Tintenlabor Bernstein — Ink Review #260
Tintenlabor Bernstein
Ink Review # 260
Ink: Bernstein (Amber)
Brand: Tintenlabor
Country: Switzerland
Availability: 30 ml and 50 ml bottles from Tintenlabor website: https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products
Type: Light iron gall ink.
Pens Used: Pilot Elite EF, Kaweco Sport (EF/F/M/B/BB, stub 1.1), Ackermann with Moonman flex.
Tintenlabor is a small Swiss company specializing in iron gall inks, and it identifies the iron content of each ink. The lower the iron content, the easier the upkeep. The higher the iron content, the more waterproof the ink becomes, the more dramatic the oxidation, and the more care is needed when cleaning the pen.
Tintenlabor Bernstein is a lovely sepia iron gall ink with low dye content, whose colour is shaped largely by metal–tannin chemistry..
It oxidizes from transparent amber into a lovely sepia or brown, depending on nib width and wetness. It’s the ultra-light version of Tintenlabor Goldrausch (Goldrush), with only 1 g/L of iron.
Lubrication is below average, with that familiar iron gall dryness. I didn’t find it pleasant with Japanese or European EF fountain pen nibs, though it was surprisingly pleasant with the EF Moonman flex nib fitted on an Ackermann pen, probably because the setup is wetter and more forgiving.
Surprisingly, it felt much more agreeable than some of the very pale chromo-shading inks I’ve been reviewing, or maybe my low-lubrication threshold has risen!
It’s an excellent ink for cheap paper. There’s no show-through or bleed-through unless used with a very wet flex nib. It has excellent water resistance.
I would say this is a perfect ink for those who are constrained to using cheap copy paper, or for those who want to try an iron gall ink but are afraid of harming their pens. However, if you only use lubricated inks, this ink is not for you.
With some pens, cleaning was easy; with others, a Q-tip test inside the section showed black iron residue, so I used an ascorbic acid solution to finish the cleaning.
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🧪 Chroma
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✍️ Writing Samples (photos LED and daylight)
Translations from language are provided for reference only and may differ from published versions.
Rhodia dotpad
“The golden sunshine of a glorious June morning flooded the roses.”
— Johanna Spyri, Swiss novelist, 1827–1901
Iroful
“He saw the great drops glint as they fell through the golden ray.”
— Gottfried Keller, Swiss poet and novelist, 1819–1890
Midori MD Codex
“Drink, O eyes, of the golden abundance of the world!”
— Gottfried Keller, Swiss poet and novelist, 1819–1890
Close-up
Tomoe River 68gsm (Taroko Design Notebook)
Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews.
“Music is movement, always going somewhere.”
— Leonard Bernstein, American composer and conductor, 1918–1990
Hammermill 20lb copy paper
“He saw the great drops glint as they fell through the golden ray.”
— Gottfried Keller, Swiss poet and novelist, 1819–1890
🔍 Comparison
Col-O-ring swatches. Scans are approximate.
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💧 Water Test
🎨 Artwork
The Deal
Miniature.
Tintenlabor Bernstein - Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook Square Sketchbook
I'll Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse!
Inktober52, 2026 — Prompt: Father.
Cat & Mouse visit the Godfather.
I used mostly Tintenlabor iron-gall inks with different degrees of iron content.
Tintenlabor Aprilis Argente (background), Tintenlabor Blausee (jacket), Tintenlabor Bernstein (sepia), Barrique, Platinum Carbon Black, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook.
On my Mind
Miniature.
When Cat closes his eyes, he remembers Mouse on his cheek.
Tintenlabor Bernstein, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook.
Forgiveness
Tintenlabor Bernstein, Tintenlabor Onyx, Ostrich Green Robinia, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook.
- Writing Experience: Depends on nibs and pens.
- What I Liked: Lovely tan colour. Water resistance. Low iron content.
- What I Did Not Like: Lack of lubrication with EF nibs and below.
🧷 Ink Characteristics
- Shading: Lovely.
- Ghosting: None, unless used with a very wet flex nib.
- Bleed Through: Same as above.
- Flow Rate: Wet.
- Lubrication: Below average. Very iron gall.
- Nib Dry-out: Did not notice.
- Start-up: No problems.
- Saturation: Pale but oxidizes very fast.
- Sheen: No.
- Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.
- Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.
- Staining (Pen): No.
- Clogging: No.
- Cleaning: Check cleaning note in the description, above.
- Water Resistance: Very Good.
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💬 Closing
This is a unique iron gall ink for those who want to try one but are afraid of harming their pens. It has a lovely color and is best used with a nice, wet, smooth nib.
No fountain pens were harmed 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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