on saleRobert Oster Black Violet - Ink Sample

In my TWSBI eco this ink is much darker than the sample on the website shows, but I actually love that about it. It's a bit wet, so maybe that's why, but I'm quite fond of it.

Ink is a really dark, almost, not quite black, color, very saturated. Just a hint of purple in the ink shows best, of course, in broader nibs, but even in extra fine nibs, the color is more interesting than plain black, quite suitable for professional use. It doesn't feather, but does have some show through on even better paper. Good flow, fairly wet, well behaved. An interesting color (I like it!), but if you're really looking for purple, this is probably not it.

I started with a sample, but after the first sentence written with a 1.1mm JoWo stub nib, I knew I'd be purchasing a full bottle. At first glance, it's almost black, but a second look reveals there's more going on: it's a deep violet, occasionally showing ever-so-slight hints of red or pink peeking through that deep, dark color. Such an interesting ink! I love it!Like all of the Robert Oster inks I've tried, it flows well and writes smoothly. It lays down fairly wet, but dries reasonably quickly. It is a bit prone to smudging and smearing, though, if you come back to it later with moist hands. Not an issue for letter writing, but I have to be a bit careful when updating pages in my day-to-day notebook. I'm totally sold on this one. It'll be in regular rotation.

The robert oster picture is a dark purple. This ink is not purple. This ink is black or a black-gray. I thought I had a bad batch, but after searching other reviews I saw that others also experienced that it isn't the color as shown. I feel bamboozled.

This is a beautiful and rich ink.