Inktend / Ink library / Blue
Cross
Blue
Blues & navies
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Cross's core ink line supports its long-running cartridge and converter pen collections.
Specs
Color familyBlues & navies
Approx. hex#2A4E9E
SheenNot typically noted
BrandCross
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About Cross
Founded in Providence, Rhode Island in 1846, Cross is one of the oldest American writing instrument makers, historically better known for ballpoints than fountain pens.
United States
Founded 1846
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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
What color family is Blue?
Blue falls into Inktend's blues & navies family based on its typical swatch color.
Does Blue have sheen?
Blue is not typically noted for sheen. If you want that effect, browse similarly colored inks tagged with sheen in the ink library.
How should I store a bottle of Blue?
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.
What paper works best with Blue?
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.
Similar shades
Color shown is a close digital approximation of a typical swatch, not a calibrated color match.