J. Herbin has introduced another ink to the 1670 line, Caroube de Chypre which is a lovely deep chocolately brown with gold flecks. I love the look of the 1670 bottles despite being difficult to use with large nibbed fountain pens or for getting ink out beyond the first few fills. I like the gold cord, the waax seal and the wax around the cap. They are beautiful, fancy treats and the only bottles that often sit out on my table for months.
The gold flecks do settle so be sure to roll or shake the bottle before filling your pens in order to distribute the flecks evenly.
I tested the ink with both a dip pen and in my Lamy Safari Joy with a 1.1mm nib. The color appears much darker with the dip nib where in the stub 1.1mm, the color is a warmer, lighter shade of brown. Almost like dark chocolate and milk chocolate depending on which tool I chose.
The ink dried pretty quickly in the Lamy but took quite awhile to dry when I used a dip pen, especially on the Rhodia paper.
I took my ink samples out into the sunlight to best capture the gold. I took two different shots. Depending on how much I turned the swatch in the light, you can get a better impression of the ink catching the light, both in the swab and even in the writing. I hope it is easier to see the greenish halo as well. There’s such a variety of depth to the color. I’m not normally a fan of brown inks because I find them rather flat and dull. They don’t have the variety and sheens and shading that blues and purples and reds often get but Caroube de Chypre is the exception to that. Thank you, sparkle, shimmer and shine!
Back inside, under more sedate lighting conditions, you can see the brown in comparison with some of the few brown inks in my collection. Caroube de Chypre is a bit more of a neutral brown than Kaweco Caramel Brown which has a bit more red in it. I put in the swatches of KWZ Honey and Callifolio Heure d’Oree knowing those are both quite popular colors at the moment and every other brown or sepia color I had was much darker, or cooler in tone. These were the closest in hue, all feeling the most candy-like.
I know that, of the 1670 colors, Emerald of Chivor has been one of the most popular colors but I actually quite like Caroube de Chypre and I think moving into fall and winter, this is the perfect hot cocoa color. I do find that the gold particles seem to settle even faster in Caroube de Chypre but I also think that means that they are smaller and lighter and less likely to clog overall. It does mean that you’ll want to roll your pen regularly to redistribute the gold as you use it though. My best recommendation is to put this ink in a demonstrator pen like a TWSBI 580 or a Lamy Safari with a wide nib so you can see when the gold flecks start to settle. Then gentle roll the pen on the table a couple times to redistribute the gold in the ink.
I purchased my bottle of Caroube de Chypre at the DC Pen Show from Federalist Pens.
The Giveaway:
The fine folks at Exaclair kindly sent me a bottle of J. Herbin Caroube de Chypre so that I could spread the love of chocolate gold dust around. So, one lucky reader can win a bottle of Caroube de Chypre of their very own.
All you have to do is leave a comment and tell me what Caroube de Chypre reminds you of.
FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Sunday, September 25, 2016. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Monday. Winner will be selected by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please use your REAL email address (not some crappy Hotmail account you never check) in the comment form so that I can contact you if you win. I will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. If the winner does not respond within 14 days, I will draw a new giveaway winner. Shipping via USPS first class is covered. Additional shipping options or insurance will have to be paid by the winner. We are generous but we’re not made of money. US residents & APO only. Sorry international folks… but hey, your croissants are better!
DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Exaclair for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.
It reminds me of really expensive truffles.
This ink reminds me of those purses made in a kind of an Asian style with rich, deep colors and gold thread creating patterns. Love it.
If I win, I’ll give the Caroube de Chypre to my brother because he introduced me to the J Herbin 1670 colors by giving me Rouge Hematite.
I have a bottle of this ink and plan to use it once I decide which pen to put it in. I’m leaning towards the Coffee Al-Star with a 1.5mm italic nib.
It reminds me of a cold, overcast day in November, when the leaves are dry and crackly and brown, and then, for a moment, the sun breaks through the clouds and glimmers gold.
It reminds me of a Willy Wonka chocolate bar with the golden ticket.
It reminds me of my own nail lacquer color, ‘Doctor Rock’. 😉 That is a gorgeous bottle, a gorgeous desk accessory.
Great photos, thanks for the review! I passed this up at the SF pen show, but now I’m back to wanting it 🙂 It reminds me of gorgeous well-worn leather.
Of the perfectly patinaed wheat back penny I found in my pocket on the Autumn solstice.
The reddish tone of it reminds me less of food and more like a piece of expensive furniture. With lots of gold knobs on it.
It reminds me of my new TWSBI AL mini, because it would look really good in it! (Also, the chocolate bar with a golden ticket answer above is just the best answer!) Also, it looks like Christmas, despite being neither red nor green.
It reminds me of sitting on the porch on a crisp fall evening watching the settign sun dance across the changing leaves. thank you for the wonderful review and opportunity to win.
my name for this yummy color:
cafe mochachino latte frappde’oro
I love Browns, first off! And the shimmer in this ink reminds me of fall and fall leaves.
It reminds me of vintage gold jewelry with a worn patina. The ink looks gorgeous!
This beautiful ink reminds of my mother’s well-kept Louis Vuitton classic handbag that she carries with her everywhere. Thank you for the lovely handbag!
My wife says it looks like dried blood… in a good way!
It reminds me of snakeskin in sunlight.
It reminds me of a dark wood beautiful old desk I helped restore thirty years ago (and still enjoy writing letters on to this day).
It reminds me of fall here in New England with golden colors sparkling among many brownish leaves that don’t show any exciting color.. I think it would look beautiful coming out of the Cognac Demonstrator
Kaweco Sport I just ordered.
Not having seen it in real life, I would have to second the comment about a copper penny. Or perhaps my auburn hair. I get to find out at the Dallas Pen Show this weekend 🙂 Ink test IRL, Ana IRL = win/win 🙂
The color reminds me of antique guilded gold furniture or frames. Depending on how the light hits a piece, you either see the rich dark color of the old wood or a the glittering of old gold worn away with age and wear.
It reminds me of the special Hershey’s kisses we have at the holidays, the gold foil-wrapped ones.
Reminds me of antique furniture in a sunny room.
There’s a small coffee shop near me that does a flourless chocolate cake. Rich, decadent, and only one slice will defeat any chocolate craving in its tracks.
Best served with real whipped cream and a cup of coffee.
It reminds me of ancient bronzes!
Polished mahogany, or stained oak
This ink reminds me of well-aged brown leather. I have a few pieces that have developed a bit of a sheen as the leather ages. Really love the look of this ink.
It reminds me of fall leaves with dew on them.
Spread Nutella on light toast.
It does seems like pretty chocolate. It reminds me of Ferrar Rochers 🙂
Chocolate.
I know, unimaginative, but true.
Drinking coffee on the porch facing a golden sun at dawn above a bright green lawn.
I love this color. It reminds me of a tootsie roll dipped in gold!
I love the color with and without the sparkle. With the sparkle, it looks like a shimmering sand. The halo is a lovely grass green. Without the sparkle it looks like DeMets chocolate turtle candy!
Reminds me of a sunny day in the fall.
It reminds me of the forest on a fall day after the rain.
Reminds me of golden parchment, as if from a ’50’s-era movie about Greece or Rome.
Patti Cathcart’s voice, especially when she’s singing “Chocolate Moment.”
This ink makes me think of the dark woods and gilt frames so often seen in art museums and old libraries.
It reminds me of vintage book covers.
It reminds me of Tiger’s Eye. I can’t wait to have a chance to try it.
It reminds me of all the acorns that have already started dropping from the sawtooth oaks! That ink is absolutely gorgeous with the addition of the sparkles!
Caroube de Chypre reminds me of glittery brown eye shadow on a disco dancer.
It reminds me of those dark chocolate truffles with the gold flecks on them. Josef Schmidt truffles to be exact!
Dirt, beautiful loamy moist dirt that I miss so much now that I love in a place with dusty dirt…
It reminds me of those chocolates wrapped in foil. Yum. I want some now!
Chocolates wrapped in foil!
For me, the red undertones always make me think of hot chocolate made from milk and powder, maybe with a bit of cinnamon!
It reminds me of a Snickers bar. The smooth chocolate on the outside and the light caramel with the particulates being the peanuts that are scattered throughout the ink. Really warm color moving into the fall season.
It reminds me of gold M&Ms.
It reminds me of gold M&Ms.
J. Herbin Caroube de Chypre reminds me of dessert at the end of an evening at a charming restaurant in Brussels, Belgium. They have the world’s best chocolate.
I love this colour much more than expected when I got a sample in the pen store box. It reminds nods me of Belgian chocolate truffles
This is a beautiful brown! It reminds me of my mom’s ginger snaps, made with extra molasses.
This ink reminds me of a decadent chocolate dessert with glitter embellishing it!
It reminds me of a warm cup of coffee on a cool autumn morning.
This ink reminds me of those coke bottle gummy candies. Between the gold flecks and the shading, it makes me crave those childhood favorites.
The color reminds me of pictures from Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Rich with a beautiful shine. Hope to see both things in person some day, with Rio being ever so slightly higher on the list… 🙂
The ink reminds me of chocolate, as well, but I can pinpoint it to a fudgesicle!
J. Herbin Caroube de Chypre reminds me of automn twigs. Différent shades of them.
It reminds me of a bottle of men’s cologne.
It reminds me of the chocolate syrup I used to put in pancakes when I was a kid!
Thanks to you and Exaclair for the giveaway!!!
At first, I thought creamy homemade hot chocolate. But the more I admired the ink I decided on the caramel tea cakes my mother would make for Sunday tea.
The little cakes had a light brown caramel glaze over them and then while wet mom would flick some kind of edible gold dust on the tops. Both pretty and delicious.
Thanks for the memory and the contast.
This ink reminds me of light beams shining through tannic water in the Everglades.
It reminds me of sunlight hitting tree trunks as the sun goes down, when it hits that perfect moment of golden rays.
Okay, okay, I hadn’t been all that attracted to this ink yet, but your description pulled me in. It makes me think of semi-precious gemstones–maybe something like tiger’s eye.
The ink reminds me of a sable paint brush.
fall leaves in dappled sunlight
Gorgeous! It reminds me of a chocolate velvet formal dress I had in high school…rich, deep, but with a lovely sheen to it.
Reminds me of my niece’s gorgeous curly hair–deep brown with bright gold (natural) highlights.
I really like the color. It’s a really nice ink. I have a bottle of the Emerald De Chivor.that I use almost daily. Great review.
The brown on white is like a snow-covered tree.
This gorgeous ink reminds me of a cup of hot chocolate on a lovely fall day.
This ink reminds me of a local sugary coconut treat called Dulce de Coco in Puerto Rico. If you get it homemade from Loiza they give it to you wrapped carefully in aluminum paper. When the sunlight hits it, the sugar particles shimmer like a golden brown pice of heaven.
Caroube de Chypre reminds me of coffee…a hot steamy coffee on a cold day. Thanks for the chance!
I just watched both versions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (original is magical, remake is awful), so this ink reminds me of the famous Golden Ticket!
For some odd reason, pirate ships come to mind. I feel like the 1670 inks already have this old school feel to them, but this color reminds me of a nice red-toned wood and the gold sparkles feel like the stolen treasure from the pirate ship.
This ink reminds me of my college days and attempting to make an adult beverage with what was available. Gold flake schnapps and coffee flavors didn’t mix too well, but we had fun anyway.
This color reminds me of Willy Wonka, in the beginning when they were looking for the golden ticket around the chocolate bar.
It reminds me of fudge chocolate!
As someone who had been a professional baker and made my share of cakes. This gorgeous color reminds me of molded dark choclate flowers that have been kissed by edible gold dust. Pure decadence!
This ink is absolutely gorgeous. It reminds me of the first eyeshadow that I bought in the early 1980’s to go with my flip do and Britannia jeans!
The ink reminds me a bit of a those shiny brown and green beetles. I’ve seen some heavy green sheen on other pics of caroube de chypre, so that might be why.
I didn’t like it at first, but it grew on me. Reminds me of a great chocolate bar.
Sometimes I sit in my car with the sun roof open, and admire the way the sun hits my hair. (I really love my hair. I think it’s my best feature!) Dark brown, though a bit lighter as the years progress, curly, with hints of gold and copper depending on how much time I spend outside. THAT’S what this ink makes me think of.
The ink reminds me of panning for gold
This is my daughters’ hair after a summer of lazy afternoons at the pool.
This ink reminds me of the feeling in my chest when my piano teacher plays me major 7th chords.
Reminds me of late summertime, when brunette hair gets those lovely streaks of blonde.
This ink reminds me of autumn leaves after they’ve turned brown and fallen off. At some angles they still can sort of catch the sun and be shiny. Looking at it makes me think of the “shoof shoof shoof” noise your feet make when you walk through thick piles of leaves.
Reminds me of a Wonka bar wrapped in a Golden Ticket.
It reminds me of Fall leaves.
It reminds me of a brown sharpie marker
It reminds me of dark stained oak furniture in afternoon sunlight.
It reminds me of my favorite coffee drink–a spicy, cinnamon-y mexican mocha with a mint leaf garnish!
This ink reminds me of a molten chocolate cake – the gooey, yumminess inside. Or maybe I’m ready for dessert! Either way, this ink looks yummy!
Your description immediately brought to mind the Bronze Dragon, Mnementh, of The Dragon Riders of Pern. The ink is a beautiful representation of their color, mystic, and legend. Anne Mccaffrey would be happy 🙂
This ink reminds me of old bronze artifacts in a museum.
It reminds me of coffee beans and of beautiful antique fabrics.
The color reminds of me smooth, delicious
chocolate!
It reminds me of gold leaf.
Wow! This is super pretty. I’m fairly new into calligraphy but I think something like this might just push me over the edge into the calligraphy world. I’m in love with browns this year for fall, which is weird because I have never been before. The gold glitter in this just adds more to the fall effect and makes me more excited for the months to come.
I love the idea of fall colors, and this ink reminds me of fall…..And, I have to say…how thoughtful of to give this beautiful bottle of ink away
J. Herbin Caroube de Chypre reminds me of the chocolate cakes with gold scrollwork that my Russian professor used to bring to department parties.
The color reminds me of my school uniform dress, way back in the 80s in Soviet Union