Inktend / Ink library / Oxford Blue
Diamine
Oxford Blue
A UK ink maker (est. 1864) known for an enormous range — 150+ shades — at accessible prices, including several shading and sheening standouts.
Specs
About Diamine
Founded in Liverpool in 1864, Diamine is one of the UK's oldest ink makers, known today for an unusually large range — 150+ colors — at accessible prices.
Paper & pairing notes
Blues and navies are the most broadly "safe" fountain pen colors — legible, professional, and unlikely to raise eyebrows in an office. This ink will behave predictably on most fountain-pen-friendly paper. Cheap, highly absorbent paper (standard copier paper) will dull any ink's saturation and can cause feathering or bleed-through with wetter nibs.
Storing and using the bottle
Bottled fountain pen ink has an effectively long shelf life when kept capped and out of direct sunlight — most inks remain usable for years. The main risk isn't the ink spoiling, it's a pen sitting inked and unused for weeks: that's what causes clogs, not the ink's age.
Frequently asked questions
Similar shades
Color shown is a close digital approximation of a typical swatch, not a calibrated color match.