Blue black is a complex color, covering everything from a grayish dark blue to a blue-tinted black. As if by magic, these captivating inks manage to be attractive but not gaudy, professional but not stuffy, and suitable for pretty much any purpose.
As an added bonus, the 50 ml version comes in a beautiful glass bottle that is a work of art in its own right. Its bottom-heavy design helps to keep it from tipping over, and the small divot in the bottom lets you insert your fountain pens deeper and fill them more times before the ink level gets too low. Smaller 15 ml bottles as well as convenient proprietary cartridges are also available.
The only downside to Shin-kai is that it isn’t waterproof at all. If you need an ink that will withstand the occasional spill or coffee ring, read on for our other top picks.
The reason for all these great properties is that Salix is an iron gall ink. Historically, iron gall inks were used for important documents because they were waterproof and incredibly durable. However, they were also highly acidic, and could sometimes “eat” through the paper. Modern iron gall inks like Salix are much gentler and safe for fountain pens, but we still recommend cleaning your pen regularly to avoid any risk of staining.
Like many iron gall inks, Salix has a fairly dry flow. This makes it a particularly good choice for use in wetter pens.
LAMY Blue Black is also available in proprietary cartridges. If you pair them with a practically indestructible Safari fountain pen, you’ll have a rugged and dependable EDC pen.
Because of this fast-penetrating formula, though, Brevity Blue Black will create wider, more feathered lines than typical fountain pen inks. It also isn’t waterproof, so you can still smear it with wet fingers after it dries.
Like all Noodler’s inks, Brevity Blue Black comes in a bottle filled to the very brim, making it a budget-friendly choice for verbose writers and note-takers. Just be careful when you’re opening the bottle!
For a truer blue black ink that is less feather prone and dries nearly as quickly, we recommend Nagasawa Pen Style Kobe #7 Kaikyou Blue. We should note, however, that it is less water resistant than Brevity Blue Black.
Another blue black ink specially formulated for official use is De Atramentis Document Dark Blue. Not only is it exceptionally waterproof and highlighter resistant, it is also fast drying. Its only downside is that it absorbs into paper quickly, which does lead to some feathering.
Like other Diamine Shimmering Inks, Diamine Shimmering Seas is perfectly safe to use in all fountain pens. It does require a thorough cleaning when changing inks—unless you want your next ink to have gold sparkles, too. To get the most dramatic shimmering effect possible, use a broad, wet pen and smooth, fountain pen friendly paper like Rhodia or Tomoe River.
Another delightful shimmering blue black ink is Colorverse Ham #65 Glistening Ink (No. 48), which boasts reddish sheen along with pink shimmer. It is available in a two-color set with a non-shimmering Ham #65 ink or as a single 30 ml bottle for those who just want the shimmer.
Blue black inks are a diverse bunch, but they generally fall into these groups.
Blue black inks with a distinctive teal tone can give your work a cool, vintage feel. Check out our dedicated guide for true teal inks.
Other fast-drying blue black inks include Noodler’s Brevity Blue Black, Nagasawa Pen Style Kobe #7 Kaikyou Blue, and Sailor Blue Black.
We tested each ink’s water and highlighter resistance by soaking it in water for 30 seconds, smearing it with a water brush, and writing over it with ink and gel highlighters.
Our most waterproof and highlighter-proof blue black inks are De Atramentis Document Dark Blue, Diamine Registrar’s Blue Black, and Sailor Pigment Souboku.
Blue black ink isn’t limited to just fountain pens, though. Check out our guide to see the best blue black ballpoint pens, markers, and more.
Blue Black Fountain Pen Ink | Shade of Blue Black | Drying Time | Water Resistance | Highlighter Resistance | Add to Cart |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Black-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Black-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Black-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Black-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Gray-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Black-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Black-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Blue-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Blue-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Blue-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Blue-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Black-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Black-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Blue-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Black-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Gray-Leaning Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add Items to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Teal-Leaning Blue Black | Add to Cart | ||||
Neutral Blue Black | Add to Cart |