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Quick answer
Diamine Blue Velvet is a saturated, vibrant blue fountain pen ink with a hint of red sheen, from Diamine of Liverpool. It comes in a triangular 40 ml (1.4 fl oz) glass bottle from Diamine's 150th Anniversary collection. Reviewers measured a dry time of about 20 seconds; it writes wet and has low water resistance.
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The triangular 40 ml bottle, drawn in proportion, with a swab of the ink.
Product facts
Product
Diamine Blue Velvet fountain pen ink, 40 ml 150th Anniversary bottle
Water-based, non-toxic, acid-free dye ink in a triangular glass bottle
Released
2014*
Price range
$$$$20–75 per item
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Notes on these facts
Made by Diamine-Speciality Inks Limited, Merseyside, England. Made in United Kingdom: Diamine's history page says the brand now makes its inks at its own facility near Aintree Racecourse, on the edge of Liverpool (see our Diamine Oxblood guide). Diamine's Blue Velvet listing (read in full on October 21, 2026) doesn't print a country of origin. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Diamine launched the 150th Anniversary collection, which includes the 40 ml Blue Velvet, in 2014, per Mountain of Ink; Diamine's listing doesn't give a date.
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 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
The 40 ml bottle is one of 16 triangular Anniversary bottles that fit together into a round desk display, per Diamine and Goulet.
Goulet and Mountain of Ink both measured a dry time of about 20 seconds.
Goulet rates its saturation high and its water resistance low; water leaves a light blue line.
On October 21, 2026 it ranked 19th among Goulet's bottled inks sorted by best selling.
Diamine's own store listed the 40 ml bottle at £8.92 (about US$12) before VAT on October 21, 2026.
What is Diamine Blue Velvet?
It’s a saturated, vibrant blue fountain pen ink from Diamine’s 150th Anniversary collection. Goulet calls it a rich, saturated blue with hints of red sheen, and Mountain of Ink a classic but vibrant medium blue.
The Anniversary collection celebrated 150 years of the Diamine brand, which dates its ink to 1864; Mountain of Ink dates the collection to 2014. On October 21, 2026 Blue Velvet ranked 19th among Goulet’s bottled inks sorted by best selling.
Diamine doesn’t publish the bottle’s size, so our cover draws it in proportion. On October 21, 2026 Diamine’s UK store listed the 40 ml bottle at £8.92 (about US$12) before VAT.
How many converter fills one 40 ml bottle holds (bottle ÷ capacity), with Blue Velvet's sourced properties.
How does Blue Velvet look on paper?
A deep, saturated blue that shades toward cerulean, with a little red sheen where it pools. Goulet rates the shading medium and says the sheen shows in the right light; Mountain of Ink found dark red sheen in large swabs on Tomoe River paper. If you want a Diamine blue with much more sheen, Diamine Polar Glow is a brighter blue that Mountain of Ink rates high for pink sheen; for a royal blue famous for heavy red sheen, see Organics Studio Nitrogen.
Mountain of Ink saw no feathering on fountain pen paper, but some feathering and a little bleeding on Staples copy paper. It compares the color to Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue.
How fast does Diamine Blue Velvet dry, and is it water resistant?
It dries in about 20 seconds and has low water resistance. Goulet and Mountain of Ink both measured about 20 seconds, and Goulet notes the wet flow makes it less lefty friendly.
Water doesn’t wipe it out entirely: Goulet says a light blue line stays behind. For writing that must survive a spill, use a water-resistant ink such as Noodler’s Black.
Which pens is Blue Velvet safe for?
Any fountain pen that takes bottled ink. Diamine says its standard inks suit any brand of fountain pen, especially vintage models, and Goulet lists Blue Velvet as not pigmented, not iron gall and not shimmering.
Because it’s saturated, Goulet rates staining risk medium-low and says dish soap and warm water clean it out. One 40 ml bottle gives about 50 fills of a 0.8 ml LAMY Z28 converter.
What’s special about the bottle?
It’s a triangular wedge: Diamine’s 16 Anniversary colors fit together into a round desk display. Goulet likens each bottle to a slice of pie.
Goulet says the mouth is easy to fill from, but you may eventually want to decant the last of the ink into an inkwell, since the narrow corners are hard to reach with a nib.
How does Blue Velvet compare with other blues?
It’s more saturated than the classic school blues and lighter than the dark sheeners.
In the Liverpool area of England. Diamine’s history page says it now makes its inks at its own facility near Aintree Racecourse, on the edge of Liverpool; its Blue Velvet listing doesn’t print a country.
Diamine traces the brand to 1864, which is why the Anniversary collection arrived 150 years later. For Diamine’s history, see our Diamine Oxblood guide.
Frequently asked questions
What color is Diamine Blue Velvet?
A saturated, vibrant medium-to-deep blue. Goulet says it shades from deep blue to a cerulean tone, and Mountain of Ink calls it a classic but vibrant medium blue.
Does Diamine Blue Velvet sheen?
A little. Goulet sees sneaky bits of red sheen where the ink pools in the right light, and Mountain of Ink found dark red sheen in large swabs on Tomoe River paper.
Is Blue Velvet waterproof?
No. Goulet and Mountain of Ink both rate its water resistance low, though Goulet says a light blue line stays behind after water.
Why is the Blue Velvet bottle triangular?
It's part of Diamine's 150th Anniversary collection. Diamine says the 40 ml bottles are triangular, and Goulet says collected bottles arrange into a round desk display, like slices of a pie.
Will Blue Velvet stain my pen?
Probably not. Goulet rates staining medium-low because the ink is very saturated, and says dish soap and warm water clean it out.
Is Blue Velvet good for left-handers?
It's not the best choice. Goulet says it writes wet and takes about 20 seconds to dry, so it isn't as lefty friendly as faster inks.
Is Diamine ink made in England?
Yes. Diamine's history page says it makes its inks at its own facility near Aintree Racecourse, on the edge of Liverpool.
