My favourite fountain pen ink colour is usually purple, but having seen a review for Robert Oster Fire & Ice (a blue ink), I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a bottle of it. But wait I did as Robert Oster Signature Inks is an Australian brand and Fire & Ice wasn’t available here in the UK until the end of January/beginning of February.

Every photo I saw and review I read had me wanting Robert Oster Fire & Ice more and more. Waiting for the ink to land in my mailbox was like waiting for Christmas (except Christmas had not long been!). As soon as it arrived, I inked up my nearest empty fountain pen (a Faber-Castell Loom with a medium nib) and got writing.

So, did Robert Oster Fire & Ice live up to my expectations?

YES!

Over a week after receiving the ink, I haven’t picked up another fountain pen since inking the Loom with Fire & Ice. It’s InCoWriMo (International Correspondence Writing Month) too, so I’ve been using Fire & Ice every day for my letters and postcards. I really do love writing with it.

Robert Oster Fire & Ice is a turquoise ink which produces a red/magenta sheen when used on the right paper. This is how the ink gets its name… Fire for the red sheen and Ice for the turquoise blue ink.

I just think it’s such a wonderful ink. The blue shades really well (I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a variation) and I’ve even managed to get some sheen on the Clairefontaine Triomphe writing paper I use. You’re more likely to get a sheen on paper such as Tomoe River, but that’s not exactly the cheapest paper going. Also, if you’re wanting more sheen, try a broader nib. I’ve found it to be a wet ink, but it dries fairly quickly (I’ve certainly had no issues with smearing).

Many ink lovers compare Robert Oster Fire & Ice with J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor. It’s a very similar colour (though I’d say a little greener) and has a red sheen too, but it also contains small flecks of gold. In this instance, I prefer the Robert Oster Fire & Ice, the ink sans gold flecks. The two inks are a similar price, but the J. Herbin ink comes in a glass bottle whereas the Robert Oster ink comes in a plastic one.

I love Robert Oster Fire & Ice ink so much, I’m already thinking of ordering another bottle (I wouldn’t want to run out!), even though 50ml of ink usually lasts me quite some time.

I’ve got a couple of other Robert Oster inks on the way, as well as a few samples, and I can’t wait to try them out too.

Tip: If you didn’t already know, some online stores (such as Pure Pens and The Writing Desk in the UK and Goulet Pens in the US) sell ink samples, so you can try out an ink without committing yourself to paying for a whole bottle.

Do you have any favourite fountain pen inks? Have you tried any of the Robert Oster inks? What are your thoughts?