Robert Oster x Vitstyle Red Bear — 4ml Fountain Pen Ink Sample

Hue: A deep, slightly muted red. In writing it sits between brick and maroon. Where the ink pools, it turns a brown-leaning oxblood. Published descriptions call it a dark, slightly unsaturated red. My swatches agree in the pools, but in writing and in the dip-pen bar the lighter strokes read a touch rosier and brighter than that description suggests.

Shading: Moderate. My swatches show clear light-to-dark variation, from a soft rosy red to deep maroon, in both the bar and the handwriting.

Sheen: None observed.

Shimmer: None.

Flow: Medium.

The interesting bit: Red Bear is a store exclusive. Robert Oster made it in Australia for Vitstyle, a pen shop in Hong Kong, and it was only ever sold through them. It's a good way to try an Oster red you won't find in the main Signature range.

This is a hand-decanted 4ml sample vial from my own bottle.
Photos are my own swatches on Tomoe River Paper.
I'm a collector and I'm always happy to talk ink, so please message me if you have any questions.