Diamine Ancient Copper Ink: Shading, Bottle & Dry Time
Diamine Ancient Copper is a rusty copper-brown fountain pen ink from Diamine of Liverpool, England. It comes in an 80 ml (2.7 fl oz) glass bottle and a 30 ml plastic bottle. It's a wet-flowing dye ink with high shading, from pale orange to deep red-brown, dries in about 20 seconds in Goulet's test and has low water resistance.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Diamine Ancient Copper fountain pen ink, 80 ml bottle
- Brand
- Diamine
- Brand origin
- United Kingdom
- Made in
- United Kingdom*
- Material
- Water-based dye ink in a glass bottle
- Price range
- $$$5–20 per item
Notes on these facts
- Made by Diamine-Speciality Inks Limited, Liverpool, England. Made in United Kingdom: JetPens' listing says Diamine ink is produced in the UK, and Diamine is a Liverpool ink maker (see our Diamine Oxblood guide). We didn't find a country of origin printed on Diamine's own Ancient Copper page. 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 (2.7 fl oz) glass bottle is 6.8 cm (2.7 in) tall and 5.5 cm (2.2 in) across, per JetPens.
- Goulet's smear test puts the dry time at about 20 seconds, a second or two longer from a wet nib.
- A Fountain Pen Companion top-25 list shared in 2022 ranks Ancient Copper 4th of all inks, owned by 815 users.
- Diamine's own shop lists the 80 ml bottle at £8.06 (about US$10.60) before VAT and tags it Best Seller.
- Goulet rates water resistance low, so a wet page will blur.
What is Diamine Ancient Copper?
It’s a rusty copper-brown fountain pen ink from Diamine, the Liverpool ink maker, sold in an 80 ml glass bottle. JetPens files the color as brown; Goulet calls it a copper-colored ink with heavy shading and a lot of personality.
It’s part of Diamine’s standard ink range, which Diamine’s shop says comes in 111 colors, each in 80 ml and 30 ml bottles. Diamine tags Ancient Copper as a Best Seller there.
It is also one of the most-owned inks among enthusiasts. A top-25 list from the Fountain Pen Companion database, shared on Fountain Pen Network on April 26, 2022, ranks it 4th, owned by 815 users. Only its stablemate Diamine Oxblood, J. Herbin’s Emerald of Chivor and Iroshizuku Yama-budo ranked higher.
Ancient Copper specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Diamine-Speciality Inks Limited, Liverpool |
| Codes | Diamine DIA096 (80 ml), DIA296 (30 ml); JetPens DIAMINE 7086; Goulet D7086 |
| Bottle | 80 ml (2.7 fl oz) glass; 30 ml also sold |
| Bottle size | 6.8 cm (2.7 in) tall, 5.5 cm (2.2 in) across (JetPens) |
| Weight | 189 g (6.7 oz) without packaging (JetPens) |
| Ink type | Water-based dye (Diamine; JetPens) |
| UK price | £8.06 (about US$10.60) per 80 ml before VAT, on Diamine’s shop |
| Water resistance | Low (Goulet) |
| Dry time | About 20 s (Goulet’s test) |
| Shading / flow | High / wet (Goulet) |
| Price band | $$ ($5–20 per bottle) |
Goulet warns that the bottle you receive may look different from its photo, because Diamine has mixed stock of bottle designs. Our cover draws the round 80 ml bottle at JetPens’ size.
How does Ancient Copper write?
Wet, with strong shading from pale orange to deep red-brown. Goulet rates its shading high and its flow wet, like most Diamine inks, and says it still behaved on all the fountain pen paper it tried.
The shading needs ink on the page to show. A JetPens customer says it shines in very wet or flex nibs, shading from yellow and tan through rust and orange to deep red-brown, and recommends ink-resistant paper such as Tomoe River. In a fine nib on cheap paper, expect a flatter brown.
How fast does it dry, and is it waterproof?
It dries in about 20 seconds in Goulet’s smear test, and it isn’t water resistant. Goulet says a wetter nib adds a second or two and rates water resistance low, so it suggests notes and artwork over envelopes or important documents.
JetPens also lists the ink as not water resistant. For a page that has to survive rain, use a water-resistant ink such as Noodler’s Black.
How does it compare with Diamine Oxblood?
Ancient Copper is warmer, more orange and more translucent; Oxblood is a darker, more opaque red. That is how a JetPens reviewer who uses both describes them, adding that thinned with water Oxblood turns magenta while Ancient Copper turns warm yellow-orange.
| Ancient Copper | Oxblood | |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Rusty copper-brown | Dark red, brown undertones |
| Shading (Goulet) | High | Medium |
| Dry time | About 20 s (Goulet) | 30–35 s (Goulet, Mountain of Ink) |
| Bottle | 80 ml glass, 30 ml | 80 ml glass, 30 ml |
Which pens is it safe for?
Any fountain pen, according to Diamine. Its shop calls its standard inks water-based, non-toxic, acid-free and vegan-friendly, and suitable for any brand of fountain pen, vintage models especially.
Goulet rates it easy to clean, with one caveat. Left in an unused pen, it can form “crust bubbles” on the nib, which rinse off with water. Fill a converter such as a LAMY Z28 from the bottle: at 0.8 ml per fill, 80 ml is about 100 fills.
Where is Diamine Ancient Copper made?
In the United Kingdom. JetPens says Diamine ink is produced in the UK and that the brand dates back to 1864; Diamine is based in Liverpool, England.
Diamine’s own shop lists the 80 ml bottle at £8.06 (about US$10.60) and the 30 ml bottle at £3.24 (about US$4.30), both before VAT, as of October 2026. In the US, the 80 ml bottle sits in the $$ band.
Frequently asked questions
What color is Diamine Ancient Copper?
A rusty copper brown with orange and red in it. JetPens files it under brown; Goulet says it shades from deep red-brown to light orange with a tinge of yellow.
How big is a bottle of Diamine Ancient Copper?
The main bottle holds 80 ml (2.7 fl oz) of ink in glass and measures 6.8 cm (2.7 in) tall by 5.5 cm (2.2 in) across, per JetPens. Diamine also sells a 30 ml bottle, which Goulet lists as plastic, and cartridges.
Is Ancient Copper waterproof?
No. Goulet rates its water resistance low and says it isn't ideal for addressing envelopes, and JetPens lists it as not water resistant.
How long does Diamine Ancient Copper take to dry?
About 20 seconds in Goulet's smear test, a second or two more from a wet nib. Slick fountain pen paper slows it down.
Does Diamine Ancient Copper shade?
Yes, a lot. Goulet rates its shading high, and a JetPens customer describes it shading from yellow and tan to rust, orange and deep red-brown in a wet or flex nib.
Is Ancient Copper safe for vintage pens?
Diamine says its standard inks are water-based, non-toxic and acid-free, and suit any brand of fountain pen, especially vintage models. Goulet adds it cleans out easily, though it can leave a harmless crust on a nib left unused.
Is Ancient Copper the same as Diamine Oxblood?
No. Oxblood is a dark red with brown undertones; a JetPens reviewer finds Ancient Copper less red and less purple, more translucent, and warmer orange when thinned.
Where is Diamine ink made?
In the United Kingdom. JetPens says Diamine ink is produced in the UK, and Diamine is based in Liverpool, England.
Sources
- Diamine: 80ml Fountain Pen Ink - Ancient Copper (SKU DIA096, barcode 0700987827583, £8.06 ex. VAT)
- Diamine: 30ml Fountain Pen Ink - Ancient Copper (SKU DIA296)
- JetPens: Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, 80 ml bottle (DIAMINE 7086; 6.8 x 5.5 cm, 189 g; dye-based; produced in the UK)
- Goulet Pens: Diamine Ancient Copper, 80 ml bottled ink (item D7086)
- Goulet Pens: Diamine Ancient Copper, 30 ml bottled ink (plastic bottle, item D3086)
- Goulet Pens: Diamine Ancient Copper, ink review (dry time, water resistance, shading, flow)
- Fountain Pen Network: List of inks by popularity (Fountain Pen Companion top 25, April 26, 2022)