P.W. Akkerman #28 Hofkwartier Groen is my favorite green ink, and it’s not particularly close.
It also falls into the category of products that I love and talk about constantly, but have never reviewed. It’s time to correct that.
Akkerman #28 is a bright green ink, with a healthy dose of yellow undertones. Inks with that color definition don’t always have the best readability on the page, but I’ve never had a problem with this one. It pops off the page, even in my finest nibs.
Of course, a wide, wet nib will show off the feature that this ink is known for most: Shading. It’s subtle when you are writing, but after a few sentences, the range of shades between dark and light begin to appear on the page.
I used a Sailor 21k Medium Fine nib for this review, and the ink performed flawlessly. That’s the thing about all Akkerman inks - they behave perfectly. Good flow, good lubrication, good saturation, good dry time - good all of the things. These inks are right in the middle of all of those ranges, which, in my mind, makes for a great quality, every day use, fountain pen ink.
I think the only question left to ask about any Akkerman ink is does the ink bottle design sway how I feel about the ink itself? Yes. Yes it does. Sure, I could get a similar color ink (say, from Diamine,) in a more traditional bottle shape (like the ones Diamine uses,) at a lower price per ml (around Diamine’s price point,) and be perfectly happy. But have you SEEEEEN this bottle? It makes all the difference in the world.
And Hofkwartier Groen makes all the difference in the world to me in the world of green inks. From a usage standpoint, it is right up there with Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-kai and Robert Oster Fire on Fire as my most used ink. In fact, I have to actively choose not to use it so other inks get the chance. It’s that good.
At $30 for a 60 ml bottle, Akkerman inks fall on the higher side of ink prices. I find the cost to be completely justifiable for the ink quality, plus the amazing bottle that certainly comes at no small cost. At least that is what I tell myself as the owner of five bottles of this awesome ink.
(I purchased this ink at a pen show a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. I probably paid full price for it.)
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