UPDATE: It’s come to our attention that this formulation of Australian Opal Mauve was mis-mixed. According to Robert Oster, about 1/3 of the bottles formulated reached retailers and were sold as is. The correct color of Australian Opal Mauve is considerably more blue-purple and is what is currently available. The ink color shown in this review is no longer available as “Australian Opal Mauve”. Maybe it will re-appear in the future under a different name?
Robert Oster Australian Opal Mauve ($17 for 50ml bottle) is one of my favorite, and most recommended ink colors. When people as me for “something different” I recommend either Opal Mauve or Caffe Crema (I still need to do a review of this ink too!). These are two of the non-blue Robert Oster inks that prove Oster knows color. They are unique, complex and have layers of depth that make them appealing beyond just a cool-looking swatch. That said, it swatches fabulously!
The ink ranges in color from plum to violet to indigo and even hints at pink.
I wouldn’t say that it sheens necessarily but look at the variety of shading!
Even writing with a Fine Firm #9556 nib, there is a range of shading and the color is fully legible.
I often use this ink in my Carolina Pen Company pen which is a soft matte pink color as it coordinates nicely. (See? Nice combo, right?)
Comparison wise, Opal Mauve is a good alternative to PR Arabian Rose if you are a little skeptical of the stability of Private Reserve inks (though I’ve heard they have been improving their inks of that which I’m happy to hear). Opal Mauve has way more color variety than Einstein Ring and Alt. Bordeaux and those were the only colors I could find that were even close colorwise. All the other inks in my collection were either more violet or more magenta.
Opal Mauve is definitely a highly saturated color so it may be a bit dry for some pens but the color is worth the effort.
TOOLS
- Paper: Rhodia Pad No. 16 ($8.75)
- Pens: Shawn Newton Esterbrook Nib Holder and Esterbrook Nibs 9556 ($25), 2442 ($50) and 2668 ($20), Acrylic Dip Pen (similar models from Ebay starting at $18.03)
- Swatches: Col-o-Ring Ink Testing Cards ($10) and Col-o-dex Rotary Cards ($15)
- Brush: Blick #0 Synthetic Studio Round Brush
($4.05)
- Ink: Robert Oster Australian Opal Mauve ($17 for 50ml bottle)
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