Hello, welcome to the last week of 25 Days of Dupes 2023. Below you’ll find the inks for days 19-25. If you have a suggestion for a possible dupe for any of these inks, let me know in the comments, and I’ll add it to the wrap up post.
Some reminders:
- I’m not attempting to dupe the special properties of the inks — sheen, shimmer, scent — only the base color.
- You can click the images to view them larger.
- I swatched each ink with a small (#2) paintbrush and wrote with a Zebra G dip nib.
- Behind-the-scenes: I included more than just my final swatches for each ink. Preliminary swatches are on Iroful A5 dot grid paper. I’ve found that inks can look VERY different on this paper. I swatched the top matches on Franklin-Christoph sugar cane paper (from a leftover Firma-Flex notebook) and Kokuyo 5mm grid Sarasara loose-leaf paper.
- While I try to edit the images so they look as close to real life as possible, I can’t guarantee that the color you see on your screen will be true to life. However, with all the dupes on the same page, you’ll see how the colors look in relation to each other, which is the main point of these posts.
- I can’t fairly call any ink a perfect color match, as I’m not comparing them scientifically, I’m just using my eyes. Therefore, I won’t be going any further than calling an ink a “near-perfect color match.”
- You can view all of the shorts I’ve created for shimmer inks on my Diamine Inkvent 2023 YouTube playlist.
Enjoy, and happy inking!
Jump to a day: Cinnabun | ⇣ Astral | ⇣ Tranquility | ⇣ Tinsel | ⇣ Fireside Snug | ⇣ Sugar Snap | ⇣ Raise a Glass
Day 19: Cinnabun
Cinnabun is a yellowish-brown scented ink. It has a pleasant cinnamon scent. Like Sweet Dreams, it feathered horribly on all three papers. As it was the only other ink to do so, this (for me) confirms that there’s an issue with whatever additive is included for the scent.
The best color match is Diamine Golden Brown.
Top Matches
The top matches I compared to Cinnabun are (swatched left-to-right): Robert Oster Caffe Crema, Vinta La Paz (Bronze Yellow), Sailor x Tinterías Homemade Tortillas, Robert Oster African Gold, and Diamine Golden Brown.
On Kokuyo Sarasara paper, Caffe Crema is a close color match, but is too cool and shades too dark. La Paz is too yellow. Homemade Tortillas is too pale. African Gold is too yellow. Golden Brown is a near-perfect color match.
Initial Swatches
I tested MANY additional inks against Cinnabun. The test inks are: 1) Robert Oster African Gold, 2) Sailor Maryland, 3) Diamine Golden Brown, 4) Diamine Brandy Snap, 5), Diamine Sepia, 6) Robert Oster Caffe Crema, 7) PW Akkerman Hopjesbruin, 8) Vinta La Paz, 9) Diamine Three Kings, 10) KWZ Honey, 11) IWI Grain Full, and 12) Sailor x Tinterías Homemade Tortillas.
Jump to a day: ⇡ Cinnabun | Astral | ⇣ Tranquility | ⇣ Tinsel | ⇣ Fireside Snug | ⇣ Sugar Snap | ⇣ Raise a Glass | ⤒ Back to Top
Day 20: Astral
Astral is a nearly-black chameleon ink. The shimmer shifts from greenish-gold through turquoise to blue. The multichrome shift is prominent in the swatches, and somewhat visible in the writing samples.
Troublemaker Polar Lights is a nearly perfect dupe. The only difference is that Polar Lights’ multichrome shimmer shifts from teal through turquoise to blue then through purple to magenta. If I had to choose between the two, I’d pick Polar Lights
Top Matches
The top matches I compared to Astral are: Troublemaker Polar Lights (swatched first on Kokuyo and second on Franklin-Christoph) and Diamine Night Sky.
On Kokuyo Sarasara paper, Polar Lights is a near-perfect color match, and I already discussed the differences in shimmer. Night Sky is too blue.
Initial Swatches
I didn’t test any other inks against Astral. Once again, the inks are (swatched left-to-right): Diamine Night Sky and Troublemaker Polar Lights.
Jump to a day: ⇡ Cinnabun | ⇡ Astral | Tranquility | ⇣ Tinsel | ⇣ Fireside Snug | ⇣ Sugar Snap | ⇣ Raise a Glass | ⤒ Back to Top
Day 21: Tranquility
Tranquility is a muted magenta chameleon ink. The shimmer shifts from pale gold to blue. The duochrome shift is prominent in the swatches, and somewhat visible in the writing samples.
I can’t say I managed to find a dupe for this ink. Monteverde Rose Noir came the closest, but it’s not vibrant enough.
Top Matches
The top matches I compared to Tranquility are (swatched left-to-right): Monteverde Rose Noir, Sailor Ink Studio 252, J. Herbin Larmes de Cassis, Diamine Harmony, Octopus Fluids Aubergine, and Sailor Shikiori Yozakura.
On Kokuyo Sarasara paper, Rose Noir is too muted. 252 is completely wrong, although it looked promising in the small initial swatch. Larmes de Cassis is too pink. Harmony is too gray. Aubergine is too purple. Yozakura is too gray and too pink.
Initial Swatches
I tested MANY additional inks against Tranquility. The test inks are: 1) Diamine Harmony, 2) Sailor Yozakura, 3) Monteverde Rose Noir, 4) Diamine Jingle Berry, 5) Sailor Ink Studio 252, 6) Wearingeul Verethragna, 7) J. Herbin Larmes de Cassis, 8) Sailor Ink Studio 435, 9) Robert Oster Claret, 10) Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo, 11) Robert Oster Viola, 12) Octopus Fluids Aubergine, 13) Diamine Tyrian Purple, and 14) Sailor Manyo Akebi.
Jump to a day: ⇡ Cinnabun | ⇡ Astral | ⇡ Tranquility | Tinsel | ⇣ Fireside Snug | ⇣ Sugar Snap | ⇣ Raise a Glass | ⤒ Back to Top
Day 22: Tinsel
Tinsel is a bright red shimmer ink. The shimmer is blush pink.
The closest color match is DeAtramentis Oriental Red. On Iroful paper, 3 Oysters Dancheong is a slightly better match.
Top Matches
The top matches I compared to Tinsel are (swatched left-to-right): Diamine Red Lustre, Colorverse Dan Hong, 3 Oysters Dancheong, and DeAtramentis Oriental Red.
On Kokuyo Sarasara paper, Red Lustre is slightly too cool. Dan Hong is slightly too vibrant. Dancheong is slightly too muted. Oriental Red is a near-perfect color match, but the shading is slightly off.
Initial Swatches
I tested several additional inks against Tinsel. The test inks are (swatched left-to-right): Colorverse Dan Hong, Robert Oster Muddy Dragon, 3 Oysters Dancheong, Wearingeul Human Problem, Octopus Fluids Brilliant Rot, DeAtramentis Oriental Red, Diamine Carnival, and Diamine Red Lustre (bottom).
Jump to a day: ⇡ Cinnabun | ⇡ Astral | ⇡ Tranquility | ⇡ Tinsel | Fireside Snug | ⇣ Sugar Snap | ⇣ Raise a Glass | ⤒ Back to Top
Day 23: Fireside Snug
Fireside Snug is a warm brown standard ink.
The closest color dupe is Robert Oster Whiskey with Colorverse α Tau a close second.
Top Matches
The top matches I compared to Fireside Snug are (swatched left-to-right): Colorverse α Tau, Kyo-Iro Moonlight of Higashiyama, Robert Oster Whiskey, PW Akkerman SBRE Brown, and Colorverse Ginkgo Tree.
On Kokuyo Sarasara paper, α Tau is an excellent color match but shades too dark. Moonlight of Higashiyama is too orange. Whiskey is a near-perfect color match. SBRE Brown is not orange enough and shades too dark. Ginkgo Tree is too yellow and shades too dark.
Initial Swatches
I tested several additional inks against Fireside Snug. The test inks are: (top) Colorverse Ginkgo Tree, (left-to-right) Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Brown, Colorverse α Tau, PW Akkerman SBRE Brown, Diamine Sepia, PW Akkerman Hopjesbruin, Kyo-Iro Moonlight of Higashiyama, and Robert Oster Whiskey.
Jump to a day: ⇡ Cinnabun | ⇡ Astral | ⇡ Tranquility | ⇡ Tinsel | ⇡ Fireside Snug | Sugar Snap | ⇣ Raise a Glass | ⤒ Back to Top
Day 24: Sugar Snap
Sugar Snap is a pale moss green shimmer ink. The shimmer may be a mix of blue and silver.
The closest color match is Robert Oster Jade, with Sailor Waka Uguisu a close second.
Top Matches
The top matches I compared to Sugar Snap are (swatched left-to-right): Robert Oster Jade, Krishna Ghat Green, Sailor Waka Uguisu, and Wearingeul Flowing Leaves.
On Kokuyo Sarasara paper, Jade is a near-perfect color match. Ghat Green is too yellow and too pale. Waka Uguisu is an excellent color match but doesn’t shade quite as dark. Flowing Leaves is too muted, but the shimmer is an exact match.
Initial Swatches
I tested two additional inks against Sugar Snap. The test inks are (swatched left-to-right): Robert Oster Jade, Wearingeul Flowing Leaves, Platinum Classic Forest Black, Sailor Waka Uguisu, Vinta Carlos (Emerald), and Krishna Ghat Green.
Jump to a day: ⇡ Cinnabun | ⇡ Astral | ⇡ Tranquility | ⇡ Tinsel | ⇡ Fireside Snug | ⇡ Sugar Snap | Raise a Glass | ⤒ Back to Top
Day 25: Raise a Glass
Raise a Glass is a deep purple ink. While there is no listing of what type of ink it is, it appears to be a multi-chameleon ink. The shimmer is a mix of blue to purple to pink and green to turquoise to purple. There is also a hint of greenish-gold sheen.
I didn’t find an ink close enough to call a color match. However, Diamine Winter Miracle is the closest, and has (if anything) more gold sheen.
Top Matches
The top matches I compared to Raise a Glass are (swatched left-to-right): Diamine Festive Joy, Sailor Magic Purple, Diamine Winter Miracle, Sailor Ink Studio 453, Taccia Nakamurasaki, and DeAtramentis Alexander Hamilton.
On Kokuyo Sarasara paper, Festive Joy is too pale. Magic Purple is too blue and too pale. Winter Miracle is a hint too pink. 453 is too blue, too muted, and too pale. Nakamurasaki is too muted and too pale. Alexander Hamilton is too muted.
Initial Swatches
I tested MANY additional inks against Raise a Glass. The test inks are: 1) Diamine Winter Miracle, 2) Diamine Purple Bow, 3) Sailor Ink Studio 453, 4) Taccia Nakamurasaki, 5) Octopus Fluids Write & Draw Violet Lion, 6) Leonardo Purple, 7) Diamine Imperial Purple, 8) Jaques Herbin Violet Boréal, 9) DeAtramentis Alexander Hamilton, 10) Diamine Festive Joy, 11) Monteverde Charoite, 12) Pure Pens Platinum Jubilee, 13) Birmingham Wisteria, and 14) Sailor Magic Purple.
Jump to a day: ⇡ Cinnabun | ⇡ Astral | ⇡ Tranquility | ⇡ Tinsel | ⇡ Fireside Snug | ⇡ Sugar Snap | ⇡ Raise a Glass | ⤒ Back to Top
Thanks for sticking around through 25 Days of Dupes, I hope you enjoyed this post. Tomorrow I’ll have the final overview post. What was your favorite color from this week? Are there any you’ll want to get later, or do you already have some of the dupe inks? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.
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