Jacques Herbin La Perle des Encres Writing Ink 30ml - Orange Indien (Indian Orange)

Jacques Herbin La Perle des Encres | Orange Indien (Indian Orange)

Jacques Herbin's connection to ink stretches back to 1670, when the maison was established in Paris as a maker of sealing wax and writing supplies. It is widely regarded as the oldest ink house in the world, and La Perle des Encres - "the jewel of inks" - is its most celebrated range. Orange Indien is one of the more distinctive colours in the collection: a warm, earthy orange that carries just enough brown to keep it from being showy. It is the kind of colour that rewards daily use.

The name itself has a story. Orange Indien reflects the extensive travels of Herbin merchants to India - a country of vivid ceremony and colour - and that spirit is present in the ink: not loud, but genuinely alive on the page.

Colour character
Orange Indien sits at the darker end of orange. On quality paper it dries to a rich, burnished tone with subtle shading, particularly noticeable in broader nibs and wetter pens. On finer nibs it reads as a clean, legible orange. It neither shimmers nor sheen, and it does not pretend to be anything other than what it is. Those who prefer quieter, more considered colours will find it satisfying.

Performance
The ink is water-based, pH neutral, and formulated with all-natural dyes. It is finely filtered for use in fountain pens and will not clog feeds or nibs with regular use. Flow is smooth and consistent. Drying time is relatively quick - typically 5 to 10 seconds on quality paper with a medium nib. The ink is best paired with a medium to broad nib or a wetter-writing pen; in very fine nibs on absorbent papers, some feathering is possible, which is worth considering when selecting your paper.

The ink cleans easily from pens and shows no particular resistance to water.

Aquarelle use

Diluted with water, Orange Indien produces a soft, graduated wash with a warm tone. Applied with a brush, it works well as a watercolour-style medium for illustrated journalling and hand-lettering projects. It is also compatible with dip nibs, glass pens, reed pens, quills, felt-tip reservoirs, and brush pens.

The bottle
Each 30 ml bottle is a classic Herbin form: a rounded glass vessel with a hand-finished label and a built-in pen rest at the base of the neck; a thoughtful detail that allows you to rest your pen while filling, without setting it down. The bottle is elegantly proportioned and looks well on any writing desk.

Specifications

• Volume: 30 ml
• Colour: Orange Indien (Indian Orange)
• Formulation: Water-based, natural dyes, pH neutral
• Properties: Non-toxic, fast-drying, finely filtered
• Compatibility: Fountain pens, rollerball pens, dip nibs, glass pens, brush pens, quills