Visconti is an Italian company manufacturer of fine fountain pens, ballpoint pens, rollerball pens and other luxury products – timepieces and accessories. The company was founded in 1988 in Florence by Dante Del Vecchio and Luigi Poli, collectors of fountain pens for many years. These appear to be a typical standard range of colours for their writing products – except for the Burgundy that behaves differently. Nothing new here for creative purposes.

Black – A deep matt black that doesn’t bleed that easily when added to water with a steady gradation of grey leaching into the outer edges wash areas. Reacts easily with the bleach turning a dull gold. A dark rich black ink when used for writing.

Blue – A rich royal blue ink that doesn’t bleed easily when added to water. Reacts with the bleach turning white. Nice deep sheen. An even royal blue when used for writing.

Turquoise – A fairly flat turquoise that. Reacts with the bleach turning neon white. Writes well with plenty of shading characteristics in evidence.

Green – A deep emerald green ink that bleeds easily when added to water with hints of cyan when leaching into the wash areas. Nice deep sheen. Reacts easily with the bleach turning white gold. A dark rich green when used for writing.

Purple – A mid tone purple that bleeds easily when added to water. Reacts with the bleach turning a white gold. Nice deep sheen. An even colour when used for writing.

Sepia – A deep reddy brown ink that bleeds easily when added to water with hints of grey at the outer edges. Nice deep sheen. Reacts easily with the bleach turning neon gold. A dark rich sepia when used for writing.

Burgundy – An awkward and uneven red colour that doesn’t bleed easily when added to water. A limited reaction with bleach that bleeds unevenly. The red is inconsistent when used for handwriting and bleeds when used on the swatch. A deep burgundy colour when used for writing.

All tests on Bockingford 200lb watercolour paper using a Desiderata with titanium zebra G flex nib.

Just for the record – I do this for myself, I receive no remuneration what-so-ever and I tell it exactly how I see it.