The calendar has flipped, and a new year has begun which means it is time for Pelikan to clue us in on the next special edition ink to join their Edelstein line. New for 2023, this year’s special edition “Ink Of The Year” will be Rose Quartz. The shade of this new ink promises to fall somewhere on a spectrum between pink and red. This new edition will be the twentieth gemstone inspired ink to join the Edelstein line. Pelikan has been playing the special edition ink game for twelve years now, first launching Turmaline in 2012. Since that time, we have had several solid inks along with some really great but too short lived releases. Since Turmaline, we have had Amber (2013), Garnet (2014), Amethyst (2015), Aquamarine (2016), Smoky Quartz (2017), Olivine (2018), Star Ruby (2019), Moonstone (2020), Golden Beryl (2021), and Apatite (2022). Because these are special edition inks, they are generally produced for only one year therefore once supplies run out, they are gone (unless Pelikan decides to resurrect a shade or two down the line). Rose Quarts will be available in the Spring with an anticipated launch date for some time in March 2023.
Quartz has the distinction of being one of the most common and varied minerals on Earth. It comes in an abundant variety of colors which gives rise to many gemstone types so there is plenty of fodder from which Pelikan can continue to base their inks. Amethyst and Smoky Quartz are past examples of Pelikan inks inspired by quartz derivatives. Rose Quartz is a hazy or turbid variety of quartz lacking good transparency with a color ranging from a very light to medium intensity pink. Rose Quartz is a common variety found in many places throughout the world. Very large examples have been discovered which allows for sizable gemstones to be cut from it. Rose Quartz’s abundance and lack of full transparency diminishes its desirability as a pink gemstone which makes it less popular than alternatives such as Topaz, Tourmaline, or Kunzite.
Without an ink swab available, it is exceedingly difficult to judge just how this will look on paper. Pelikan describes the color as an “intense-rosé” which will likely be a darker, pinkish hue. That may well limit its utility as an ink for everyday use, but it could fill a nice niche. I’m curious as to how this one will stand out from the likes of Pilot Iroshizuku Kosumosu, Robert Oster Rose Gilt Tynte, or Herbin Bouquet D’antan to name a few. The space for pink hued inks is a crowded one. Anticipated to be available in 50 mL bottles adorned with a silver cap, it does not appear that there will be any glitter in Rose Quartz, unlike the uniquely formulated Golden Beryl which seems to have been a one off for the time being. Regarding their new ink, Pelikan’s website states;
“Softer than the color red, this shade in rosé creates a smooth, heart-warming impression. Every handwriting style turns into a romantic message. The gemstone Rose Quartz shows a fascinating range of color shades from soft-pink to intense-rosé in its natural appearance. To honor this gemstone Rose Quartz a lovely ink color has been created, that matches with its shade intense-rosé the core of the natural range of color. Light as a feather and remarkable soft the written words are expressed on paper. Enchant yourself with this new Edelstein Ink…“
While we must wait for some real world photos to better assess the qualities of this new ink, I find myself somewhat excited thinking about what a matching M2xx Rose Quartz demonstrator might look like. It could be something rather interesting depending on the shade they go with. I’m not sure how popular pink leaning inks are these days, but I would love to hear how much you might use them and what your favorites are. What are your thoughts on the new Edelstein Rose Quartz specifically? Is this one that you will be trying out? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Be interesting to see what it looks like on paper. I’m not normally a pink ink person, but you never know….
I agree. When it comes to ink, the proof is always in the pudding.
About half of the inks I own are in the pink/red family. I LOVE pink! The color in the illustration looks promising. I’ll probably buy two bottles just in case this color will only be a limited edition. And I would adore a beautiful rosy-pink M2xx. I’ve been wanting Pelikan to come out with a more widely-varied color selection in their pens. With the gems line, especially with the inclusion of the Apatite, they’re doing it. I will be saving up for this one.
Ohhh…I’d buy a pink m2xx too! I don’t wear pink, decorate with pink etc. My color palette is calm and earth tones through and through, but the little girl in me seems to be yelling for pink these past few years! My husband, who has known me for 30 years, looked at me like I had lost my mind when I bought a pink pen last year, hah!!!
Hello Melissa. Fixed that name for you. Nothing wrong with exploring a new palette and I think this pink M2xx has the chance to be quite the looker if done well.
Thanks for that fix! At 45 I’m not too tech savvy but i manage alright! I love browns and blues, but something about pink recently…..💓
If they get the color right, then I think this will definitely be a pen worth saving up for.
As always, well written and informative. I’m more curious as to whether a pen will be paired with the ink.
There has been no official announcement yet but that has been a solid bet for the past 8 years now and I don’t see them deviating from the pattern this year. We’ll have to wait until later in the year to know for sure.
I’m generally not a pink ink person and gave away the bottle of Star Ruby I had from the Hub meeting that year. I am a little curious. If this is dusty enough it might be a really nice color.
I very much agree with this. I would not be into a bright pink per se but something with a little character to it could be a different story.
Good intel, Joshua. Thanks. We look forward to getting a bottle – perhaps in Baltimore? It took me a while to accept Star Ruby as an everyday ink but it’s in my Star Ruby M205 –one of my five currently inked pens. That said, I ALWAYS have Smoky Quartz active in one of my grey M805 or M1000 Stressemanns. Always.
I’m not sure that it will be readily available by the time the Baltimore show rolls around but who knows.
Pink is not my color. My favorite Inks of the Year have been Smoky Quartz and Garnet.
A lot of people like Smoky Quartz. I think that was a real sleeper release.
I love kosumosu so am pretty excited about this ink!
I’ve never used Kosumosu personally but it looks nice in the swabs. I’ll be interested to see where this one falls compared with other manufactures pink varieties.
I will test, I don’t think I will buy
Fair enough. I’m more interested in the matching pen than the ink itself personally.
I like pink inks, and have been using Pelikan’s 4001 Pink, a terrificly vibrant pink, in my m600 pink-white sovereign for a while now.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find it in the US in bottle, only in cartridge, so I had to purchase from abroad…my first bottle came direct from Germany, the second from Japan.
Hopefully the new pink quartz will be legible, and the matching pen attractive 😊
Congrats on having an M600 Pink. Hard to find these days. I think that Rose Quartz is going to set a very different tone than 4001 Pink and am looking forward to seeing the contrast. I agree about the difficulty finding the 4001 Pink ink here in the US. My bottle of 4001 Pink also came from abroad.
I want a Rose Marbled M200! My expectation/ hope will be:
‘M201’ – rose gold plated (not yellow gold like M200) furnitures
Body – rose marbled
Cap & piston nob – white
I think it would be cool.
I LOVE that idea! Especially the rose marble with rose gold plating. That would be a pen I would definitely buy!
You and a lot of others I would imagine.
Oh yes!!! Are you listening Pelikan?? That would be gorgeous!
Now using a rose gold would be a very neat design twist that I think could be unique and amazing on a model like this if the color compliments it well. The only really rose gold that I’m aware of in the Pelikan line-up is the M700 Statue of Zeus LE from 2016 and it looks great on that model.
It’s pretty from the picture, but appears to be too light for my use.
That is a concern of mine as well. If it is too light, it won’t have any utility for me.
What will it cost to obtain a bottle?
It depends from where in the world you source it but prices for a bottle here in the US will likely run about $30.
Thanks for the excellent update! A pink-hued ink not something I would normally buy, put I’m glad to know that Pelikan is producing this color. Your history of Edelstein inks was very interesting.
I think that it is important to keep a perspective of what they’ve already produced. I think that it’s instructive in better understanding why they have selected the palate that they have.
Yesterday, they revealed a small word in social media accounts showing the ink. It looks lovely and, to my eye, a little watered pink color. https://www.facebook.com/pelikan.passion/posts/pfbid02SrEKCYpJa9LSnbBjfT2eSAFNpUDPUw1tRynKeCThWGo1uActFZcMpTWCAt2qAgPl
I hadn’t seen that. Thanks for sharing. Doesn’t look too bad, truth be told.
Thanks for posting that; it’s nice to see the actual color on paper. It’s a very pretty shade of pink; I know I’ll enjoy using it. I can’t wait to see the matching M2XX! I bet it’s going to be beautiful.
I like pink inks so I’m looking forward to getting it. Also, I would definitely buy an M2XX pen to match the ink. I’m a sucker for limited editions. 🙂
Hopefully Pelikan won’t disappoint. I can’t wait to see what they come up with myself. The ink looks nice so hopefully the pen can be likewise.
Have you heard if they are going to do the fountain pen and ballpoint.
Nothing definitive but I would be shocked to learn that they would break with the tradition of the last several years at this point. No word on timing but I anticipate we’ll see a fountain pen and/or ballpoint in the coming months.
We wait