The UK based Diamine company, have been manufacturing fountain pen inks since 1864 using traditional methods and formulas for their production. I have just tested 78 samples, which I’ll post over the coming days. Here are the 20 test swatches for the Blue fountain pen inks and great range it is too.
Inks tested: Oxford Blue, Tchaikovsky, Presidential Blue, Blue Velvet, Radiant Blue, Cornflower, Aster, Washable Blue, Florida Blue, Mediterranean Blue, Havasu Blue, Aqua Blue, Misty Blue, Indigo, Prussian Blue, Twighlight, Eau de Nil, Schubert, Marine, Aqua Lagoon
All of these blues are lovely – they blend well, react with a neon gold to bleach and flow easily through a nib for great writing. But for me, the stand outs are Oxford Blue, Havasu Turquoise, Twilight and Schubert – I’ll sort out some test art soon. If you’re into those subtleties then Florida Blue and Mediterranean Blue along with Indigo and Prussian Blue are classic examples. For the sheen freaks – Presidential Blue, Blue Velvet and Eau de Nil are all very pronounced.
Of note – there are over 100 colours in the Diamine fountain pen ink range plus more colours in the composers and flowers gift ranges – all of which are all supposedly unique. So what I’ve done, is classify batches by colour so you can see the gift inks next to the standards and you can judge for yourselves whether or not this is fact. With such a huge range, some colours are bound to appear similar, but from what I can see, those fine subtleties of difference are evident.
From a creative point of view, Diamine inks really do hit the mark – they blend with water and each other beautifully, they pretty much all react with bleach and they always look spectacular. There’s also chromatography, sheens and shimmers too. Combine this with their very affordable price point – what’s not to like?
I hope you enjoy the results as much as I have testing them. And by the way, there are many other Diamine reviews throughout this blog. If you’d like to know more about this about this project, please take a look at the Mission Statement.
All tests on Bockingford 200lb watercolour paper using a dip pen with titanium zebra G flex nib for the bleach work and a Noodler’s Ahab for the ink work.
Diamine samples sourced from Vijay at Stationery Shop stationeryshop.scotland@gmail.com.
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.
FOUNTAIN PEN INK ART 