Fine Writing: J. Herbin 340th Anniversary Rouge Heratite Ink

Introduction:
When you think of quality ink or sealing wax, one of the companies that always comes to mind is J. Herbin. For centuries they've been providing quality product--and as we in this very special ink, 340 years worth of quality. Not too many companies can say they have existed before even the United States was founded and even before the invention of the piano.

That said, with such rich history in two specific products means one thing: true quality. J. Herbin knows a think or two about ink. And, with this special 340th Anniversary ink really does shine as a product that demonstrates just a company can create with such long history.

Aesthetics:

Now, every fountain pen, dip pen or fancy writer for that matter cares about the appearance of their pens and of their ink. Period. More specifically, if the ink is bottled, it is that much more important in how it looks. If you it is sitting atop the desk, the bottle becomes part of the personality of the desk as a whole, much like the pens or of any other desk ornaments (aka toys). There are a fair amount of truly ugly bottles, and to balance this there are a great deal of absolutely beautiful ones.

The J. Herbin 340th Anniversary Ink bottle is one of the most alluring I have ever seen.

A square bottle, capped with a brilliantly red wax and a piece of golden elastic stamped too the bottle with a gold seal stamped “1670” the founding year of J. Herbin. It is stunning. Perhaps one of the reasons for even purchasing the ink or making the draw to buy it was the fact that it looked so damn good. While it looks amazing there are only two complaints that I do think are worth mentioning to potential customers. First off, the wax is very delicate and will crack when opening the bottle for the first time (as with per my experience and countless other accounts). And secondly, is minor in comparison but the gold elastic just seems like it could have easily been replaced with a good twine, which in my opinion, could have made it look that better (and that much more extravagant).

Performance:
Buttery smooth in writing and brilliant in colour.

There is not too much to say it how smooth the ink is when writing, it like many other quality inks is smooth and lays down on the paper well. Unlike many bottled inks out there, the 340th anniversary ink is very thick in comparison. This is wonderful as it lays down very deep dark lines saturated in colour with a nice shadow. This thickness does mean it takes a bit longer to dry then other inks, but with care (especially for you left-handed writers out there like myself), this should be a non-issue.

As for the colour side of things, the Rouge Heratite is a colour unlike any I have witnessed in a red ink. It is, by all technical accounts, a very, very deep blood red. Like blood fresh from the skin, it is profoundly rich in its appearance. This colour was chosen for a very specific reason, to match the brilliant colour of royal sealing wax that the company has also long produced. Oh, and did I mention the gold? Going back to the red waxed cap and the gold seal on the front, there is a bit of foreshadowing in the surprise many broad nib/calligraphy nib users out there. Along with this very elegant red, there is a subtle but present hint of gold that shines while the ink dries. While present in all the nibs tested with, it just looks that much better with a broad/calligraphy nib—so much so I would recommend against any other type of nib.

Final Thoughts:
Pros:
-Great bottle design.
-A blood red colour unlike any out there (specifically the gold accent).
-Little/no feathering even on the worst of paper.
-When fresh in the nib, it's very smooth and lubricated.
-Inexpensive for the quality of ink and 50ml of ink.

Cons:
-Concentrated ink results in staining—especially plastics.*
-Soft wax cap.
-Dries quickly in a pen if not used at least every other day.

There is something special about this ink. In the fact alone that rarely will you see a company celebrating a 340th anniversary, this ink is well worth buying alone. But with a combination of such expressive colour and gorgeous bottle design, it is a no brainer. This by far is one of the best ink buys I have made, especially for only $20.

*NOTE: This ink is highly concentrated, thick and natural. What does this mean? It, more then most synthetic inks, is very high maintenance. Of course all fountain pens should be cleaned regularly for optimal performance, but with J. Herbin inks this cleaning routine should be about every month, if not shorter intervals (about every two weeks is best). Not doing so could lead to staining of plastics in the pen, especially the converter. And, as with any ink, always be sure to cap it post use to prevent the growth of mold.

Pens used for testing:
Levenger True Writer - B
Namiki/Pilot Vanishing Point - M
Parker Chiselled Sonnet - F
Lamy Joy - F/.2c