DIAMINE Fountain Pen Ink 30ml Ancient Copper

Diamine's "Ancient Copper" is a highly popular and well-regarded fountain pen ink, praised for its rich color and reliable performance. It's part of Diamine's standard ink line and is available in various sizes, including the 30ml bottle.

As its name suggests, this ink is a beautiful, complex reddish-brown that evokes the look of weathered or tarnished copper. It's often described as a dark burnt orange or a rich rust color. On some papers, it can lean more reddish, and some users note it can resemble a dark, dried blood color.

Ink Properties
Shading: This is one of the ink's most celebrated features. It shows significant shading, with a wide range of tones from lighter coppery-orange to a deep, dark brown where the ink pools. This gives your writing a lot of character and visual interest.

Flow: Ancient Copper is known for being a well-behaved ink with a smooth, average to wet flow, making it a favorite for a wide range of fountain pens.

Sheen: While not a "sheen monster" like some other inks, Ancient Copper can exhibit a subtle bronze or greenish sheen on certain types of fountain pen-friendly paper, particularly with broad or wet nibs.

Smudging: A notable drawback for some users is its tendency to smudge, even after it appears to be dry. This can be a concern for left-handed writers or if you're using it in a notebook where your hand will rest on previously written pages.

Water Resistance: This ink is not waterproof and will smear or wash away when exposed to water.

The 30ml bottle is a small, plastic cube that is a great option for trying out a new color without committing to a larger 80ml bottle. However, its small opening and square shape can make it challenging to fill larger pens as the ink level gets low. For this reason, some users opt to decant the ink into a different bottle or use an inkwell.