This week’s ink review and giveaway feature Blue Moon fountain pen ink from the Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy ink line. Robert Oster’s regular line of ink, referred to as the Robert Oster Signature Ink line, includes over 120 colors. Robert Oster based all 120+ ink colors on the Australian color palette. The Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy ink series contains 20 more colors, all with a shimmer of metallic flecks that generate a gold or silver sparkle. Some considered this type of ink a “trend,” but if it’s a trend, it’s one that is sticking around as the inks continue to gain popularity amongst fountain pen fans. More and more fountain pen ink manufacturers are producing their own versions of shimmering fountain pen ink.

Count yourself lucky that you’re going to get all the details! And don’t miss your chance to enter to win a fabulous Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy ink to add to your collection. Enter below, and good luck! Now read on for all the details.

All About the Ink Maker: Robert Oster Signature Inks

Robert Oster Signature Inks and their packaging are all toxic-free, nature-friendly, and based on the Australian palette. You can find Robert Oster Signature Ink company in the Coonawarra district of South Australia, one of the most famous wine-producing regions in the world. Robert Oster describes the idyllic setting as a “great influence on the senses.” He also designates the area as his inspiration for the gorgeous inks he continues to share with fountain pen users around the world.

This week’s ink, the Robert Oster Blue Moon ink, is from the Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy ink line released separately. The Shake ‘N Shimmy inks are best used with large tip pens, calligraphy, dip, or brush pens to get the most consistent influx of the ink’s shimmer. When using shimmering fountain pen inks, you must clean your pen often. (This is also the case when using high sheening fountain pen inks).

All About This Week’s Chosen Ink: Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy ink in Blue Moon

Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy Blue Moon fountain pen ink is one of Robert Oster’s popular Shake ‘N Shimmy inks. The Blue Moon ink is a bright, vibrant blue with silver shimmer (or sparkle). During our use of Robert Oster’s Blue Moon ink, we saw medium to high saturation, and it showed up well on paper (very dark).

** Don’t stop now. Keep reading for a chance to win the bottle of Robert Oster Blue Moon Shake ‘N Shimmy ink used for this week’s Pen Chalet Ink Review. (Or if you’re still cultivating the art of patience, scroll down to the bottom where you’ll find the link to enter this week’s giveaway).

Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy Ink Blue Moon Review

Our review of Robert Oster Blue Moon Shake ‘N Shimmy ink had us searching for all the standout characteristics you want to know. Run through the list below, so you have all the info you need to make an informed purchase next time you’re trying to choose a fountain pen ink brand or a new ink color.

Ink Review Testing Factors (to keep things scientific):

To keep things scientific…this is where we’ll share the “hows” and “whats” of our ink review. For our review of Robert Oster Blue Moon ink, we used a French-made J Herbin spiral glass dip pen on Rhodia dot pad paper. The glass dip pen’s tip is similar to a fine-medium fountain pen nib.

Don’t forget – different papers and nib sizes will produce different results. Remember to take this into consideration when deciding whether or not to add Robert Oster Blue Moon ink to your collection!

What Sort of Ink Bottle Does Robert Oster Use for their Shake ‘N Shimmy Ink Line?

Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy ink comes in a standard 50 ml. plastic bottle. Robert Oster’s dedication to being environmentally friendly is reflected in the choice to avoid unnecessary waste with no external packaging with any of their inks. The ink bottles include a simple white label placed on the top of the lid listing the name of the ink and showing a color swatch. Robert Oster Blue Moon’s silver lid reflects the silver shimmer or sparkle of the ink.

How Much Does Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy Ink Cost?

Robert Oster’s Shake ‘N Shimmy ink line comes at a higher price than the Robert Oster Signature inks in their regular line but would still be considered a mid-range priced fountain pen ink.

How Fast Does Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy Fountain Pen Ink Dry?

Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy Blue Moon fountain pen ink had a quick dry time during our review, approximately 5-6 seconds. We generally consider any dry time under 10 seconds as reasonable for everyday use. So we feel comfortable recommending Robert Oster’s Blue Moon ink as an everyday ink option.

Does Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy Blue Moon Fountain Pen Ink Bleed Through?

During normal use, we saw no bleed through at all. These results were seen when using the Robert Oster Blue Moon ink on Rhodia dot pad paper. At the most saturated point of the cotton swab test, we only saw a very slight ink bleed through.

Was There Any Feathering While Using Robert Oster Blue Moon Shake ‘N Shimmy Ink?

During normal use, we saw no feathering. When we put Robert Oster’s Blue Moon Shake ‘N Shimmy ink to the water test, there was some feathering and line distortion. But it’s not a waterproof ink, so that is to be expected!

How Does Robert Oster Blue Moon Shake ‘N Shimmy Ink Stand Up to Water?

We included a water test in the review of Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy Blue Moon ink. (For the water test, we let an ink sample dry for about 3 minutes before running a wet cotton swab over the sample). The water test resulted in some line distortion, and some additional feathering. The lines remained legible, though, which is excellent for an ink that is not waterproof.

Does Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy Blue Moon Ink Have Good Shading, Shimmering or Sheening Traits?

Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy Blue Moon ink was fun to work with during this week’s fountain pen ink review. It will actually shade quite a bit between deep blue aqua to lighter shades of turquoise blue. While there was no sheen visible during our review of this ink, the silver shimmer makes the brilliant blue come alive on the paper.

Final Conclusion on Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy Blue Moon Fountain Pen Ink:

Robert Oster introduced their Shake ‘N Shimmy as a complement to their standard ink line, and it is a very, very nice compliment, in our opinion. Like their standard line of inks, all of Robert Oster’s Shake ‘N Shimmy fountain pen inks are inspired by and made in Australia. While shimmering inks are not for every fountain pen user or every project, they are a trend that is sticking around for the long haul. They’re also quite fun to experiment with, so if you haven’t tried them yet, you might want to give Blue Moon ink a shot.

Robert Oster’s Blue Moon ink from the Shake ‘N Shimmy line offers a beautiful blue color with excellent shading traits at a mid-range price. The quick dry time makes it a solid choice for everyday use. While it is not waterproof, it held up reasonably well when we put it through its paces for the fountain pen ink review. On top of all that, it offers a unique visual appeal with metallic flecks creating a silver shimmer effect.

After reviewing Blue Moon ink, we think it’s a good choice for any first-timers looking to try a shimmering fountain pen ink at a reasonable price. We’d also recommend it to anyone wishing to expand their shimmering ink collection. Look for Robert Oster Blue Moon Shake ‘N Shimmy fountain pen ink and all other 19 inks in Robert Oster’s shimmering ink line at Pen Chalet. Happy writing from Australia!

Enter to Win the Bottle of Robert Oster Shake ‘N Shimmy Blue Moon ink used for this week’s Ink Review

Enter to win the actual bottle of Robert Oster Blue Moon Shake ‘N Shimmy fountain pen ink that Pen Chalet used in this week’s ink review:

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