13 Finest Fountain Pen Inks [2025]

A lot ink, so little time.

Annually, the world’s greatest writing manufacturers add to the ever-growing spectrum of fountain pen inks. On this article, we compile the highest fountain pen inks launched in 2023. Be part of us for all of the shimmer, shading, and sheen!

How did we make this checklist?

We narrowed our search to inks launched in December 2022 and presently by 2023. Utilizing gross sales information and buyer opinions on Goldspot.com, we chosen the 13 hottest fountain pen inks.

TL;DR: Finest Fountain Pen inks of 2023 at a look

• Colorverse New Yr 2023

• Wearingeul Phantom of the Opera

• Ferris Wheel Press Poison Envy

• Diamine Celadon Cat

• Wearingeul Dracula

• Nahvalur Explorer Atlantic Blue

• Pelikan Edelstein 2023 Rose Quartz

• Wearingeul Hamlet

• Platinum Chou Kuro

• J Herbin 1670 Fuchsia de Magellan

• Colorverse Cat’s Eye Nebula

• Wearingeul King Lear

• Diamine Inkvent Set 2023 Purple Version

Finest Fountain Pen Inks

Colorverse New Yr 2023

$24, 30ml bottle, Now Bought Out

Kicking off this checklist is an ink that celebrated the New Yr 2023 with a lot optimism and glitz. Made solely for Luxurious Manufacturers of America (US distributor for Colorverse Ink) the “2023 New Yr” is an excellent inexperienced that shimmers with silver and gold particles.

This ink additionally matches the Benu New Yr 2023 restricted version fountain pen, additionally distributed by Luxurious Manufacturers of America.

Our favourite half

We adore it when you possibly can match your pen along with your ink colour. The truth that LBA coordinated this ink to match the sparkliness of the Benu pen is next-level creativity!

Options

A vibrant, full of life inexperienced colour that sparkles with silver and gold shimmer. This colour was solely obtainable to pen retailers inside North America.

Wearingeul Phantom of the Opera

$22.00, 30ml bottle

Though this “Phantom of the Opera” ink relies on the unique e-book (1909) by Gaston Leroux, most of us (myself included) know the story from the Broadway play. As soon as I discovered the manufacturing was coming to an finish in 2023, I received tickets to see Phantom with my household and pals.

Our favourite half

It’s enjoyable to think about writing letters on this ink, very like the letters the Opera Ghost (“O.G.”) wrote to warn Firmin concerning the tribute that was to be given.

Options

This ink has a deep, mysterious blue that has a haunting fringe of metallic blood-red sheen.

Ferris Wheel Press “As soon as Upon a Time” Poison Envy

$20, 20ml bottle

Ferris Wheel Press retells the story of Snow White and the Evil Queen by this saturated, deep purple, shimmer ink.

Our favourite half

Ferris Wheel Press does an incredible job of telling a narrative by its themed packaging, which is flawlessly achieved with Poison Envy.

Options

This deep, velvet purple ink has a duo-chrome inexperienced shimmer bottled in a ball-shaped glass bottle.

Diamine Celadon Cat

$17 for 80ml glass bottle, $8 for 30ml plastic bottle

Utilizing the mixed knowledge of fountain pen fanatics world wide, Diamine crowdsourced the creation of Celadon Cat with the r/fountainpens subreddit group. 2023’s Celadon Cat joins the earlier years’ picks: Earl Gray, Aurora Borealis, and Author’s Blood. The colour is a lightweight, pastel blue that shades with a purplish-gray undertones.

Our favourite half

We love Diamine’s interplay with the group to create these new inks. Annually, the Reddit inks have been a success as a result of the individuals have spoken – these are the colours they need to use of their pens!

Options

Multi-shader inks are usually undersaturated, which makes them tougher to learn on paper. Celadon Cat, nonetheless, has simply sufficient physique to learn clearly whereas appreciating the complexity of colour in every letter. Diamine inks even have an affordable price per ml of ink.

Wearingeul Dracula

$22.00, 30ml bottle

As you fill your fountain pen with this wealthy, shimmering pink ink, you possibly can’t assist however suppose, “Might my fountain pen be a vampire?” A tribute to Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” (1897), this ink ought to ship shivers down your backbone and have you ever trying round for garlic and crucifixes. But, lots of our prospects are absorbing this hypnotic ink.

Our favourite half

The chilly, contrasting blue shimmer is uncommon to see paired with such a velvety pink ink. It has a magic, supernatural look that most closely fits the theme.

Options

Your vacuum-filling pens will need to suck the blood-red ink from this 30ml glass bottle. Simply be sure to’re diligent about cleansing your fountain pen after you’ve run empty or between altering colours.

Nahvalur Explorer Atlantic Blue

$12.00, 20ml bottle

Domesticate your sense of journey with the Explorer ink assortment from Nahvalur. Though Nahvalur (previously often known as Narwhal) launched their first set of 4 fountain pen inks in December 2022, we’re going to incorporate these in our greatest 2023 inks dialogue. Atlantic Blue (and the opposite three Explorer inks) are customary colours that deviate barely from the norm.

Our favourite half

The low price and low quantity make these inks simpler to try to accumulate than most colours you’ll discover on this checklist. The nautical theme, which is widespread all through the Nahvalur model, is nicely described by the colour of Atlantic Blue.

Options

This deep blue ink has a touch of inexperienced and shades properly.

Pelikan Edelstein 2023 Rose Quartz

$29.95, 50ml bottle

Beginning in 2012, Pelikan launched an “Ink of the Yr” inside its premium “Edelstein” ink assortment. It’s develop into a yearly custom for Pelikan to launch a brand new ink and an identical Traditional 200/205 pen. For 2023, a blushing pink Rose Quartz is on faucet.

Our favourite half

Pelikan by no means fails to disappoint with regards to deciding on the ink of the 12 months. A number of years in the past, in addition they canvassed the pen group for suggestions on deciding on the colours. This colour shows kindness, compassion, and a pleasant demeanor.

Options

This mild pink has refined royal violet edging and smoky shading. The 50ml glass bottle is a beautiful show piece you’d like to have in your desk.

Wearingeul Hamlet

$22.00, 30ml bottle

To ink or to not ink, that’s the query. Whether or not it’s nobler to write down with a plain, boring ink, or give your cursive some razzle-dazzle with Hamlet’s multi-chromatic shimmer.

Our favourite half

Wearingeul’s literature-themed inks appear to be a bit hit with writers looking for inspiration from the classics. In keeping with Wearinguel, this ink symbolizes the duel of poisoned swords between Hamlet and Laertes.

Options

This royal navy ink sparkles with emerald glitter.

Platinum Chou Kuro

$48.00, 60ml bottle

In case you thought that Platinum’s Carbon Black wasn’t black sufficient for you, Platinum introduces its blackest black so far. “Chou Kuro” is 46.8% darker than Platinum’s Carbon Black. As soon as it dries, it’s utterly waterproof.

Our favourite half

The richness of this black ink contrasts superbly with the paper. Due to its waterproof trait, Chou Kuro is well-suited for each writing and inventive pursuits. So, you could possibly draw line artwork utilizing Chou Kuro, then apply colour washes over it with out worry of smearing.

Word: you do have to attend for the ink to dry previous to erasing or making use of different ink or watercolor pigment on high of the paintings.

Options

This wealthy black ink is totally waterproof as soon as it dries on the web page. The 60ml bottle contains an internal reservoir cup that means that you can entry the ink simply as soon as the extent drops.

J. Herbin 1670 Fuchsia de Magellan

$29.95, 50ml bottle

Very like Pelikan’s Edelstein Ink of the Yr, shimmer ink lovers stay up for J. Herbin’s yearly “Anniversary” ink colour. The similarity with Pelikan doesn’t finish there. For 2023, J. Herbin additionally launched a vibrant magenta-pink ink known as Fuchsia de Magellan.

Our favourite half

Very like Pelikan’s Rose Quartz, Fuchsia de Magellan has a softness and heat that’s welcoming and nice to see on the web page. In typical “Anniversary” ink style, Magellan is enhanced with a golden shimmer all through.

Options

This vivid, bubblegum pink glistens with golden radiance. J Herbin spares none on the presentation, bottling this colour in a cube-like glass bottle embellished with wax seals for a classic attraction.

Colorverse Cat’s Eye Nebula

$25.95, 65ml bottle

With JWST making headlines within the area group for its awe-inspiring pictures of deep area, Colorverse captivates our creativeness with inks named after celestial our bodies. Cat’s Eye Nebula is a part of the Colorverse Ink Undertaking No. 6 – an exploration of recent ink formulations.

Our favourite half

House themes match completely with the twinkling nature of shimmer inks. For Cat’s Eye, Colorverse blended in some multi-chromatic shimmer into the sunshine, pastel inexperienced base colour.

Options

Bottled in a big, tear-drop-shaped glass bottle, Cat’s Eye Nebula spreads a wealth of star-like sparkles throughout the web page.

Wearingeul King Lear

$22.00, 30ml bottle

This ink illustrates the insanity of King Lear (William Shakespeare) displaying tragical pink glitter on a greenish-gray base ink. Because the ink dries, pink glitter reasonably seems.

Our favourite half

Very like Wearngeul’s Dracula ink, King Lear isn’t a colour & shimmer mixture you see typically. This mild, greenish-grey has a pink shimmer that underlines the story’s tragic finish.

Options

Bottled in a 20ml glass container with a label that matches the bottom ink colour inside. The phrases “King Lear” are printed in reflective pink letters to indicate the pink shimmer contained therein.

Diamine Inkvent Set 2023 Purple Version

$115, set of (24) 12ml ink bottles and (1) 30ml ink bottle

On the time of this writing, the 2023 Diamine Inkvent calendar hasn’t landed but. So, we haven’t had an opportunity to truly swatch and play with these new ink colours. However, if previous efficiency is any indication, this 12 months’s Diamine Inkvent Calendar might be one of the vital standard ink purchases this 12 months.

Our favourite half

Diamine packs an exquisite number of ink colours and properties – shimmering, sheening, and shading – multi function enjoyable calendar. Beginning December 1st, the worldwide fountain pen group opens, ink swatches every colour, and shares their expertise on-line.

Options

The Diamine Inkvent Calendar comprises 25 new, seasonally-themed colours. Very like a conventional introduction calendar, you’re invited to open a brand new door every day, counting right down to Christmas Day. The primary 24 doorways open to a 12ml bottle of ink. The twenty fifth door comprises a 30ml ink bottle.

Now that we lined our high, bestselling inks of 2023, lots of you should have further questions based mostly on how you like utilizing your pens and inks. Under, you’ll discover our most present solutions to the favored questions posed by at this time’s pen fanatics.

Finest Black Fountain Pen Ink

Our favourite black ink for 2023 needs to be the Platinum Chou Kuro as talked about above. Within the dialog of one of the best waterproof black inks for artists, now we have all the time really useful both Platinum’s Carbon Black or Noodler’s Bulletproof Black. Chou Kuro is a darker different that, whereas being costlier, supplies the richest and deepest black. Chou Kuro has a longer-than-average dry time. However, as soon as it dries, it’s not going anyplace!

Finest Quick-Drying Fountain Pen Ink

For individuals who write left-handed, or want an ink that dries rapidly so you possibly can shut your pocket book after jotting down concepts, a fast-drying ink like Graf von Faber-Castell is a must have in your ink arsenal. Though Graf hasn’t launched any new ink colours this 12 months, we’re nonetheless giving them kudos for having such an incredible number of colours that every one dry comparatively rapidly.

Finest Worth Fountain Pen Ink

One of the vital gratifying features of writing with a fountain pen is the near-limitless alternative of ink colour. Though inks are usually not as costly as fountain pens, shopping for a bunch of bottled inks might rapidly shut the price hole. Fortunately, there are a number of choices to develop your ink assortment with out having to interrupt the financial institution.

1. Ink Samples – Though the price per ml quantity is increased than shopping for a full bottle of ink, making an attempt out a colour is the less expensive possibility in making an attempt a big number of colours.

2. Diamine 30ml bottles vs 80ml. Diamine presents dozens of their inks in both the 30ml plastic bottle or 80ml glass model. The $8 30ml bottles are very moderately priced and the bottles are smaller so that they take up much less area should you accumulate a bunch.  

3. Noodler’s Ink presents one of the best price per ml for his or her fountain pen inks. Nonetheless, most of their bottles comprise 90ml (or extra) of the colour, which is likely to be extra quantity than you possibly can deal with in a lifetime, particularly when you’ve got a wide range of colours.

What Makes a Nice Fountain Pen Ink?

Trying by the checklist of the 13 greatest fountain pen inks, you may battle to discover a widespread thread that hyperlinks every ink. They’re all totally different colours from totally different manufacturers with totally different properties that make them distinctive. However what do nice fountain pen inks have in widespread? Let’s break it down.

Good writing expertise and efficiency

Nice inks play properly with a majority of fountain pens and nib sizes. This implies you shouldn’t have to fret about these inks clogging your pen, inflicting circulate points, or bleeding by fountain pen-friendly paper. Glorious fountain pen inks ought to circulate properly, will be cleaned out simply, and have a dependable consistency throughout the paper you utilize along with your fountain pens.

Your Favourite Ink Colour, Gradient, and Model

Fountain pen inks elicit an emotional response if you see the beautiful colour on the web page. Your alternative of favourite ink colour is very private. So, your definition of a “nice fountain pen ink” might differ considerably from another person based mostly on the choice of colour. Similar to with standard films, books, and music, ink colours will be raised to greatness as a result of basic consensus. There are some colours {that a} majority of writers gravitate in the direction of. Therefore, the subject of this put up.

What Are The Sorts of Fountain Pen Ink?

As we lined within the Newbie’s Information to Fountain Pen ink, there are a number of varieties of ink which have totally different properties. Relying on the way you write (or draw), chances are you’ll seek for specific properties over others, which I’ll describe in every kind of ink.

Shading Pen Inks

For those who’re trying to give your handwriting depth with out the over-the-top sparkle of shimmer ink, then shading fountain pen ink is a superb possibility. A high-shading ink creates a gradient of colour saturation inside your letters. Lighter inks are usually good candidates for shading.

Waterproof Ink (or Water-Resistant)

To make your phrases final, use an ink that resists the consequences of time. Indelible, or waterproof inks, can’t be erased from paper utilizing water. Some waterproof inks are additionally lightfast, which signifies that they won’t fade after extended publicity to UV daylight. Waterproof inks are perfect for authorized paperwork and in skilled workplace settings.

Quick-Drying Pen Ink

Quick-drying fountain pen inks are perfect for lefties and writers who rapidly jot down their ideas and instantly shut their notebooks. Save your self the ready, blowing, and blotting, attempt writing with an ink that dries rapidly.

Shimmering Ink

Shimmer ink has pigmented particles that replicate mild, giving the ink a glitter and sparkle. It’s eye-catching and offers your writing a glamorous look. Journalers and letter writers love utilizing shimmer inks so as to add some pizzazz to their writing.

Fountain Pen Ink FAQ’s

The place To Purchase Fountain Pen Ink?

Goldspot Pens sells an unlimited spectrum of high quality fountain pen inks from the world’s greatest producers. From the most important names like Diamine, Robert Oster, and Ferris Wheel Press, to the brand new upstarts like Wearingeul and Dominant Business. After all, you’re free to buy fountain pen ink from any effective stationery and fountain pen retailer.

What Are Your Favourite Fountain Pen Inks?

For the reason that Goldspot crew is consistently surrounded by fountain pen ink, it’s onerous for us to choose only a few favorites from the tons of of inks we inventory on our cabinets. Some ink favorites do come to thoughts. Tom frequently exams fountain pens utilizing Waterman Serenity Blue, and enjoys writing with Leonardo Hawaii Turquoise, Colorverse Martian, and Taccia Sabimidori.

What Was Your Standards for The Prime Fountain Pen Ink Critiques?

With a view to be thought-about for this high checklist of 2023, the ink needed to be launched no later than December 2022. We evaluated the gross sales, likes, feedback, and buyer opinions of every ink to seek out the 13 hottest fountain pen inks.

Are These Pen Inks Good For Writing and Writers?

For those who write primarily with a fountain pen, these greatest pen inks will excite you to return to the web page. Good ink helps make the act of writing a enjoyable expertise in itself. Writers who can discover methods to make the follow of writing extra rewarding have a greater likelihood of building a long-term behavior of each day writing.

Additionally, in case you are left-handed and battle with ink smearing, then a quick drying ink for a fountain pen is good.

What Are The Prime Colours For Bottled Inks?

Since this text focuses on newer inks, we didn’t get an opportunity to cowl our all-time high colours. As we mentioned in our newbie’s information to fountain pen inks, some inks are perennial best-sellers that are usually staples in lots of writers’ collections. A fast checklist of high bottled ink colours contains Noodler’s Bulletproof Black, Pilot Iroshizuku Kon Peki, J. Herbin 1670 Anniversary Emerald of Chivor, Diamine Author’s Blood, Sailor Manyo Haha, and Aurora Black.

Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-Peki
Lovely glass bottle, ink has an excellent hue, moist circulate, low shading, and a touch of pink sheen

Waterman Serenity Blue
Secure for all sorts of pens, reveals shading, and coppery sheen

Noodler’s Bulletproof Black
Archival, waterproof, business-appropriate black, for artists

J. Herbin 1670 Anniversary Emerald of Chivor
Tremendous saturated, pink sheen and golden shimmer

Sailor Manyo Haha
mild saturation, multi-chromatic shading

What Are The Finest Fountain Pen Ink Manufacturers For Additional Exploration?

To discover a wide selection of colours with numerous properties like shading, shimmer, and sheen, there are a number of ink producers to discover, together with Robert Oster Signature, Diamine, Ferris Wheel Press, and Wearingeul.

What’s the distinction between dye-based and pigment fountain pen inks?

By default, fountain-pen inks are often dye-based. Most firms produce inks that comprise dyes in numerous saturations to realize their top quality colours. For those who’re searching for water-resistant writing ink, think about pigmented ink for fountain pens. The suspended pigment adheres to all paper varieties for a water-proof bond. Writers can recognize the flexibility of utilizing these inks on numerous papers for letter writing, drawing, and journaling. The draw back is that pigmented fountain pen ink can require extra upkeep than dye-based inks. The ink may persist with nibs or be tough to utterly clear from a demonstrator. Though pigmented inks are thought-about good fountain pen ink, they’re in all probability not one of the best for newbies.

Fountain pen ink cartridges or bottled ink – which is best?

As you noticed on this checklist, one of the best ink for fountain pens is often packaged in a bottle. Actually, not a single ink colour on this checklist is obtainable as a fountain pen ink cartridge. As we talk about within the comparability article “cartridge vs. converter,” you pay much less for the quantity of ink in a bottle versus the identical ink in a cartridge. Plus, some pen firms will solely provide their colours in a restricted vary. So, should you’re searching for that excellent brown, orange, or blue-black, think about searching for bottled ink as an alternative of cartridge for the highest quality and number of colours.

Additionally, bottled fountain pen inks make nice items. The inks that are available glass bottles look significantly elegant on one’s desk.