thINKthursday
Sailor Souten

No matter the weather, you’ll see skies of blue with Sailor Souten in your pen!

thINKthursday – Sailor Souten

Sailor Souten might need a personal disclaimer because it is one of my all-time favorite inks. I always have it in at least one pen. It is a gorgeous azure blue that has a brilliant red sheen. It was released as part of Sailor’s original Season colors, and many saw it as the successor to the recently re-released Sky High. This review was done with a Sailor Pro Gear F, Lamy Studio B and on Rhodia No 18 blank paper.

Souten is a vivid blue that really pops off the page. With a fine nib the ink appears a little lighter and has a uniform cobalt appearance. In a broader nib the ink moderately shades from a lighter lapis to darker navy and azure hues. What really makes this ink a show stopper is its red sheen. Some inks are illusive in showing off their sheen, but you’ll have no problem getting a vivid red sheen with Souten.

I’ve written more words with Souten than any other ink and it is a great performer. It has good flow and no feathering or bleedthrough on Rhodia paper. It is a moderately saturated ink with normal dry times of 20-30 seconds. Souten is not water resistant, but it is an easy ink to clean up.

If you’re looking for a blue ink, buy a sample of Souten; I have no doubt that you’ll enjoy it. Even without its red sheen it would be a beautiful blue, but with the sheen it’s an exceptional ink. It should be noted that the re-released Sky High is a very close match for Souten, but they are slightly different.

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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