Diamine Oxblood Ink: Color, 80 ml Bottle & Dry Time
Diamine Oxblood is a dark red fountain pen ink with brown undertones from Diamine, a Liverpool-area ink maker dating to 1864. It comes in an 80 ml (2.7 fl oz) glass bottle, about 68 mm tall, a 30 ml bottle and cartridges. It dries in 30–35 seconds in reviewers' tests, isn't water resistant and rinses out easily.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Diamine Oxblood fountain pen ink, 80 ml bottle
- Brand
- Diamine
- Brand origin
- United Kingdom
- Made in
- United Kingdom*
- Material
- Water-based, non-toxic, acid-free dye ink in a glass bottle
- Price range
- $$$5–20 per item
Notes on these facts
- Made by Diamine-Speciality Inks Limited, Merseyside, England. Made in United Kingdom: Diamine's history page says the brand was revived in 2003 and now makes its inks at its own facility near Aintree Racecourse, on the edge of Liverpool; its 1925 Tariff Street factory in Liverpool was demolished between 1983 and 1990. Diamine's Oxblood listing doesn't print a country of origin. Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
- The 80 ml bottle is 6.8 cm (2.7 in) tall and 5.5 cm (2.2 in) across, per JetPens.
- Reviewers measured a dry time of about 30 seconds on Rhodia (Goulet) and 35 seconds (Mountain of Ink).
- A Fountain Pen Companion top-25 list ranks Oxblood 1st of all inks, owned by 882 users.
- Goulet rates its saturation and shading medium and its water resistance low.
- Diamine traces its history to 1864; its own site listed the 80 ml Oxblood at £8.06 (about US$11) before VAT on October 20, 2026.
What is Diamine Oxblood?
It’s a dark red fountain pen ink with brown undertones, made by Diamine near Liverpool. The Gentleman Stationer describes it as a rich dark red with slight brown undertones that doesn’t bleed or feather.
It may be the most popular fountain pen ink of all among enthusiasts: a top-25 list from Fountain Pen Companion, shared on Fountain Pen Network, ranks it 1st, owned by 882 users. Second on that Fountain Pen Companion list is the shimmering J. Herbin 1670 Emerald of Chivor, with 873 users.
Diamine Oxblood specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Diamine, Aintree area of Liverpool, England |
| Sizes | 80 ml (2.7 fl oz) glass bottle; 30 ml bottle; packs of 6 or 18 cartridges (Diamine) |
| 80 ml bottle | 6.8 cm (2.7 in) tall, 5.5 × 5.5 cm (2.2 in), about 189 g (JetPens) |
| Bottle opening | 18.0 mm (0.71 in), per Goulet |
| Ink type | Water-based, non-toxic, acid-free, vegan-friendly (Diamine) |
| Water resistance | Low (Goulet) |
| Dry time | About 30 s on Rhodia (Goulet); 35 s (Mountain of Ink) |
| Saturation / shading | Medium / medium (Goulet) |
| Item code / barcode | DIA073 / 0700987827651 (Diamine, 80 ml) |
| Price band | $$ ($5–20 per 80 ml bottle) |
JetPens’ bottle dimensions come from its listings for other 80 ml Diamine colors, Teal and Violet, in the same bottle. On October 20, 2026, Diamine’s own UK store listed the 80 ml Oxblood at £8.06 (about US$11) and the 30 ml at £3.24 (about US$4.30), both before VAT.
How does Oxblood look on paper?
A deep red-brown that darkens where the ink pools. Goulet rates its saturation and shading medium and notes that paper changes how it looks.
Sheen shows only in heavy swabs. Mountain of Ink found green sheen only on large swabs on Tomoe River paper and rates its water resistance low.
How fast does it dry, and is it water resistant?
It dries in about 30 to 35 seconds and isn’t water resistant. Goulet found it dry in about 30 seconds or more on Rhodia, and Mountain of Ink measured 35 seconds.
Goulet rates water resistance low, adding that it could make a nice wash. For writing that has to survive a spill, use a water-resistant ink such as Noodler’s Black.
Which pens is it safe for?
Any fountain pen that takes bottled ink or a converter. It’s an ordinary dye ink: Goulet’s listing marks it as not iron gall, not pigmented and not shimmering, and Diamine pitches its standard inks as suitable for any brand of fountain pen, including vintage models.
An 80 ml bottle goes a long way: about 100 fills of a 0.8 ml LAMY Z28 converter, or about 45 fills of a TWSBI ECO, which holds about 1.76 ml.
How do you clean it out?
Flush with plain water until it runs clear. As a water-based dye ink, Oxblood rinses out like most standard inks.
None of the reviews we read reported staining or hard cleaning with Oxblood. Flushing between fills still keeps a converter’s window clear.
Which bottle should you buy?
The 80 ml glass bottle if you’ll use it often; the 30 ml if you’re trying it. At 68 mm tall and 55 mm across, the 80 ml bottle is squat and stable, and its 18 mm opening takes most nibs.
Goulet also sells Oxblood as a pack of 18 cartridges, if you’d rather not handle a bottle.
Where is Diamine Oxblood made?
In the Liverpool area of England. Diamine’s history page says the company was founded by Thomas Webster of T. Webster & Co., used the Diamine name for a range of inks from 1864 and opened a purpose-built factory on Tariff Street, Liverpool, in 1925. That factory was demolished between 1983 and 1990; the brand was revived in 2003 and now works from its own facility near Aintree Racecourse.
Wikipedia says the company changed its name from Diamine Inks Limited to Diamine-Speciality Inks Limited in 2005. We didn’t find a release year for Oxblood itself.
Frequently asked questions
What color is Diamine Oxblood?
A rich dark red with slight brown undertones, as The Gentleman Stationer puts it. It darkens where the ink pools.
How much ink is in a bottle of Diamine Oxblood?
The glass bottle holds 80 ml (2.7 fl oz). Diamine also sells Oxblood in a 30 ml bottle and in packs of 6 or 18 cartridges.
How big is the Diamine 80 ml bottle?
JetPens lists the 80 ml Diamine bottle at 6.8 cm (2.7 in) tall and 5.5 cm (2.2 in) across, weighing about 189 g. Goulet gives an 18.0 mm (0.71 in) opening.
Is Diamine Oxblood waterproof?
No. Goulet rates its water resistance low and says it isn't water resistant, though it can make a nice wash.
Does Diamine Oxblood sheen?
Only in heavy swabs. Mountain of Ink saw green sheen only on large swabs on Tomoe River paper; Goulet doesn't list it as a sheening ink.
How long does Diamine Oxblood take to dry?
About 30 seconds or more on Rhodia in Goulet's test, and 35 seconds in Mountain of Ink's. Absorbent paper dries it faster.
Is Diamine Oxblood an iron gall ink?
No. Goulet's listing marks it as not iron gall, not pigmented and not shimmering, so it doesn't carry the corrosion risk to metal pen parts that iron gall inks can.
Where is Diamine ink made?
In the Liverpool area of England. Diamine's history page says it now makes ink at its own facility near Aintree Racecourse; its 1925 Liverpool factory was demolished in the 1980s.
Sources
- Diamine: Diamine 80ml Fountain Pen Ink, Oxblood (water-based, non-toxic, acid-free; DIA073; £8.06 ex VAT)
- Diamine: Diamine 30ml Fountain Pen Ink, Oxblood (DIA273)
- Diamine: Fountain Pen Ink Cartridges, Oxblood (packs of 6 and 18)
- Diamine: Deep dive, Diamine writing inks' rich history (1864, 1925 factory, 2003 revival, Aintree facility)
- Wikipedia: Diamine Inks Limited
- Goulet Pens: Diamine Oxblood 80 ml bottled ink (D7079, opening 18.0 mm, not water resistant, not iron gall)
- Goulet Pens: Diamine Oxblood, ink review (dry time, saturation, shading, sizes)
- Mountain of Ink: Ink Review No. 125, Diamine Oxblood
- Pen Addict: Diamine Oxblood ink review
- The Gentleman Stationer: Diamine Oxblood
- JetPens: Diamine Teal ink, 80 ml bottle (bottle 6.8 × 5.5 × 5.5 cm, 189 g)
- JetPens: Diamine Violet ink, 80 ml bottle
- The Online Pen Company: Diamine ink bottle 80 ml, Oxblood
- Fountain Pen Network: List of inks by popularity (Fountain Pen Companion top 25)