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Diamine

Ancient Copper

Browns
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A UK ink maker (est. 1864) known for an enormous range — 150+ shades — at accessible prices, including several shading and sheening standouts.

Specs

Color familyBrowns
Approx. hex#8A4A2B
SheenNot typically noted
BrandDiamine
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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.

United Kingdom Founded 1864
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Paper & pairing notes

Browns tend to photograph and scan a little darker than they look in person — worth testing before using one for anything that will be digitized. 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 Ancient Copper?
Ancient Copper falls into Inktend's browns family based on its typical swatch color.
Does Ancient Copper have sheen?
Ancient Copper 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 Ancient Copper?
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 Ancient Copper?
Browns tend to photograph and scan a little darker than they look in person — worth testing before using one for anything that will be digitized. 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

Saddle Brown
Diamine
Caroube de Chypre
J. Herbin
Yodaki
Sailor
Organic Brown
Caran d'Ache
Document Brown
De Atramentis
Doyou
Sailor

Color shown is a close digital approximation of a typical swatch, not a calibrated color match.