Diamine Inkvent Blue Edition Jack Frost Ink: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

Christmas in July when it's 105 in Abilene, Texas?! Who would've thought? Diamine, that's who. Remember the Inkvent Calendar from December? I remember it well, because I did mini-reviews of all 25 inks over 25 days (see the final day's summary here). In my original review of Jack Frost, I lamented that the 7ml bottle wouldn't last long. But Santa Claus is good, even in July, because Diamine decided to make all 25 Inkvent inks available in 50ml bottles.

And oh what a bottle it is--thick glass, a unique shape with four feet, and a shiny cap. I realize ink bottles are mostly utilitarian, but I absolutely love it when manufacturers put their inks in bottles that you can display like china.

Diamine Jack Frost is a deep, midnight blue with silver shimmer and magenta sheen. Like Jack, this ink is magical and evokes moody winter sunsets viewed through ice crystals on your window.

On Rhodia paper, the sheen doesn't show up like it does on the Col-o-dex card, but the shimmer stands out. This ink flows well and looks great in all nib sizes. But, broad or flex nibs show off the sheen and shimmer the best. The ink is not waterproof.

Jack Frost is gorgeous, with lots of turquoise amidst the deep blue as demonstrated in the chromatography.

This ink is fantastic when used with a ruling nib. The sheen outlines every letter and pools beautifully. The shimmer skates along the surface.

I drew a mandala with Jack Frost using Bank Paper and a fine nib. Although I was careful to shake the pen, the nib was too fine to display the shimmer. A tiny bit of sheen comes through. I think the blue stands on its own, even when sheen and shimmer are minimal.

You can probably tell that I am entranced with Diamine Jack Frost. The combination of a stellar blue color with both sheen and shimmer makes it special.

You can purchase this or any other Diamine Inkvent color from Stilo & Stile, 11,00€ (approximately $12.73) for 50ml.

(The Pen Addict purchased this ink at full retail from Stilo & Stile.)

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The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 420 - The Real Collector's Edition

Blaze it.

We all love our Limited, Special, and Collector’s editions, and we discuss a few - and question why they exist - in this episode. Myke and I also revisit two of our favorite topics: The Scribble Pen, and digital handwriting hardware.

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code PENADDICT at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Benu Grand Scepter Fountain Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

I love browsing my pen box and seeing what pen I'm in the mood for, but some pens are a mood unto themselves. The Benu Grand Scepter is one of those pens. The original Scepter is fancy enough, but slap the word Grand in front of it, and I feel like using it should have a dress code that includes a tiara. I'm game.

The Grand Scepter is the same size and shape as the Scepter--it's only the nib that differs, with the Grand sporting a larger #6 nib instead of the original's #5. It does indeed lend a better balance to the overall appearance, I think, but both are fantastic pens. If you like a bit of bling.

The Scepter pens are shaped acrylic, with swirling facets around the pen that end in twin flared, gem-shaped ends. It's an odd shape, and doesn't look terribly comfortable, but it is surprisingly nice to hold. The flared end balances the section nicely, and the wider part rests against the hand. The grip section, which is plain black, is quite narrow, adding to its somewhat odd silhouette, but it is also a comfortable fit for me. The slightly tapered end of the grip prevents slipping too far, and the step-up to the threads and body is far back enough that it doesn't interfere with the hold at all.

The cap screws on, and ends in a black cap band with the word "Benu" embossed on it. Its shape mirrors the facets of the body, and when closed, all of the facets line up--a feat which impresses me greatly, as I've seen far fancier pens fail to do this. Of course, with the flared ends, this pen does not post at all.

This is my third Benu pen, and so far all have had excellent nib performance. Just the right amount of ink flow, with smooth lines and the perfect amount of feedback. This Grand Scepter has a broad nib, and it lays down a smooth trail of ink like hot butter on glass. It will be perfect for shimmer inks, because why not add even more sparkle?

The glittery look of the Benu Scepter is created by suspending some seriously sparkly flakes in the acrylic itself, which creates a beautiful depth to the look. Some of the acrylics even glow in the dark, lending luminosity to an already bright effect.

These pens are wild and certainly won't appeal to everyone, but they're well-made and write beautifully. The fact that it makes me feel like a queen is an added bonus. I shall use it to write my royal decrees.

(BENU provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!