thINKthursday
Montblanc James Dean Rebel Red

Go ahead, be a little bad with Montblanc James Dean Rebel Red.

thINKthursday – MontBlanc James Dean Rebel Red

James Dean is this year’s Great Character for Montblanc. In addition to the limited edition pens there is also a limited edition ink that matches the iconic red coat worn in Rebel Without a Cause. Rebel Red comes in the square glass 50ml bottle that Montblanc now uses for their limited edition inks. The bottle’s fluted sides and snow capped metal cap make it one of my favorites on the market. This review was done with a Diplomat Aero EF, Lamy Safari B, and on Rhodia blank No.18 paper.

Rebel Red is a beautiful rusty red that behaves as nicely as Montblanc’s other inks. Shading is apparent in both a fine and broad nib so the appearance is similar in both. At its lightest, the ink is an amber bronze color that is more orange than red. From there the ink shades to a brick red. The ink can get rather dark, shading into a rich mahogany red.

Rebel Red is a conformist when it comes to Montblanc’s great ink properties. The ink has good flow with no feathering or bleedthrough on Rhodia paper. The ink is moderately saturated with good dry times at 15-25 seconds. While the ink has very little water resistance, clean up is easy. Rebel Red is matte in appearance and didn’t display any sheening.

Overall I’ve been enjoying Rebel Red. It’s not a firetruck red that jumps out at you, but it’s a nice, bold color. The ink offers a range of warm hues in both a fine and broad nib, and there is no issue with readability. Embrace your rebellious side and give Rebel Red a try.

As with any ink review, the pen, paper, and person doing the writing will influence the way the ink looks. If you’re not sure about a color, try a sample to see if it’s the one for you.

Ink it Up!
Chris

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