How to Choose the Right Fountain Pen Ink in 2023

How to Choose the Right Fountain Pen Ink in 2023
If youâve spent years using fountain pens then you know how fun, easy, and comfortable they are to write with.
Unlike rollerball or ballpoint pens, they are super smooth and wonât skip when writing. Itâs hard to imagine life without a good, reliable fountain pen.
Your experience might be different, though. Especially if youâre new to the world of ink fountain pens.
Perhaps you just ordered your first piston fill fountain pen and canât wait to see what it can do. But thereâs a problem: you feel overwhelmed by how many ink options there are to choose from.
Itâs obvious that without the right ink, your pen wonât be any use.
The ink you choose has to be compatible with your pen, and, of course, suit your writing needs. Thatâs what this guide is all about - helping you choose the right ink for your special writing tool.
Letâs get started on the different options you have.
Bottled Inks vs Cartridges: Which One Is Best?
The first question to ask yourself is âshould I buy bottled ink or use ink cartridges?â
The right ink depends on your personal preferences. However, some fountain pens canât use both options, which makes it a lot easier to decide.
Bottled Inks
Bottled ink is available in almost any color.
Unlike cartridges, it offers a multitude of waterproof and water-resistant choices.Â
The downside is that bottled ink users take more time to refill their pen. The ink replacement process can be messy, especially if youâve not mastered the refilling technique.
Donât be surprised if the ink the bottle creates a mess on your fingers or clothes. You can avoid this however by using a fountain pen converter to draw ink from the bottle.
Finally, youâre likely to pay more for bottled ink than ink refill cartridges. This cost is, however, offset by the volume of ink per bottle compared to a cartridge.
If youâre looking to personalize your writing without limiting your choice of colors, bottled ink is an ideal choice.
And why wouldnât you want to give your writing a heightened sense of purpose and meaning with a personalized pen?
Bottled ink offers a wide variety of colors | Refilling your pen with ink bottles is more complicated |
Has many waterproof choices | The initial cost is higher |
Versatility - Bottled ink can be used with most fountain pens | Less convenient to travel with an ink bottle |
Reduces cost long term |
Ink Cartridges

Ink cartridges are built for convenience, being safer to carry when traveling. Moreover, they allow for an easy, mess-free installation and replacement process.
Chances are youâve already heard someone talk about their experience with a cartridge fountain pen.
These are pens that have a cartridge system and therefore, can only be refilled with cartridges.
Your color options are limited to the ink cartridge your pen brand offers. These are usually proprietary cartridges, including:
- Waterman ink refill cartridges
- Parker ink refill cartridgesÂ
- Pilot ink refill cartridges
- Platinum ink refill cartridges
- Monami ink refill cartridges
Cartridges hold less bottled ink as they are smaller in size. And that means they are costly in the long run.
Quicker and easier to replace | Limited color options |
The initial cost is lower compared to bottled ink | Might be more expensive in the long run compared to bottled ink |
More convenient to travel with | Few waterproof choices |
Doesnât require additional parts |
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Choosing the Right Fountain Pen Ink: What to Consider
As you may have noticed, bottled ink works well with most pens. The question is, how do you make sure the ink you choose really suits your needs?
Hereâs what to consider:
Paper Quality
You probably already know that the paper you use can affect your writing performance. Your ink and style would have no place to shine if there was no paper.Â
If youâre writing on ordinary paper, then consider Waterman brand ink refills. These are dryer, flowing inks that work well with personalized journal sets.
Flow
Flow, in this case, refers to how well the ink flows through a pen. Whether you decide to choose bottled ink or ink carriage, make sure it complements the wetness of your pen. Youâre less likely to experience feathering or bleeding with ink that flows well through your pen.
Calligraphy Tip
If youâre using bottled ink and the consistency seems too thin, donât stress.
Try adding a small quantity of gum arabic to thicken your bottled ink.
Waterproofness
Waterproofness refers to the ability of the ink to be affected or unaffected by water.
Most fountain pen inks are far from permanent, meaning water could be your worst enemy when it comes to writing. The solution is to equip yourself with waterproof and water-resistant inks.
Waterproofness | How your writing will be affected by water |
Waterproof ink | Your writing is virtually unaffected. Allow the paper to dry off and youâre good to go. |
Highly water-resistant ink | You wonât lose what you wrote, though the ink is more likely to smudge slightly. |
Moderately water-resistant ink | Part of your writing wonât survive. You might be able to reconstruct the rest from whatâs left, though. |
Low water-resistant ink | Youâll lose a large portion of your writing. |
Zero water-resistant ink | Nothing will survive. You wonât even trace what you wrote. |
Composition
Ink manufacturers use water and colorants to make their products. Consider the unique characteristics of the colorants used when shopping for ink. The options available to you include:
Scented Inks
These include inks with added scents, like rose, jasmine, and chocolate. They give you a more inspiring writing experience.
Dye-based InksÂ
These are low-maintenance inks and available in the most vibrant colors. They are by far the most common inks for pens.
Shimmer Inks
They offer beautiful color options and are infused with glitter and sparkle. Shimmer inks are best used with pens with a broad nib.
Pigment-based Inks
They often develop a âflatâ or âchalkyâ finish upon drying. You can expect fewer color options, but improved permanence compared to dye-based inks.
âBulletproofâ Inks
Ink manufacturers add a special formula to dye-based inks to make âbulletproofâ inks. They are dye-based inks but with the permanence of pigment-based inks.
Get The Perfect Ink for Your Fountain Pen Today!
With endless ink options to choose from, narrowing it down to the perfect one for your pen can be practically impossible.
However, choosing the right ink for your special writing tool doesnât have to be a stressful process. It can be fun. Think of it as an opportunity to explore.
Dayspring Pens are here to help you find personalized fountain pens with ink that suits your writing needs.
We offer Cross, Parker, and Waterman brand fountain pen cartridges, bottled ink, and converters along with universal cartridges for easy refilling.
Now you have the right information.
What fountain pen ink will you choose next?
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Daniel Whitehouse Daniel is the President and CEO of Dayspring Pens. He lives in Virginia with his wife and their four children. Learn more about Daniel's bio. |
1 Comment
I love flair fountain pen most