Dominant Industry Lapis Lazuli is from their Pearl line. It is a blue ink with heavy red sheen, which isn’t very unique on its own, but it also has a medium amount of shimmer which helps set it apart.
Scans
The scans cut out some of the sheen and shimmer to show off the base color, which is a medium blue.
Photos
As is common with heavy sheen inks, the sheen takes over quite a lot in the swatches and writing, but this one also has shimmer throughout. As expected, the shimmer is heavier where the ink is heavier.
The sheen covers the ink uniformly on col-o-ring, but there is more of a stark contrast between areas with and without sheen on MD and especially Iroful.
The shimmer is more uneven, but it’s present all over the writing. I wouldn’t say it’s “packed” with shimmer, though.
Microscope
The microscope photos are consistent with the other photos: Heavy sheen and uneven amounts of shimmer. One photo didn’t have any shimmer, a couple had sparse amounts, and others had a lot.
Chromatography
Chromatography starts with faint blue and then slowly fades into dark blue and then a very dark blue line at the leading edge.
Under UV it looks practically identical, no reaction at all.
Uniqueness
This one has shimmer so it does have an edge over its competitors, but even so I have several other “blue with heavy red sheen” inks:
Verdict
There is a reason this combination is popular: It looks great! The shimmer adds a bit to it as well. I have used it in only one pen so far, a TWSBI Diamond 580ALR, and it’s been fine there. I also haven’t noticed any issues drying it so far, which was common with some of the others like Candy Sea.
Time will tell if it holds up, but so far I’d take this one over most of the other similar options.
Questions or comments? Contact me on Mastodon