Fountain Pen Ink | Cult Pens (2024)

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Bottled ink is one of the joys conferred by fountain pen ownership. An enormous range of colours are available (we have over 400 colours available and you can even mix your own); it can be economical and eco-friendly; and there's some satisfaction in the process of filling a pen.

It can of course be inconvenient at times, but the sheer variety of ink on sale in the 21st century is a testament to the ongoing popularity of bottled ink and the affection in which it is held.

Any fountain pen can use any reputable brand of ink - despite what pen manufacturers and their vested interests might imply. It's true that there are some pens that are more fussy about ink than others, and there is quite a wide variation in the viscosity and colour of the various brands, but in general the choice of ink will normally come down to personal preference or cost.

However, two brands which stand out in most often in polls of fountain pen users are Waterman Ink and Diamine Ink, and we heartily recommend these to any fountain pen owner. Diamine in particular offers an enormous range of colours and it's still manufactured right here in the UK. We love their inks so much that we've had them make a small range of extra colours especially for us - see our Cult Pens Deep Dark Inks.

Fountain pen ink is not generally very waterproof - the properties that make ink waterproof are not friendly to delicate fountain pen innards. However, Platinum's Carbon Ink is about as safe as it gets and is thoroughly waterproof. You'll need to rinse out your pen before storage though. Graf von Faber-Castell's line of luxury ink is safe for any pen, and boasts impressive if not bullet-proof tolerance to water.

Finally, if you fancy creating your own unique ink colour, try Platinum's Mix-Free Ink - colours specifically designed to blend with each other.

Robert Oster Signature Ink 50ml 7th Anniversary Collection

From £17.00

Diamine Ink-vent Green Edition 50ml Ink

From £9.00

Sailor Yurameku Fountain Pen Ink 1st Edition 20ml

£15.50

Private Reserve 60ml Invincible Ink Bottle

£17.00

Re-packaged but using the original ink formula

Diamine Ink 80ml Bottle

£7.00

Over 100 colours of high-quality ink from this great British company

Diamine Ink 30ml Bottle

£2.80

30ml bottles of Diamine's superb fountain pen ink

Cult Pens Platinum Jubilee Ink by Diamine 50ml

£13.50

Cult Pens Summer Fountain Pen Ink by Diamine 30ml

£3.10

Pelikan Edelstein Fountain Pen Ink 50ml

£18.00

Golden Lapis Coming Soon - Expected Late July - Pre-Order Now!

Top-quality super-sized fountain pen with piston-filler

Diamine Ink-vent Blue Edition Ink 50ml

From £8.50

Individual Diamine Inkvent calendar inks

Diamine Gibson Les Paul Guitar Ink Bottle 30ml

£2.80

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Fountain Pen Ink FAQ

What inks are safe for fountain pens?

Anything sold as 'fountain pen ink' should be fine. But some are safer than others. Specialist inks containing very finely ground pigments, inks made to sheen, and inks with shimmering particles, can all add a bit of risk. While these should be perfectly ok to use in fountain pens, they’re probably best avoided in a pen that’s especially valuable to you.

What is 'sheening' ink?

Sheening inks have very high concentrations of dye, of particular types, which will leave extra dye on the surface, refracting the light in interesting ways - usually layering a different colour where the ink goes down thickest. The effect can vary hugely with the paper used - some paper will absorb the ink quickly, leaving nothing to sheen; other paper will let the ink dry onto the surface, sheening different colours in the light.

The concentrated dye makes these inks a bit higher risk, so it's best not to leave them in an unused pen for long, and they may take a bit more flushing out than usual when cleaning your pens.

What is 'shimmering' ink?

Shimmering inks use very finely-ground particles, usually of gold or silver metal, giving an effect like very fine glitter, so your writing or drawing catches the light and sparkles. While we generally find them safe to use in fountain pens, a bit of extra care should be taken not to let these inks dry in the pen, as the particles could then clog the feed.

Can I use drawing ink in a fountain pen?

In general, no - drawing inks contain pigments that would clog the feed. There are drawing inks made for fountain pens, like Platinum Carbon Black, which can be used, but a bit of extra care would still be recommended.

Can I use calligraphy ink in a fountain pen?

Only if it’s intended for fountain pens. Most calligraphy ink is made for dip pens, and is not safe in fountain pens. They are usually pigmented, and some contain shellac to give extra shine, which would be very bad in a fountain pen!

Are there permanent fountain pen inks?

Any permanent ink will take a bit of extra care, and only use ones specifically made for fountain pens. Platinum Carbon Black is a good choice.