Ink 09: Caran d'Ache

Yes, it's been a while since I wrote an ink review, but rest assured I have not been neglecting these duties. I tried Caran d'Ache Carbon a while ago. This ink is very nice. It flows quickly and easily, which is important for The Ridge Walker who is fond of pens with fine points. The color is very black, certainly in the same league as Noodler Bullet Proof Black. The saturation, or transparency of the ink, is about midrange. I note here that I like everything about this ink. It is very well done.

Look up Caran d'Ache on the internet. You'll find their web page showing pens that are works of art. They are beautiful. Truly. Their web page shows no prices, which is an indication of, if you have to ask, it's probably out of your price range. A little more searching, though, will show you these bad boys start at around $600 and go up from there. That scares you right? Yeah, now I'm not proud of this but I'm okay with that price range (mind you I'm not buying one in my current economic situation). If you want to get a pen that is as much art as pen -- and after all, isn't that the point when you're plopping down this kind of smack -- then this is the price of admission. If you want a "Pen," take The Chef shopping with you to Staples and buy a box of Bic's. This paragraph draws a line between me and you, doesn't it? I'm okay with that, too. All this is but an exercise though, to get you ready for talking about how much these guys charge for that beautiful bottle of ink.

Speaking of the bottle, it is a work of art isn't it? Of all the bottles I have acquired this one is without a doubt the most attractive. I'm including a shot of it, sans label, because it is classy. I love it. Truly. When it's empty, I'm thinking of steaming the label off and using it for paper clips or mints or something.

So the price. If you can read the label you will see it is 30 ml of ink. That's the same as J Herbin which is to say the size may seem small but is somewhat standard with other manufacturers. The price though came in at $22. (OMG Ridge Walker tell me you didn't pay that!) Now by any standard, that is expensive for a bottle of ink.

Here is where The Ridge Walker comes out on this. For writing quality and aesthetics, this is close enough to Noodler as to be indistinguishable by any but the most expert of eyes. Noodler, if you can't remember, came in at $9 a bottle and that was for 3 ounces So if money is a driving factor, buy Noodler and be happy. If however you want to have a work of art holding your ink sitting on your desk then buy Caran d'Ache. The ink is very good and the bottle is beautiful.