Jacques Herbin Colours of Paris | Métropolitain Writing Ink, 30ml
There is a particular shade of green that belongs entirely to Paris. It lines the wrought-iron archways and ceramic tile surrounds of the Métro entrances - structures that Hector Guimard designed at the turn of the twentieth century and which have since been recognised as works of Art Nouveau. Vert Métropolitain, from Jacques Herbin's Colours of Paris collection, is that green. It is not a colour invented for a product range. It is drawn from something that already exists and has existed for well over a century on the streets of a city that takes its visual character seriously.
Jacques Herbin has been making ink in Paris since 1670, which makes it one of the oldest ink houses in the world. The Colours of Paris collection was developed specifically to honour the city where the maison was founded, with each of the five shades in the range tied to a real place or landmark. Métropolitain is the green of the Metro. Les Toits de Paris is the grey of the rooftops. Rue de la Verrerie is the blue of the street where Herbin kept its address in 1810. These are not metaphors; they are genuine points of reference.
The colour
Métropolitain reads as a medium green with a teal quality - not a grass green, not a forest green, but something with a cooler, more mineral character that suits formal and everyday writing alike. It shades well, particularly through broader nibs, where the variation between lighter and darker passages becomes clearly visible.
Through finer nibs the shading is more restrained but still present. The ink leans toward the wet side of the flow spectrum, which contributes to its smooth delivery across most papers.
The formula
Jacques Herbin inks are water-based, non-toxic, and pH neutral, formulated with all-natural dyes. This natural composition is reflected in the very neutral pH of the inks and may also explain why there is very limited, if any, evidence of chromatography in the overall ink behaviour. The ink is lightfast and fast-drying.
There is no sheen and no shimmer, which makes it a reliable, uncomplicated choice for daily writing - it performs consistently across fountain pens, rollerball pens, and glass or dip nibs. In testing with a medium nib it dried in approximately eight seconds, extending to around 25 seconds with a broad nib.
The bottle
The 30ml bottle uses Jacques Herbin's signature "D bottle" design, complete with an integrated pen rest. The "D" pays homage to the old French unit of measure, la Demi Courtine - a quiet nod to centuries of ink-making tradition. The bottle is glass, substantial in the hand, and well-proportioned for a writing desk. It is a considered object as well as a functional one.
Compatibility
Suitable for use with fountain pens, rollerball pens, glass nibs, and dip pens. Compatible with all standard international converters and cartridge-filling systems.
Specifications
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Soft armchair
$420.00
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