Diamine Earl Grey — Ink Review #218
Diamine Earl Grey
Ink Review # 218
Originally posted on FPN:
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Ink: Diamine Earl Grey
Available: 30/ 80 ml bottles worldwide.
Pens Used: Pilot F3A EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1), Karas Customs with FPnibs full flex and ebonite feed.
I never thought I would appreciate grey inks. But since I’ve taken up drawing, I can’t get enough of different variations of grey inks.
Diamine Earl Grey is lovely warm grey. The ink is wet, with slightly below average lubrication. Best with wet pens and soft nibs. The Ink has no water-resistance and ghosted and bled through copy paper. The ink couldn’t handle the flex nib’s ink demands, despite the ebonite feed.
For writing, it’s a neutral grey with a hint of purple and lovely shading, best on Japanese paper and M nibs and above.
For drawing and washes, it’s a gorgeous ink with a complex colour. If you're looking for a waterproof grey with a purple tinge, Tintenlabor Basalt ( iron gall) and Octopus W&D Fox Grey (pigment ink) are better candidates. 😊
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🧪 Chroma
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JEF stands for Japanese EF nib.
Rhodia / Iroful
“An Earl is but a man who had good fortune in his ancestors.” — Samuel Johnson
Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm
Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm. Many older reviews refer to a thinner 52 gsm version, which behaves differently.
“Titles do not make men noble; deeds do.” — Ovid
“The color of truth is gray.” — André Gide
Hammermill 20lb
“Grey has the greatest value—it makes all colors beautiful.” — Giorgio Morandi
📸 Photos
Rhodia/ Iroful
Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm
🔍 Comparison
Col-O-ring. Scans are approximative.
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💧 Water Test
🎨 Artwork
Inktober Monthly Challenge -Scorpio
I appropriated and combined the ancient Egyptian goddesses of Bastet (the feline goddess of home, fertility, music, and joyful protection) and Selket (goddess of protection, healing, and the breath of life in death.).
With apologies to the long-gone hardworking Egyptian scribes, the hieroglyphs, created by ChatGPT, read: “Protects the mouse the cat from evil scorpion.”
Diamine Earl Grey, Karas Customs Vertex with an FPnibs full flex nib, Talens Mixed Media Notebook.
Inspired by a photo I took of my cat.
Diamine Earl Grey (purple-grey ink), Tintenlabor Encre Royale (purple), Jacques Herbin Vert Cactus, Uniball Signo White Gel, Talens Mixed Media Notebook.
Me and my Gang
A manga-like take on the artist and his muses.
Diamine Earl Grey ink on Talens Mixed Media.
Villain
Who was the villain : the off-key singer or the one with the perfect pitch?
Diamine Earl Grey, Jacques Herbin Rouge Amarante, Vert Cactus, Van Dieman's Here Kitty Kitty, Tintenlabor Basalt, Uniball Signo white gel, Talens Mixed Media Notebook.
Inspired by a photo of my cat and a handwoven Santa made by wife.
Diamine Earl Grey, Noodler's Eel Red Rattler's Red, Jacques Herbin 1798 Bleu Diamant, Talens Mixed Media Notebook.
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- What I Liked: Drawing, Ink washes. The purple coming out with wider nibs on Japanese paper.
- What I Did Not Like: Lack of water resistance. Nothing special with finer nibs.
- Writing Experience: Good.
- Pros: Excellent for drawing, washes, price, availability.
- Cons: Lack of water resistance.
🧷 Ink Characteristics
- Ghosting: Yes, on copy paper.
- Bleed Through: Yes
- Flow Rate: Wet.
- Lubrication: Slightly below average, improve with time.
- Nib Dry-out: Did not notice.
- Start-up: Good.
- Saturation: Yes.
- Sheen: Did not notice.
- Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.
- Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.
- Staining (Pen): No.
- Clogging: No.
- Cleaning: Easy.
- Water Resistance: Nope.
I have enjoyed sketching and drawing with this ink. As a writing ink, I have other preferences, but still this one has a lovely, elegant colour and feel.
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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