: Marvellous oxidization,
- Cons: It’s an IG ink. So you can’t forget it in a pen.
🧷 Ink Characteristics
- Shading: Lovely with dry pens.
- Ghosting: With wet pens.
- Bleed Through: Yes, with very wet pens.
- Flow Rate: Wet
- Lubrication: ok
- Nib Dry-out: If you let the ink too long in a pen, it might evaporate.
- Start-up: Good in general.
- Saturation: Saturated baby!
- Sheen: Glossy black with Ahab but no sheen,
- Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.
- Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.
- Staining (Pen): It could leave a black residue in section.
- Clogging: No.
- Cleaning: Relatively easy compared to other IG inks.
- Water Resistance: Excellent.
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💬 Closing
In all my years of testing and reviewing inks, this ink exceeded my expectations. It’s a unique ink for the discerning ink lover.
No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. ;)
Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier. :)
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