The world has changed since
my first ink analysis: countless boutique brands have popped up (or died off), Iroshizuku bottles are no longer hand-blown, and I've forgotten how to write self-aggrandizing blog posts without making fun of myself in some meta-fashion. All is well. Better even.
Here's an alphabetical list.
| Brand and Line | Common Price | Size (mL) | $/mL |
| Akkerman Dutch Masters | $38.00 | 120 | $0.317 |
| Akkerman Standard | $28.00 | 60 | $0.467 |
| Aurora | $18.00 | 45 | $0.400 |
| Beaufort | $9.45 | 45 | $0.210 |
| Beaufort Trial Pack | $9.45 | 40 | $0.236 |
| Birmingham | $8.00 | 30 | $0.267 |
| Blackstone (Bulk Large) | $35.00 | 250 | $0.140 |
| Blackstone (Bulk X-Large) | $70.00 | 1000 | $0.070 |
| Blackstone Colors of Australia | $8.00 | 30 | $0.267 |
| Blackstone Colors of Australia (Large) | $14.00 | 60 | $0.233 |
| Blackstone Colors of Australia (Pouches) | $5.00 | 50 | $0.100 |
| Blackstone Mixing Ink Set | $36.00 | 120 | $0.300 |
| Blackstone Scents of Australia | $12.00 | 30 | $0.400 |
| Blackstone Waterproof | $14.00 | 30 | $0.467 |
| Blackstone Waterproof SE | $30.00 | 50 | $0.600 |
| Bungubox | $39.00 | 40 | $0.975 |
| Callifolio Bottle | $12.00 | 40 | $0.300 |
| Callifolio Pouch | $8.00 | 50 | $0.160 |
| Caran d' Ache INKredible | $33.20 | 50 | $0.664 |
| Chelpark | $18.00 | 60 | $0.300 |
| Colorado Pen Liquid Velvet (Large) | $15.00 | 90 | $0.167 |
| Colorado Pen Liquid Velvet (Small) | $8.00 | 30 | $0.267 |
| Colorverse | $30.00 | 80 | $0.375 |
| Conway Stewart | $12.95 | 80 | $0.162 |
| Cross | $15.00 | 59.15 | $0.254 |
| Daytone | $4.70 | 1000 | $0.005 |
| De Atramentis | $12.95 | 35 | $0.370 |
| De Atramentis Archive/Document Ink | $19.95 | 35 | $0.570 |
| De Atramentis Scented Ink | $14.95 | 35 | $0.427 |
| Delta | $11.95 | 30 | $0.398 |
| Diamine (150th Anniversary) | $15.50 | 40 | $0.388 |
| Diamine (Normal Size) | $15.00 | 80 | $0.188 |
| Diamine (Sample Size/30) | $7.50 | 30 | $0.250 |
| Diamine Box Set | $99.00 | 300 | $0.330 |
| Diamine Registrar's 30 | $16.95 | 30 | $0.565 |
| Diamine Shimmertastic | $18.50 | 50 | $0.370 |
| Duke | $19.70 | 80 | $0.246 |
| Egoistar | $3.61 | 15 | $0.241 |
| Faber Castell | $18.00 | 62.5 | $0.288 |
| Fahrney's Ever-Write | $12.00 | 75 | $0.160 |
| Fountain Pen Revolution (Large/60mL) | $8.50 | 60 | $0.142 |
| Fountain Pen Revolution (Small/30mL) | $6.00 | 30 | $0.200 |
| Franklin Christoph (1 oz) | $8.25 | 29.57 | $0.279 |
| Franklin Christoph (2 oz) | $12.50 | 59.15 | $0.211 |
| GLARE | $8.00 | 60 | $0.139 |
| Graf von Faber Castell | $30.00 | 75 | $0.400 |
| Hakase Sepia (Dark) | $63.21 | 50 | $1.264 |
| Hakase Sepia (Light) | $54.18 | 50 | $1.084 |
| Hero | $3.00 | 56 | $0.054 |
| Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink | $4.90 | 73.93 | $0.066 |
| J. Herbin (Large Size/100mL) | $22.00 | 100 | $0.220 |
| J. Herbin (Normal Size) | $11.25 | 30 | $0.375 |
| J. Herbin (Sample Size) | $4.75 | 10 | $0.475 |
| J. Herbin 1670/1798 (Sparkly) | $20.00 | 50 | $0.400 |
| Kaigelu | $13.19 | 50 | $0.264 |
| Kaweco | $13.50 | 30 | $0.450 |
| KOBE | $30.00 | 50 | $0.600 |
| Koh-i-noor | $1.99 | 50 | $0.040 |
| Krishna | $2.82 | 20 | $0.141 |
| Krishna RC Series | $4.31 | 20 | $0.216 |
| KWZ | $15.00 | 60 | $0.250 |
| KWZ Iron Gall | $16.00 | 60 | $0.267 |
| L’Artisan Pastellier Callifolio | $12.00 | 40 | $0.300 |
| Lamy | $10.00 | 50 | $0.200 |
| Levenger | $15.00 | 50 | $0.300 |
| Louis Vuitton | $52.00 | 50 | $1.040 |
| Montblanc (New Writers/Great Characters) | $43.00 | 50 | $0.860 |
| Montblanc (Normal Size) | $23.50 | 60 | $0.392 |
| Montblanc (Shakespeare Velvet Red) | $20.50 | 35 | $0.586 |
| Montblanc Permanent Inks | $28.00 | 60 | $0.467 |
| Montegrappa | $20.00 | 50 | $0.400 |
| Monteverde (Large) | $15.00 | 90 | $0.167 |
| Monteverde (Small) | $8.00 | 30 | $0.267 |
| Montblanc (Old Writers/Great Characters) | $20.50 | 30 | $0.683 |
| Nemosine | $8.00 | 35 | $0.229 |
| Nemosine TwINKle | $10.00 | 35 | $0.286 |
| Noodler's Black/Firefly (4.5oz) | $18.00 | 133.08 | $0.135 |
| Noodler's UK/Russian Series | $19.50 | 88.72 | $0.220 |
| Noodler's Waterase Ink (4.5oz) | $19.00 | 133.08 | $0.143 |
| Noodler’s (Eyedropper Size/4.5oz) | $21.00 | 133.08 | $0.158 |
| Noodler’s (Normal Size/3oz) | $12.50 | 88.72 | $0.141 |
| Octopus (Large) | $18.32 | 250 | $0.073 |
| Octopus (Small) | $6.10 | 30 | $0.203 |
| Onoto | $13.57 | 80 | $0.170 |
| Organics Studio Elements | $13.50 | 55 | $0.245 |
| Organics Studio Ernest's Vintage/Masters of Science | $16.00 | 55 | $0.291 |
| Organics Studio Masters of Writing | $14.00 | 55 | $0.255 |
| Ostrich Ink (Carton) | $19.00 | 4080 | $0.005 |
| Papier Plume (Large/50mL) | $12.00 | 50 | $0.240 |
| Papier Plume (Medium/30mL) | $8.00 | 30 | $0.267 |
| Papier Plume (Small/15mL ) | $5.00 | 15 | $0.333 |
| Parker Quink | $7.18 | 50 | $0.144 |
| Pelikan 4001 (1000mL) | $78.00 | 1000 | $0.078 |
| Pelikan 4001 (30mL) | $9.00 | 30 | $0.300 |
| Pelikan 4001 (60 mL) | $13.80 | 62.5 | $0.221 |
| Pelikan Edelstein | $23.00 | 50 | $0.460 |
| Pen BBS | $16.00 | 60 | $0.267 |
| Pilot (350mL) | $22.00 | 350 | $0.063 |
| Pilot (70mL) | $16.00 | 70 | $0.229 |
| Pilot Drafting (30mL) | $8.00 | 30 | $0.267 |
| Pilot Iroshizuku (Full Size) | $20.00 | 50 | $0.400 |
| Pilot Iroshizuku (Sample Size in Boxset) | $25.00 | 45 | $0.556 |
| Pilot Iroshizuku (Sample Size Individual) | $10.00 | 15 | $0.667 |
| Pilot Namiki (Normal Size) | $12.00 | 60 | $0.200 |
| Platinum (Regular/Pigmented/Carbon) | $20.00 | 60 | $0.333 |
| Platinum Classic | $25.00 | 60 | $0.417 |
| Private Reserve | $11.00 | 66 | $0.167 |
| Raduga 2 | $5.00 | 70 | $0.071 |
| Robert Oster | $17.00 | 50 | $0.340 |
| S.T. Dupont | $26.00 | 40 | $0.650 |
| Sailor Jentle Pigmented | $24.50 | 50 | $0.490 |
| Sailor Jentle/Four Seasons | $15.00 | 50 | $0.300 |
| Sailor Shikiori | $15.00 | 20 | $0.750 |
| Sailor Storia (Regular Size) | $18.00 | 30 | $0.600 |
| Sailor Storia (Smaller Size) | $14.25 | 20 | $0.713 |
| Scribal Workshop Invisible Ink | $10.95 | 29.57 | $0.370 |
| Scribal Workshop Washable Ink | $10.95 | 59.15 | $0.185 |
| Scribes’ Regular Inks | $12.00 | 45 | $0.267 |
| Scribes’ Scented/Wine/Liquor Inks | $12.00 | 45 | $0.267 |
| Scribes’ Waterproof Inks | $18.00 | 45 | $0.400 |
| Seitz-Kreuznach (Large) | $15.60 | 100 | $0.156 |
| Seitz-Kreuznach (Small) | $7.78 | 30 | $0.259 |
| Sheaffer Skrip | $9.00 | 50 | $0.180 |
| Staedtler | $13.29 | 30 | $0.443 |
| Stipula Calamo | $22.00 | 70 | $0.314 |
| Stipula Ferrogallico | $35.00 | 70 | $0.500 |
| Super 5 | $20.60 | 30 | $0.687 |
| Takeda Jimuki/KYOTO TAG | $21.50 | 40 | $0.538 |
| Thornton's Luxury Goods | $5.00 | 30 | $0.167 |
| Toucan | $12.50 | 59.15 | $0.211 |
| Toucan (Sample Size) | $6.90 | 30 | $0.230 |
| Visconti | $17.50 | 40 | $0.438 |
| Wahl-Eversharp Wahlberry | $15.00 | 80 | $0.188 |
| Waldmann | $23.00 | 30 | $0.767 |
| Waterman | $8.50 | 50 | $0.170 |
Here's a clickbaity list of the TOP TEN MOST EXPENSIVE INKS!!!!!!
Hakase dethrones Louis Vuitton.
| Brand and Line | Common Price | Size (mL) | $/mL |
| 10. Montblanc (Old Writers/Great Characters) | $20.50 | 30 | $0.683 |
| 9. Super 5 | $20.60 | 30 | $0.687 |
| 8. Sailor Storia (Smaller Size) | $14.25 | 20 | $0.713 |
| 7. Sailor Shikiori | $15.00 | 20 | $0.750 |
| 6. Waldmann | $23.00 | 30 | $0.767 |
| 5. Montblanc (New Writers/Great Characters) | $43.00 | 50 | $0.860 |
| 4. Bungubox | $39.00 | 40 | $0.975 |
| 3. Louis Vuitton | $52.00 | 50 | $1.040 |
| 2. Hakase Sepia (Light) | $54.18 | 50 | $1.084 |
| 1. Hakase Sepia (Dark) | $63.21 | 50 | $1.264 |
As well as the top ten cheapest by cost per mL.
Bigger isn't always better, but it usually is: six of these clock in at/over the 250 mL mark.
| Brand and Line | Common Price | Size (mL) | $/mL |
| 10. Pelikan 4001 (1000 mL) | $78.00 | 1000 | $0.078 |
| 9. Octopus (Large) | $18.32 | 250 | $0.073 |
| 8. Raduga 2 | $5 | 70 | $0.071 |
| 7. Blackstone (Bulk X-Large) | $70.00 | 1000 | $0.070 |
| 6. Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink | $4.90 | 73.93 | $0.066 |
| 5. Pilot (350 mL) | $22.00 | 350 | $0.063 |
| 4. Hero | $3.00 | 56 | $0.054 |
| 3. Koh-i-noor | $1.99 | 50 | $0.040 |
| 2. Daytone | $4.70 | 1000 | $0.005 |
| 1. Ostrich Ink (Carton) | $19.00 | 4080 | $0.005 |
Observations
The world really has changed: Iroshizuku 15 mL bottles are now at the same unit cost as the large bottles once were, and those large bottles no longer crack the top ten most expensive. Kon-Peki is one step closer to being as affordable as it is popular (especially when Amazon has it for $17.) On that note, let's do some math:
According to scholars' most trusted source, Wikipedia, a standard Olympic swimming pool is 25 meters wide, 50 meters long, and 3 meters deep* and thereby holds 3750 cubic meters of water, i.e., 3750000 liters or 3750000000 milliliters, equivalent to 75 million 50 ml bottles of Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuki Yo. Since a 50 mL bottle of Tsuki Yo costs (on average) $20, 75 million would cost 1.5 billion dollars, a surprisingly reasonable sum, given that the two frontrunners in the 2016 election collectively
raised that along with a few hundred million to spare on a nice Kon Peki kiddie pool.
Let's say we're tight on money this Olympic cycle, so we need to fill our pools with something significantly cheaper. Sense doesn't exist here, so water is out. The next cheapest option is Tianjin Ostrich ink, which you can buy in a minimum quantity of five barrels for $20 a barrel. A single barrel holds 158987.3 mL for $20, so five of them hold 794936.5 mL and cost a reasonable $100. Since an Olympic swimming pool holds 3750000000 milliliters, one of them would hold ~4,717 5 barrel orders of Tianjin Ostrich ink. At $100 for each of those, we're looking at $471,736, with which you can buy a
fairly nice home in Atlanta, assuming you can also travel back in time to 2014 when CBS's top minds put together that slideshow. Also interesting to note is that this price is significantly lower than the one you'd incur if you tried to fill the same pool with your run-of-the-mill bottled water at
$1.22 per gallon (a little over $800,000 for your whole pool).
*FINA specifies a
minimum of 1.35 meters; we're being optimistic to make the numbers work out: Wikipedia says 2-3. There's no official maximum depth, so like Jay-Z we're doing some approximating, and
let's say...3.
Here's a fancy embedded version for those interested in sources/sleep-deprived notes. Assuming that version won't work, follow
this link to the original (locked) Google sheet. Thanks goes out to reddit's /r/fountainpens for drawing my attention to several of these inks, especially the Indian brands I'd never heard of before.
