Enthusiasts come to fountain pen use or collecting from multiple directions: some from an interest in pens, some from calligraphy, but there are also those who are drawn into this lifelong passion by their interest in papers. Perhaps we all agree that the best fountain pen is worth nothing without good ink.

Imagine this: we finally manage to acquire the long-desired „grail” pen, whether it's an urushi, maki-e, or a techno pen – then we all put the same blue cartridge in it, just like filling up with 95 at a gas station. Suddenly, it doesn't seem like such an experience...

Thankfully, the situation is different with inks. Since we left the stone tablet behind, ink has been with us, arguably as old as written civilization itself. The art of ink making has been intertwined with the science of alchemy/chemistry, as the need arose from the very beginning for more than just monochrome ink – for example, in Egypt, alongside black ink, red ink was already in use.

So, we are holding a product refined by a four-thousand-year-old craft when we fill a pen – and the ink itself hasn't changed much beyond its preparation method. (If anyone is interested, look up how and from what ink was made – surprising processes are described. I've often wondered how these were experimented with.)

Without understanding anything about their preparation myself, as a user, I managed to purchase a wide range of inks to go with the pens – since in the unity of pen, ink, and paper, we can easily increase variety by choosing a not-too-expensive ink. The same pen provides a completely different writing experience with another ink (however, I recommend everyone keep track of which ink they filled into which pen, as it can get mixed up over time).

 

Japanese inks

The Japanese learned the craft of fountain pen making from Europeans and (as is their good habit) perfected it to infinity – thankfully, the same factories have done this with inks as well. Japanese inks somehow have one or two hidden levels compared to European or American inks. They are like a haiku – they seem simple, but if we take the time, the hidden messages revealed are those refined by Japanese masters over decades.

 

Iroshizuku

The inks made by Pilot, available in two sizes (50 and 15ml), are of absolute premium quality. Demanding packaging, uniform, clean design, and fantastic colors.

The naming of each ink is also brilliant; my personal favorite (and first ink) is tsuki-yo, which means moonlight: the ink is like the moonlight shimmering on the surface of a dark sea...

They market 24 colors, each named after a Japanese natural phenomenon, season, etc. I can only recommend it to everyone; you won't be disappointed. Silky, slightly slow-drying but very deep colors, working with not too pigmented, not too “chunky” ink.

 

Sailor Manyo and Shikiori

Sailor produces several lines: the numbered, simpler inks and the Manyo and Shikiori (“four seasons”) special lines (there are a few more beyond these, but I haven't tested them yet).

Among the numbered inks, you can find good ones, but honestly, for me, there are too many variations with colors that are not very distinct and not too characterful. However, I think the Shikiori collection is brilliant; the inks have a special, subdued sheen, but also operate with very modern, fashionable colors.

The Manyo line brings a very good basic color palette; the inks here don't have any particular sheen – we get much more traditional, natural colors.

 

Teranishi Guitar

The old factory has also joined the group that produces Taccia inks; I have managed to buy two inks from them so far. They are not everyday inks, they have a very serious sheen, and the whole presentation is fantastic.

 

Europe and America

13. – the two brands dominated the school fountain pen market across Europe for decades. While Pelikan also opened up to the premium segment, Geha consistently focused on practical, durable, and affordable student pens and office supplies. This strategy paid off: Geha pens found their way into the hands of millions on school desks and writing tables, not only in Western Europe but also – through various commercial channels – in the eastern part of the continent.

You can't overlook Pelikan in the ink line either: many praise the Edelstein concept; since I bought them at the same time as the iroshizuku inks, I really didn't like their texture, color, etc., but tastes differ.

Diamine

The 150-year-old Liverpool company is one of the most well-known brands, with an incredibly wide variety of inks and specialties. In my opinion, there are much better basic colors on the market, but it's worth trying out a few specialties from them: their gold paint or the “shimmering” line, like Happy Holidays. Super inks, but I think it's forbidden to fill them into fountain pens; I only recommend using them with a brush or a dip pen.

Organic Studio

An American brand that I came across on the Goulet Pens site and it really is a jaw-dropping experience: the ink has such a sheen that the blue color appears completely red at a certain angle. I recommend to everyone that these inks are more like specialties, I would never fill a more expensive pen with them, as they will clog everything without hope of cleaning...

I bought the Nitrogen and Santiago’s Blue colors, I don't regret either but they are not for everyday use. (However, showcasing the versatility of the inks to the uninitiated is great, they impress everyone.)

 

5. Jacques Herbin

Speaking of history. The company was founded when Louis XIV was 32 years old... Perhaps one of the highest quality ink manufacturers (there is a cheaper line under the name J.Herbin, not to be confused) who have some cult products. Alongside the Vert Atlantide released for the 350 (!) year anniversary, their purple colors are cult.

If someone wants to dive deeper, they can also choose scented ink from them, which comes with a candle of the same scent in a super nice, elegant box.

 

For ladies

Ferris Wheel Press is a 10-year-old Canadian factory that serves their inks in very elegant, perfume-like bottles. I didn't fall in love with it, but I recommend it to those for whom a fresh, energetic design can add to the experience.

 

On the bucket list

I definitely want to try the inks from Dominant Industries – I've read a lot of good things about them and the brand is very “appetizing.”.

Another destination is TAG Kyoto, which makes inks using traditional Japanese techniques, I'm curious what this will mean on paper. Another Japanese manufacturer is Kakimori, which I would also like to try, they look fantastic at first glance.

There are also a few inks from Rohrer&Klinger that would be worth trying, thank God there will still be things to acquire for the next decade.

 

The Hungarian (and Romanian) brand

We cannot pass by the Pennonia brand without comment. I have all my respect for Máté Bikfalvi's dedication – starting to build a new brand in such a market, alongside 350-year-old companies, with hand manufacturing, is no small challenge...

Unfortunately, my first encounter with Pennonia ink was not very positive: I found a few bottles of Pennonia ink poorly displayed in a store in Budapest. When I picked up one of the bottles, the ink's consistency was cloudy and chunky. At the same time, this is obviously not representative, so I ordered a few colors from them, specifically from the Ink Laboratory available on the website: I chose experimental colors (4AAI and 6AAL) that have not yet been included in standard production. To be honest, the bottle design still looks quite amateurish, but let's hope that this will also be resolved in a few years.

 

Favorite color

From the above, it may have become clear that the most interesting color for me is the blue-black color, which brings something more special: I think that anyone who buys more ink will eventually realize that the top choice for each brand will be the same shade...

 

Where is it worth buying?

Unfortunately, only online in Hungary. Certain products can only be imported from the USA – or I didn't find a distributor in Europe then – such as Organic Studio. To avoid customs/VAT payment, from the EU I recommend Sakura Fountain Pen Gallery-it is worth ordering from them, this way the package will arrive...

 

How is it worth using inks?

You obviously have to write a lot with them. If we want to enjoy the ink as well, it's worth using an M or B nib, as it will then convey its shine. Unfortunately, I draw terribly, so I can't experience this joy, but I enthusiastically “splash” with them: a good big splash can go on the paper with a brush (if it's decent paper, like Tomoe River, it won't soak through), dragging it, painting gradients, etc. I also dare to recommend a glass pen to everyone; it's not a big investment, and you can confidently use very pigmented inks with it without worrying about clogging the converter, the ink feed, or the nib.

I love painting whole sheets, placing colors next to each other, because that's where the personality of the ink really comes out. I just have to occasionally overcome the “don't waste ink” reflex that has been with me since elementary school – but I think I won't manage to use up even half of the inks I currently have for the rest of my life.

 

It's worth making a “catalog,” it's great to flip back through when we can't remember what color we have in our hands. It's time-consuming, but it has its enjoyment value.

 

Zsolt's further articles in the Budapest Pen Show community magazine here.