Inktend / Ink library / Steel Blue
Diamine
Steel Blue
Blues & navies
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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 familyBlues & navies
Approx. hex#4E6E8E
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
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 Steel Blue?
Steel Blue falls into Inktend's blues & navies family based on its typical swatch color.
Does Steel Blue have sheen?
Steel 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 Steel 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 Steel 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.