Choosing the right bottled ink for your fountain pens can be quite a daunting task. There are just so many ink colors, brands, finishes, and textures on the market it can be difficult to keep up. There’s really no wrong answer as to what the best ink is for you because it boils down to personal preference. However, there are some qualities and characteristics of ink that make them stand out as excellent performers, attracting many fountain pen enthusiasts as a result.
Here, we’ll talk about how to choose bottled fountain pen ink and what the best options are for your growing collection.
How to choose bottled fountain pen ink
When you buy a bottle of fountain pen ink, the assumption is that you will be using it quite often, perhaps even on a daily basis. Therefore, it is helpful to assess how good they are, not only in terms of performance but according to the following criteria:
Price. If you go through a lot of ink, then you’ll likely want an ink that isn’t too expensive. Most of the inks featured here are reasonably priced for the amount and quality that you get.
Versatility and performance. These inks work well on various paper types, from high-quality Tomoe River or Clairefontaine to standard copy paper.
Safety. These inks are manufactured specifically for fountain pens. Some of these companies also sell pens, which is a good rule of thumb to follow when assessing inks that won’t damage your pens, whether vintage or modern.
The best bottled fountain pen ink
Here are some of the best bottled fountain pen inks that you can invest in.
1. Pilot Iroshizuku
Many new inks are being produced all the time, but sometimes you need a classic, reliable ink that always performs well. This is where Pilot Iroshizuku bottled inks come in. They hardly ever introduce new colors, but what they don’t have in variety they make up for superior quality at a great price point. These are lubricated, saturated, well-behaved inks that are a great addition to any writer’s collection.
2. Sailor
If you want great colors, a lot of variation, and a good-flowing ink in your drier pens, then Sailor is a great option. Many are a fan of their Manyo ink line, in particular, for having beautiful shades, excellent ink quality, and a price-per-volume that is well below the current average for other Sailor inks. Check out their different line of inks to see which colors, textures, and permanence suit your preferences best.
3. Robert Oster
Robert Oster inks are some of the easiest to work with, especially if you’re meticulous about cleaning inks out of your pens. These inks don’t clog and the ones with shimmer show up beautifully on paper. In terms of wetness, they are somewhere in the middle with a few outliers. For comparison, they take some time to dry — a little quicker than Sailor inks, but it comes quite close. If you want beautiful colors that are paper-friendly and easy to use, then Rober Oster inks are your best bet.
4. Diamine
Diamine is one of the most well-known fountain pen ink manufacturers on the market. With their extensive color selection, different textures, and excellent qualities, it’s no wonder that many pen lovers have a few of these bottles in their collection. Diamine inks are known for having an exciting array of colors and excellent ink flow. They come in many different sizes too, including 30ml, 50ml, or 80ml depending on the ink collection you’re buying from. This makes it easy to choose an ink that is just right for your needs.
Whether you end up buying one of the inks from this list or something else that strikes your fancy, just remember that finding the best fountain pen ink is a journey that takes time. It is also highly dependent on your preferences, so keep that in mind when you try out different inks. Try different samples before committing to a full bottle to ensure that you choose the very best for yourself.
Happy inking and happy writing!
Written by EndlessPens Blogger Ramona Kabigting
