While most are familiar with TWSBI pens, the TWSBI ink lineup receives less attention. TWSBI initially released a series of basic colors - Black, Blue-Black, Blue, and Red - in 70 ml bottles, and later added “Midnight Blue.” If you’re looking for work and wallet-friendly inks in an attractive frosted bottle, consider these. The blue-black has some water resistance, and I’ve found that it’s a great ink for the office because (like many traditional blue-black inks) it writes well on cheaper paper, even in broader nibs.

What’s the difference between “Midnight Blue” and “Blue-Black”? Midnight Blue lacks the water-resistance of the Blue-Black, but definitely leans more blue, whereas Blue-Black has more steel grey undertones.

TWSBI later released a series of six brighter colors in 18ml bottles: Emerald Green, Prairie Green, Royal Purple, Sky Blue, Orange, and Pink. What surprised me about these inks is the saturation. When I first saw the announcement, I expected colors such as Prairie Green, Sky Blue, and Pink to look a bit washed out, but I was pleasantly surprised at how bright and legible they are.

You can currently purchase 70ml bottles of TWSBI Ink individually in the Curated Shop for $15.99, along with a set of six 18ml bottles for $34.99. If you’re an experienced fountain pen user, these are well-behaved inks that should cover most of your writing needs. If you’re purchasing your first fountain pen or new to bottled ink, the six-bottle set is a great way to experiment with the wide range of available ink colors and broaden your horizons beyond black and blue! Remember that TWSBI pens only fill from the bottle, so if you pick one up be sure to grab some ink to go along with it.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of TWSBI and all brands sold in The T.G.S. Curated Shop.