Monteverde - Fireopal

Monteverde - Fireopal - Ink drop

A gorgeous, deep burnt orange, Monteverde Fireopal explodes in a rich, fuzzy, matte charcoal grey and ash white sheen under the right situations. The base color hits in the center of what I like in a burnt orange. I want to love this ink, and at times, I do.

Monteverde - Fireopal - Dark sheening

Dark, reddish oranges are so lovely when they fill a page! In terms of color, Fireopal is a beauty. There’s a bit of shading on some papers, and a nice dark edging. Traces of sheen are visible in writing in wet, broader nibs, too.

In writing, it performs well once on the page. It has a very nice, smooth consistency in optimal conditions. Strokes are clean and sharp, and it’s very easy on the eyes. It dries quickly, too. However, there’s a serious problem.

Monteverde - Fireopal - Ink swatch card

Like many oranges, Fireopal can become crusty in some nibs and feeds, and it isn’t a light crusting. It will work just fine one day, but the next thing you know, you’re uncapping to find an eruption of chunky growth. It seems to play nicely with some pens, but clashes with others. I haven’t figured out how to know when that will be, and that’s a problem. In color, and often in use, this is an easy ink to like, but the bad experiences are a real deal-breaker. They keep me from choosing this bottle when I’m reaching for something beautiful to fill a pen.

Monteverde - Fireopal - Ink bottle