Pear Tree Pens Ink Sampler

I recently purchased two ink samplers from Pear Tree Pens. If you haven't checked out their site, I recommend you do so. What is pretty cool about this retailer is that they sell an ink sampler. For $4.99 you get to choose four inks to try. They bottle up approximately 1cc of each of the four inks you specify and vacuum seal the package. This is a great way to try a few inks without buying full bottles.

Seeing as how I am new to the Fountain Pen world, I decided to order two sample packs. They consisted of:

Aurora Blue
Diamine Turquoise
J Herbin Eclat De Saphir
J Herbin Rose Cyclamen
J Herbin Vert Pre
Noodler's Baystate Blue
Noodler's Dragon's Napalm
Noodler's Habanero

Yesterday, I decided to flush some of my pens and fill a couple with the sample colors. Resistance is futile. You will enjoy these inks.

First up, Diamine Turquoise. Very pretty color. I filled it in one of my inexpensive Hero's #329.

Next up, Noodler's Baystate Blue, I filled this in a Platinum Preppy. Baystate colors have a higher alkaline content and should not be mixed with other inks. They have also been said to damage certain fountain pens. Since this is the first time using it, I used a $3 Preppy - just in case. The color is extremely bright cobalt blue - very intense I can see why people would risk an FP with this stuff. It is magnificent.

J Herbin Rose Cyclamen, I love this color - very vivid and it flowed very well in my Pilot 78g. While not an everyday color, it makes me smile.

J Herbin Vert Pre - This is an awesome color, and I foresee it being in my ink rotation for a long time. I love this lime green. Its soft and bright all at the same time. My wife didn't like it at first but its growing on her.

Aurora Blue. Not as brilliant as the Noodler's Baystate Blue... But its close, also a much safer ink to play around with. Its a little dark in this photo but I used a vintage Esterbrook and it flows pretty wet. I would say this is a pretty nice well rounded blue.

Once I run these colors through, I will reink the pens with the remaining colors. I personally cannot wait to try the J Herbin Eclat De Saphir. Something tells me I am going to love it.

Here is a link to all the full sized images: flickr