Pelikan Edelstein Ink

Pelikan Edelstein Ink was introduced in 2010 and caused an immediate stir over the attractive bottles.

Pelikan Edelstein Ink

Handsome bottles are nice but ink counts more. Ryan at The Pear Tree Pen Company did a good thing and sent sample vials so I could get a firsthand look. Unfortunately, my swatches were difficult to scan and got set aside for lack of a decent image. This week new scans captured the colors better so here is my long-delayed post.

Pelikan Edelstein Ink Swatch

The image above is decent except that Sapphire really is a purple-blue and a nice one at that. The other colors look fairly accurate if more pale than what you would get from a nib. I used a watercolor brush on Strathmore Windpower Sketch paper to get a better sense of the range.

Without a brown or true red, Edelstein isn’t a full spectrum line but the colors currently available do comprise a useful palette. In fact the colors are more vibrant than any online swatches I’ve seen. If you prefer a single manufacturer, this is a simple group that would do the trick.

Wondering about other properties? Nothing disappointing here. Coverage is good with no bleed-through or feathering even on a paper like Windpower that can have the latter issue. Shading seems pen-dependent and there is no outlining. Flow is good but not especially lubricating. This isn’t Iroshizuku but I don’t favor that brand in a Pelikan. The half dozen Pels I’ve used were fairly free-flowing and seem well-matched to Edelstein. My opinion of Peikan pens is subjective so do rely on your own experience.

Edelstein has outperformed my expectations though at $20 per bottle, premium ink attractively packaged should be a given. On that score Pelikan has delivered.

For an in-depth review of Edelstein Ruby, head over to CarpeDavid.

Can Inkophile be 3 years old already?!

It’s that time of year again. The Inkophile blog is now 3 years old as is Inkophile on Twitter. My participation at Fountain Pen Network will reach the five year milestone in a few days. Gosh, that sounds old at least on the Internet. Is there a comparable in dog years?

During this time the number of available ink colors has grown enormously which bodes well for people who love fountain pens. While some companies have retired colors that were peerless, others have come out with ones that are unique. The biggest loser is Montblanc who discontinued Racing Green. The biggest winner is Pilot with its Iroshizuku line. Sailor created the Kobe line but only for market in Japan so that’s a no gain. Platinum has released a line called Mix Free that is aimed at those who want to mix their own colors but it hasn’t reached the U.S. yet though it could arrive early summer. It may not be a game changer but it certainly will thrill those with a creative urge or want a one-of-a-kind color.

Virtually every ink manufacturer has at least a few new colors especially Diamine and Noodler’s. Then there are the recently released Pelikan Edelstein inks. The bottle is very attractive but the ink has yet to win over the pen community though amongst the samples sent by Pear Tree, Topaz and Ruby look promising.

Is the marketplace getting overcrowded? Perhaps. It may take a distinguishing characteristic or marketing campaign to become a standout product in future. Well, unless the ink is a standout on its own. That’s where Pilot made a breakthrough. With a premium ink that delivers in every respect including a beautiful bottle and handsome packaging, Iroshizuku has set the bar high for future luxury products.

There is less news at the economy end. Noodler’s remains the best value for money especially with colors that can tolerate a little dilution. The colorful and often amusing labels make up for the no-frills bottle that helps keep the cost of packaging down. Never at a loss for ink colors or colorful names, Nathan Tardiff continues to add to his line with no end in sight. All to the good for ink lovers.

There are so many new pens on the market you probably know more about them than I do. The only recent additions to my collection are a couple of Noodler’s pens that perform at a level commensurate with their prices. Not new but new to me was a pink Platinum Preppy, a gift from The Pear Tree Pen Company. At the price point, this steel nib is a steal.

Of course there are always new paper products. Rumor has it the revamped Quo Vadis Habana may prove to be the best new item for fountain pen users. The off-white color and narrow line spacing are similar to Moleskine but it has the paper quality necessary to control fountain pen ink. This sounds promising but I haven’t seen it myself.

Despite the economic challenges of the last few years, companies continue to provide pen people with new products. All to the good for a three-year-old inkophile.

A Few Inkophile Favorites

Pictured are bottles of Rohrer & Klingner Solferino from PearTreePens.com, J. Herbin Vert Olive, and Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku, pads of G. Lalo and Rhodia paper, a 1970′s Montblanc 220 fountain pen with an OB nib, an Ebonite Dipless Dip Pen from AllWriteNow.com, and a pen wrap from HisNibs.com.

Edelstein Ink Is Now Available

Art Brown now has the new Edelstein Ink from Pelikan in stock. Other dealers may as well so get your order into your favorite purveyor if you are an inkophile who wants to be first on your block to try the new product.

Since I am on an ink diet, I would love to know your opinion of Edelstein. If you write an online review, do post a link in the comments so we can all read what you think of it. Thanks!

UPDATE: 9.23.2010 17:13 PDT Just found out that Pear Tree Pens has its shipment of Edelstein in hand. Others do, too.

Edelstein Ink Has Arrived in the U.S.

According to Art Brown, Chartpak, the U.S. distributor of Edelstein Ink, has received its shipment and will be sending it out to retailers this week. Art Brown expects to receive their shipment tomorrow. So it is likely your favorite retailer will have a stock of Edelstein in a day or two as well.

Pelikan Edelstein Ink Now Available

Art Brown is now shipping the new Edelstein Ink from Pelikan. At $20 per bottle it certainly qualifies as a premium product. Below is a piece from the announcement that explains what makes this ink special. Of course the ‘flacon’ (fancy word for bottle) is unique, too.

The Edelstein Premium Ink Collection is comprised of seven brilliant colors with a special ingredient to ensure extra smooth writing and high-performance care for your fountain pen.

UPDATE: 9/17/2010 @ 16:51 PDT – Although unconfirmed it appears that Art Brown is not yet shipping Edelstein Ink. Unfortunately, the store closed today before I knew there was an issue. If this is accurate, Art Brown should have placed a banner or other caveat stating the ink would be available soon rather than allowing customers to think it was in inventory.

From some of the comments here as well as info gathered from other sources, the ink should be available from retailers quite soon, perhaps in just a matter of days. Check your usual ink dealer for availability. Maybe you can even find a few additional items to order with your Edelstein. A pretty demo (clear) pen might be just the thing to show off your new jewel-toned ink.

Pelikan’s New Edelstein Ink

Pelikan has announced a new addition to its lineup called Edelstein Ink. In German edelstein means jewel or gemstone. No word on the properties but it is a premium line so it should be very good quality. Retail is expected to be around $20 for 50 ml.

The colors are called Topaz, Ruby, Onyx, Jade, Mandarin, Sapphire, and Aventurine. If you like jewel tones, this could be just the thing to dress up the fall season.

Pelikan’s standard inks are widely available so I expect the same will hold true for the new line. This should set Edelstein above the other premium inks that have struggled with limited distribution. Check with your favorite retailer for availability.

Pelikan Edelstein Ink in Sapphire

More at Nancy Olson, Ink.