Eight Unique Fountain Pen Ink Colours
Everyone has a preference when it comes to black or blue, and chances are if your loved one is picky with their pinks and purples they already have a shade that they’re looking for. But what about something unique?
If you’re looking for a gift that likely doesn’t appear in an ink collection already, it can be hard to know where to start. However, for every collector, a unique ink is usually a welcome surprise! One of the best qualities of fountain pens is that they are completely customizable with the writing colours.
Here are some unique inks that will be a breath of fresh air in any collection. As a reminder, we’ve tried to represent the ink colours the best we can in photos, but factors like screen brightness might make them appear slightly different on your screen than they are in real life.
What’s the best ink you’ve ever received as a gift? Let us know in the comments!
Sailor Manyo Nadeshiko
When we talk about unique ink properties, we often talk about the three Ss: Sheen, Shimmer, and Shading. One overlooked property that is very apparent in the Manyo series from Sailor is the colour-changing abilities of some inks! Sailor Nadeshiko is a great example of this property, as it is a fairly standard colour when it comes to sheen, shimmer, and shading, but where the ink pools on the page, it appears a pinky-purple instead of the blue where it is elsewhere!
Sailor Manyo Shirakashi
The inks in the Sailor Manyo series are so special, we just had to include another! Shirakashi is a deep off-brown with hints of green. This ink is a truly unique colour, as we’ve never come across a shade quite like this one in any other brand! True to the Manyo series, Skirakashi provides a dependable writing experience: it isn’t so wet that it will take forever to dry, but it preforms beautifully in both very wet and very dry writing pens.
Lamy Crystal Beryl
Sharing its name with the gemstone, Lamy Crystal Beryl is a popular and sought-after colour for a reason! This deep pink can even have a gold sheen in a broader nib, and very few brands make a deep, rich pink comparable to this one. This colour is especially nice when paired with bright white paper, like the offerings from Maruman and Stalogy.
Platinum Classic Citrus Black
If you’re looking for waterproof ink, you’ve likely come across a lot of blues, blacks, and greys. Luckily, Platinum’s Classic line makes it easy to get a fun colour in a waterproof ink! Platinum Classic Citrus Black is an off-yellow that is perfect for sunny note-taking and sketching, but it won’t budge if you accidentally spill some coffee (or eggnog) onto it. This ink is best when used in a broader nib and in a pen that can be easily cleaned (in case the ink dries on the inside). You can find more of our favourite water resistant inks here.
Graf von Faber Castell Deep Sea Green
Like some of the other inks in the Graf von Faber Castell lineup, Deep Sea Green probably isn’t the hue that you imagine when you hear the name! Rather than being a deep green, the colour is a soft, attractive teal blue. We love this colour because it is both versatile and fun, plus there isn’t a colour like this one from every brand! This colour also comes in a pack of six international short sized cartridges.
Pilot Iroshizuku Ajisai
If you’re looking for a colour that can’t be duped, Pilot Iroshizuku Ajisai is close to the top of the list. This unique shade straddles the line between blue and purple, and it shades and pools beautifully on high-quality paper. True to the Iroshizuku line, Ajisai writes quite wet and is a good choice for picky pens. If you’re looking for a smooth writing experience while still gifting a new colour for the person who “has it all,” Ajisai is a great choice.
TAKEDA JIMUKI Kyo Iro Cherry Blossom of Keage
Though there are many inks inspired by sakura blossoms, especially from Japanese fountain pen brands, all of the colours have a slightly different interpretation. What makes Kyo Iro Cherry Blossom of Keage unique is its true pink colouring! This shade is neither too bright nor too pale, and it is a reliable pink that will write similarly no matter what pen you’re using. It also has a hint of shading!
Diamine A Leap of Faith
For a truly unique ink you can’t get anywhere else, why not try the Phidon exclusive Diamine A Leap of Faith? This ink, which we detailed in a previous blog post, is a deep blue with red sheen and hints of purple. Since it has a dark shade, it is great for more professional settings, but its sheen makes it fun for personal projects as well.