Inktend / Ink library / Black

Black

Retro 51 is one of the 713 brands in Inktend's built-in ink catalog.

Track this bottle → Find this ink ↗Also on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Specs

Color familyBlacks & greys

Approx. hex#020202

SheenNot typically noted

BrandRetro 51

Paper & pairing

As a near-neutral tone, it reads as professional and safe for anything from journaling to signatures. 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.

Own a bottle of Black?

Track fills, remaining bottle life, and your real paper swatch in Inktend.

Track it →

About Retro 51

Retro 51 is a Texas-based writing instrument company founded in 1990, best known for the Tornado, a knurled twist-top rollerball introduced in 1997 that also comes in fountain pen versions. The brand built its reputation on vintage-inspired designs, vivid artwork barrels, and frequent limited editions that have made it a collector favorite. After the founder retired in 2021, a new team of collector-enthusiasts took over the company.

See all Retro 51 products →

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 Black?

Black falls into Inktend's blacks & greys family based on its typical swatch color.

Does Black have sheen?

Black 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 Black?

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 Black?

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

Everlasting Atomink Element Bundle - Chimney Soot

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