Waterman Intense Black
Ink Review #21
*Please note that the scan is the accurate representation of this color.
Overview
The color/properties
Waterman Intense Black is a pale black that has a low amount of shading. During my tests, this ink appeared with a dull black sheen, but I was only able to see it with the larger nib sizes — I noticed this most on the Midori MD paper — but it’s still hardly noticeable.
Ink splat
Ink droplets
Performance on paper:
During my tests, there was minor bleed-through on only the Kokuyo paper, but the dry times were surprisingly below average, often taking 25-30 seconds to finish drying, and in some cases extending past the 30-second mark. When exposed to water the ink creates a blue cloud and the remains are a hazy be readable blue shadow of what was written.
Water resistance
Chromatography
Performance in the pen:
I had a very hard time getting this ink to flow through any of the nibs at first, but when it finally did start flowing, I found the ink to have a very wet flow. The wetness definitely had a poor effect on the dry times, and despite the wetness, I experienced some stops and hard starts with the broad and medium nibs. The ink otherwise felt slick and well lubricated, and overall provided a comfortable writing experience. Cleaning took slightly longer than normal, but the ink washed out with a few soaks and flushes, without leaving any stains or residue inside the pen.
Value/cost per ml:
At the time of writing, Waterman Intense Black is purchasable for $13.92 for a 50ml bottle from US retailers, making it $0.28 per ml.
The bottle/packaging:
Waterman Intense Black comes in the standard Waterman Bottle. The design is both practical and elegant, boasting a classical faceted design that allows you to tilt the bottle on its side, making it easier to a pen as the ink level gets lower. The glass has a moderate clarity, and the cap has large ribs to allow for easier opening (though I’ll admit that I’ve often found Waterman bottles are often difficult to open) The bottle is stable for filling, and the opening is large enough to comfortably accommodate most pens.
Score: 61.5/70
Price per ml: 7.5/10
Performance in a pen: 8/10
Performance on paper: 9.5/10
Color saturation: 9/10
Sheening: 2/10
Shading: 2/10
Dry time: 5.5/10
Water resistance: 5/10
Ease of cleaning: 7.5/10
Bottle form: 2.5/5
Bottle function: 3/5
*Only 70 of the 100 available points are required for an outstanding score.My personal thoughts...
Waterman Intense Black has been my choice of black ink for years. Admittedly, I don’t usually gravitate towards black inks, but I’ve always found Intense Black to be a great value for a truly dark black with minimal shading that offered a great writing experience. After finishing my tests I was surprised by its lackluster performance, and it certainly shouldn’t have had the issues it did, but it will most likely continue on as my go-to black ink.
Written on Oxford Optik paper with an Esterbrook J (1551 fine)
More images/info:
Tools and materials used in the writing samples:
A TWSBI Diamond 580 AL with 7 nib units including a Needlepoint grind, EF, F, M, B, 1.1mm stub, and an Architect grind. All nibs tuned to perform at the same medium wetness.
A Rhodia No16 A5 DotPad
A Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook
A 68gsm A5 Tomoe River Notebook
A Maruman Mnemosyne A5 Spiral Notebook
A Kokuyo Campus A5 Notebook