Looking for a rich, earthy green that brings personality without overwhelming the page? In today’s Monteverde Olivine ink review, we’ll walk you through a hands-on look at one of Monteverde’s standout greens from their Gemstone Collection. With surprisingly strong water resistance, a dark green hue that hints at olive drab, and a reliable flow on paper, this ink is built to handle your everyday writing needs—with a splash of character.
Meet the Ink Maker: Monteverde USA
Monteverde USA is a trusted name in the fountain pen world, known for quality, innovation, and a playful touch of color. Their ink collections offer wide color variety, great bottle design, and smooth, clean performance. Plus, Monteverde inks include ITF™ (Ink Treatment Formula) for improved ink flow, extended cap-off time, and reduced clogging.
About the Monteverde Gemstone Ink Collection
Monteverde’s Gemstone Collection is inspired by nature’s most precious stones. Each color is bold, saturated, and designed to reflect the richness and depth you’d expect from its namesake gem. Monteverde Olivine takes inspiration from the olive-toned stone often used to promote inner peace and strength. While the ink won’t promise a spiritual awakening, it will deliver an enjoyable writing experience. Or you can browse the full Monteverde Inks Collection.
This Week’s Featured Ink: Monteverde Olivine
Monteverde Olivine is a dark olive green ink with a subtle earthy warmth. While some green inks shout, this one speaks in a calm, confident tone. It’s not overly flashy, but it carries just enough character to keep things interesting.
Side Note: Did you know that Olivine is a reference to a gemstone? Learn more about the properties of Olivine that inspired this fountain pen ink.
Ink Test Results
We ran this week’s ink through our standard battery of tests using a J. Herbin glass dip pen (which writes similarly to a medium nib) on Rhodia lined paper.
Ink Bottle and Packaging
Monteverde Olivine ink comes in a sturdy glass bottle with a black screw cap. It arrives in minimal, clear plastic packaging with a printed swatch on the back that shows the ink’s color—a nice bonus for at-a-glance reference. While the outer packaging isn’t extravagant, the bottle is solid and secure.
Other Products Used During the Review
- Pen: J. Herbin Glass Dip Pen
- Paper: Rhodia Paper Products (we used a lined paper for this review)
1-Dip Test
Monteverde Olivine passed the 1-dip test with flying colors. A single dip of the glass pen was able to write three full lines without issue, showing solid ink flow and staying power.
Dry Time: How Fast Did the Ink Dry?
Dry time averaged around 10 seconds, placing it squarely in the moderate range. You’ll want to give it a beat or two before running your hand across the page, but it’s not slow enough to be frustrating.
Water Test
Monteverde Olivine ink performed exceptionally well during our water test. After a 3-minute dry time, we saw only minor running, light fading in the first couple of lines, and very little distortion. There was no bleeding through the paper—impressive for a fountain pen ink.
Special Properties: Shading
This is not a shimmer or sheen ink, but it does offer subtle shading, especially where ink pools or where writing pressure changes. The cotton swab test revealed a range from deep forest to a lighter, olive tone—giving it more personality than you’d expect from a standard dark green.
Feathering or Bleeding
No feathering or bleed-through was observed on Rhodia paper during our tests. Monteverde Olivine ink is well-behaved and plays nicely with high-quality paper.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a dark green ink with real-world durability and an earthy, olive-toned personality, Monteverde Olivine might be your new go-to. It’s a quiet workhorse (rich in color, resistant to water, and versatile enough for daily use or journaling). The bottle design is simple but sturdy, and the writing experience is smooth from start to finish. If you’d like to see Monteverde Olivine ink swatches up against other Olive green fountain pen inks, you can see a wide array of GREEN ink options swatched here by Mountain of Ink (I love her). Come back soon to catch new ink reviews, or dive into some of our previously shared fountain pen ink reviews anytime.
FAQ: Monteverde Olivine Ink Review
Q: Is Monteverde Olivine ink waterproof?
A: While not fully waterproof, Monteverde Olivine holds up impressively well during water exposure. There is minimal fading or distortion.
Q: Where Can I Find More Olive Green Inks?
A: If you’re looking for a specific color of ink, you can always filter your results at PenChalet.com by color! For example, browse Olive Green inks.
Q: What nib size works best with Monteverde Olivine ink?
A: Medium to broad nibs help show off the shading, but it performs well even with finer nibs.
Q: Is this ink good for everyday writing?
A: Yes! It’s dark enough for professional settings but has enough color variation to keep things interesting.
Q: Does Monteverde Olivine shimmer or sheen?
A: No shimmer or sheen, but it does offer some subtle shading.
Q: What’s the Difference between Waterproof and Water Resistant Inks?
A: Waterproof inks are not affected by water, but water resistant inks can be damaged, but hold up better than most other inks. Read more about water-resistant fountain pen inks.
Q: Does Monteverde Olivine ink come in one of their boxed collections?
A: Yes, you can get the full set of Gemstone Collection inks in one of their lovely (and oh, so giftable) boxed ink collections.
Q: Where can I buy Monteverde Olivine ink?
A: You can find it at PenChalet.com, your go-to source for pens, inks, and writing accessories.
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