Inktend / Ink library / Gulf Blue

Graf von Faber-Castell

Gulf Blue

Blues & navies#53B2E1

A premium line from the Faber-Castell family brand, with muted, refined tones aimed at the higher end of the hobby.

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Specs

Color familyBlues & navies
Approx. hex#53B2E1
SheenNot typically noted

Paper & pairing

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.

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About Graf von Faber-Castell

Relaunched in 1978 as Faber-Castell's premium line, Graf von Faber-Castell focuses on fine materials (wood, precious resin, platinum-plated fittings) aimed at the higher end of the hobby.

Germany Founded 1978 (revived)
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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 Gulf Blue?
Gulf Blue falls into Inktend's blues & navies family based on its typical swatch color.
Does Gulf Blue have sheen?
Gulf 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 Gulf Blue?
Years, easily, as long as it stays capped and out of direct sunlight. The thing that actually shortens an ink's usable life is sitting unused inside a pen, not sitting on a shelf.
What paper works best with Gulf Blue?
It behaves predictably on most fountain-pen-friendly paper. Stick to something reasonably absorbent-resistant, since cheap copier paper dulls saturation and can feather.

Similar shades By colour distance

Silver Sky
Kiwi Inks
World Literature - The Blue Castle
Wearingeul
Ambiente - Tropica
Aurora
ガチャ Gacha - Blue Dress Bear
Tono & Lims
Hupikék
Pennonia
Mix Free - Aqua Blue
Platinum

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