Ink Review: Robert Oster Pen Chalet Exclusives

Recently, Pen Chalet released an exclusive Robert Oster ink – Antelope Canyon. But the Chalet didn’t stop with just one special edition. Three more exclusive RO inks were added to the lineup to make a beautiful Arizona-inspired palette. I purchased a sample of each from Pen Chalet.

I have tried to balance colors so these are shown as accurately as possible, but I finally gave up attempting to do so with the four colors together. The best way to communicate the actual colors is to show a comparison with other inks you may have or may have seen in person.

Each ink color is named after a sight you may see in Arizona. I had several stock image credits that need to be used up, so I hope you enjoy the photos!

Antelope Canyon

First, for Antelope Canyon. Pen Chalet has a poetic description of each color: “This Pen Chalet Exclusive fountain pen ink encapsulates a piece of the majestic and iconic Antelope Canyon in Northern Arizona (Pen Chalet’s home state in the USA). The magnificent slot canyon’s tall, winding walls create a monumental sandstone, wave-like structure that transforms into a supernatural experience when light beams shine directly down into the openings of the canyon.”

Antelope Canyon is a beautiful brownish orange that shades wonderfully. It is close to Robert Oster Burned Orange but uses more yellow and brown. It’s a unique color and I love using it in an italic nib.

Monsoon Sky

Pen Chalet has this to say about Monsoon Sky:

“Arizona’s Sonoran Desert produces some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world…especially during monsoon season. Arizona’s monsoon sky is a surreal combination of clouds and colors that bring an otherworldly filter to notoriously blue skies for just a few months each year.”

Monsoon sky is an interesting color that doesn’t fit well in green or blue – it’s a greenish teal that has a strange yellowish undertone. The ink is beautiful and I smiled at how closely it matched another Pen Chalet special edition – Monsoon Storm by ColorVerse!

Sedona Red

Again, the poetic description from Pen Chalet:

“Inspired by Sedona’s eclectic atmosphere and the red rock phenomenons that made the area famous, Sedona Red fountain pen ink is a small piece of the fiery passion of the Southwest. With daring red hues hinting at spicy undertones and a bit of firepower paired with subtle color variations similar to the understated shades of the desert landscape, Sedona Red fountain pen ink emulates the fearless spirit of the West that still calls to adventurers from Sedona’s red rock formations.”

Sedona Red is a darker version of Robert Oster Burgundy and is close to J. Herbin Rouge Grenat. The sheen is a very dark greenish-black that shows up in writing and looks great.

Saguaro Green

Pen Chalet says:

“Saguaro Green fountain pen ink is an ode to the iconic Saguaro Cactus. Native to the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, the Saguaro Cactus is the largest cactus in the United States. Saguaro Green fountain pen ink is an olive-like color that mimics the Saguaro Cactus’s ability to break up the muted, desert landscape with energy and life.”

Saguaro cactus is a very odd plant. Beautiful, but otherworldly. Saguaro green is one of my new favorite ink colors. It’s a darker, slightly more yellow Tolstoy. Olive juice would be a good description. Like a green olive oil. Great color.

The theme around these four inks have made me long for vacations and camping. Arizona sounds like a great place for both!

To show the ink in writing, I’ve shown all four – first on Tomoe River paper:

Now on Cosmo Air Light 83:

Finally, both side by side:

I encourage you to grab one or four of these colors. Luckily, there’s a sample pack available from Pen Chalet if you want to try the bunch – 4mL of each ink for $11.99.

• Swatch Cards: Col-o-ring cards (100 for $10)
• Paper: Musubi Tomoe River Folio and Musubi Cosmo Air Light Folio (Approximately $35, 384 pages and $25, 208 pages)
• Ink: Robert Oster Pen Chalet Exclusive inks ($17 for 50mL)

DISCLAIMER:  All of the items in this review were purchased by me.  Please see the About page for more details.