Monteverde - Viva Magenta

Monteverde - Viva Magenta - Ink Drop

Monteverde Viva Magenta celebrates Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year of the same name. This is a limited-edition ink, but I think you’ll be able to find it at popular retailers throughout the year. It’s available in Monteverde’s efficient, 30 ml bottles and in packs of twelve cartridges, as well.

This ink was sent to me by Yafa Brands and Monteverde with no obligations to review the ink. As usual, my review represents my honest opinions and includes all of the positives and negatives that I find.

Monteverde - Viva Magenta - on Cosmo Air Light

This is a very attractive ink, but it isn’t what I first think of in a magenta. Looking at Pantone’s reference images, and the ink itself, I see this color on the very edge of the magenta spectrum. This is especially true in a page of writing, but as I said, it’s a beautiful ink, and I’m not disappointed at all. I don’t think you will be, either.

Monteverde - Viva Magenta - Color Range

Viva Magenta is a bold, vibrant, and very confident crimson red with a subtle pink influence that hints of magenta. Swatches add a soft, powdery aspect and bring out the lighter magenta qualities in some examples, but in writing, it maintains its bold, redder identity. As you can see in the swatch card comparisons, it matches well with some of my favorite reds. There isn’t a lot of shading in writing, but the color holds its personality very consistently.

Monteverde - Viva Magenta - on Rhodia

This is a nice, wet ink. Monteverde uses an Ink Treatment Formula (ITF) with this, and quite a few other inks in its catalog. This helps provide a very comfortable writing experience.

Monteverde - Viva Magenta - Writing Samples

In performance, results varied from paper to paper. As you can see in the writing samples, stroke profiles are beautifully sharp on Midori MD, Cosmo Air Light, and Tomoe River (original). On Rhodia, Mnemosyne, and good copy paper, there was some spreading. It wasn’t too bad in many cases, but it was there, and I much preferred the results on the other previously mentioned three. I used a Laban Jowo medium nib for most of my writing samples, and you will likely find less spread in finer nibs.

Monteverde - Viva Magenta - Ink Swatch Card

Monteverde Viva Magenta is a very nice crimson red, and it’s a strong option if you’re looking for a nice red, in general. I think a lot of people will be fans of this ink and reach for it often. At US$10 for a 30 ml bottle, Monteverde inks are a real bargain, too! Use it with compatible papers, and I think it will become one of your favorite reds!

Keep scrolling for some swatch card comparisons and a look at the bottle and box!

Monteverde - Viva Magenta - Comparisons

Monteverde - Viva Magenta - 30 ml Bottle and Box