Get a plain paper/heavy journal and swatch them, though. Some of the barrel colors will fool you. Also, there's inconsistent ink: some are very pigmented (they have their uses), while others made me want to scream because they seemed watery or not-pigmented. I've used them all, pretty much, once properly swatched. It looks like there are 4-5 purples, but they cover the gamut. One "silver" is so silver that it's like a sharpie! So I use the last color in the set, "Nothing" is what I called it, and color pencil with a metallic silver and then go over it with that glitter pen. It was perfect to make a glittery silver effect without bleeding through, or covering other letters.
Some of the best are heavily pigmented, like the red, but depending on your surface, you can prep it to get a STARTLING "very red" with a lot of glitter (I use a light stroke of color-less pencil on light paper).
These are simply magnificent! And unlike most glitter pens, I'm not shaking them, or getting 'glops' of ink by surprise. I'm not sure what they did to make these as consistent as they are (again, once swatched and you know what you're getting), but they're consistent, good flow, not too thick (thinnest I have, in fact). They really beautify crafts while costlier items are now collecting some dust. (I might add pics later. My priest was shocked with some illustrations I pulled off using these, though. Just sayin
Reviews with images
Best most-used set for illustrating thin paper; well worth it. Getting another!
Get a plain paper/heavy journal and swatch them, though. Some of the barrel colors will fool you. Also, there's inconsistent ink: some are very pigmented (they have their uses), while others made me want to scream because they seemed watery or not-pigmented. I've used them all, pretty much, once properly swatched. It looks like there are 4-5 purples, but they cover the gamut. One "silver" is so silver that it's like a sharpie! So I use the last color in the set, "Nothing" is what I called it, and color pencil with a metallic silver and then go over it with that glitter pen. It was perfect to make a glittery silver effect without bleeding through, or covering other letters.Some of the best are heavily pigmented, like the red, but depending on your surface, you can prep it to get a STARTLING "very red" with a lot of glitter (I use a light stroke of color-less pencil on light paper).These are simply magnificent! And unlike most glitter pens, I'm not shaking them, or getting 'glops' of ink by surprise. I'm not sure what they did to make these as consistent as they are (again, once swatched and you know what you're getting), but they're consistent, good flow, not too thick (thinnest I have, in fact). They really beautify crafts while costlier items are now collecting some dust. (I might add pics later. My priest was shocked with some illustrations I pulled off using these, though. Just sayin
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 December 2023
Some of the best are heavily pigmented, like the red, but depending on your surface, you can prep it to get a STARTLING "very red" with a lot of glitter (I use a light stroke of color-less pencil on light paper).
These are simply magnificent! And unlike most glitter pens, I'm not shaking them, or getting 'glops' of ink by surprise. I'm not sure what they did to make these as consistent as they are (again, once swatched and you know what you're getting), but they're consistent, good flow, not too thick (thinnest I have, in fact). They really beautify crafts while costlier items are now collecting some dust. (I might add pics later. My priest was shocked with some illustrations I pulled off using these, though. Just sayin
Best most-used set for illustrating thin paper; well worth it. Getting another!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 December 2023
Get a plain paper/heavy journal and swatch them, though. Some of the barrel colors will fool you. Also, there's inconsistent ink: some are very pigmented (they have their uses), while others made me want to scream because they seemed watery or not-pigmented. I've used them all, pretty much, once properly swatched. It looks like there are 4-5 purples, but they cover the gamut. One "silver" is so silver that it's like a sharpie! So I use the last color in the set, "Nothing" is what I called it, and color pencil with a metallic silver and then go over it with that glitter pen. It was perfect to make a glittery silver effect without bleeding through, or covering other letters.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 December 2023
Some of the best are heavily pigmented, like the red, but depending on your surface, you can prep it to get a STARTLING "very red" with a lot of glitter (I use a light stroke of color-less pencil on light paper).
These are simply magnificent! And unlike most glitter pens, I'm not shaking them, or getting 'glops' of ink by surprise. I'm not sure what they did to make these as consistent as they are (again, once swatched and you know what you're getting), but they're consistent, good flow, not too thick (thinnest I have, in fact). They really beautify crafts while costlier items are now collecting some dust. (I might add pics later. My priest was shocked with some illustrations I pulled off using these, though. Just sayin
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 November 2022
Colour Name: BlackSize Name: 12 count (Pack of 1)Style Name: SingleVerified Purchase
Amazon Basics Retractable Gel Ink Pens - Fine Point, Black, 12-Pack
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I used to primarily use staedtler ballpoint pens, but years ago after falling in love with gel pens I only ever use these ones nowadays. Yes the gel pens don't last anywhere near as long as ball points and ball points are way cheaper, but I really like these Amazon basic ones. I do a fair amount of writing notes and usually buy a box or two of these every 6-8 months or so. Each pen is sealed with a tiny red lump of wax or whatever it is - easy to pull off and can start to use straight away.
love the fact that as it gets towards the end you don't have to keep flicking the pen, as you would with ballpoints to get the last few drops of ink. Also general writing is very easy compared to ballpoint, especially if you like writing in small text sizes and I don't get writer's cramps as often with these pens.
The thing I don't like about these pens is that the ink doesn't always dry straight away, and if you turn the page over too soon, or put your hand over it, you end up smearing the ink. However, the ink is still good enough to use on both sides of the same page even on 70 and 80 gm paper. The other minor niggle is on some types of paper the ink doesn't flow like it normally does - it behaves like it's running out of ink, and comes out scratchy, but when you switch to normal paper it flows ust fine. Overall great gel pens. Over last few years the pens have sold between 8 and 10 pounds per box of 12.
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I used to primarily use staedtler ballpoint pens, but years ago after falling in love with gel pens I only ever use these ones nowadays. Yes the gel pens don't last anywhere near as long as ball points and ball points are way cheaper, but I really like these Amazon basic ones. I do a fair amount of writing notes and usually buy a box or two of these every 6-8 months or so. Each pen is sealed with a tiny red lump of wax or whatever it is - easy to pull off and can start to use straight away.
love the fact that as it gets towards the end you don't have to keep flicking the pen, as you would with ballpoints to get the last few drops of ink. Also general writing is very easy compared to ballpoint, especially if you like writing in small text sizes and I don't get writer's cramps as often with these pens.
The thing I don't like about these pens is that the ink doesn't always dry straight away, and if you turn the page over too soon, or put your hand over it, you end up smearing the ink. However, the ink is still good enough to use on both sides of the same page even on 70 and 80 gm paper. The other minor niggle is on some types of paper the ink doesn't flow like it normally does - it behaves like it's running out of ink, and comes out scratchy, but when you switch to normal paper it flows ust fine. Overall great gel pens. Over last few years the pens have sold between 8 and 10 pounds per box of 12.
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 July 2020
Colour Name: BlueSize Name: 12 count (Pack of 1)Style Name: SingleVerified PurchaseEarly Reviewer Rewards(What's this?)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 April 2024
Colour Name: BlackSize Name: 12 count (Pack of 1)Style Name: SingleVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 May 2024
Colour Name: BlackSize Name: 12 count (Pack of 1)Style Name: SingleVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 May 2024
Colour Name: BlueSize Name: 12 count (Pack of 1)Style Name: SingleVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 May 2022
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Sharon Walker
Smooth Operator
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