Platinum Classic Cassis Black Fountain Pen Ink — 60 mL

Platinum’s Classic inks are made in the old iron gall manner—the ink of chancery clerks and archives—and each is named for the black it is slowly moving toward. Cassis Black begins as a bright, wet cherry-magenta and, over the following hours, deepens on the page into a muted blackcurrant red that reads as near-black where the ink pools.

Reviewers note strong shading and a rather dry flow, so it does best in a pen that runs a little wet. Platinum presents the Classic line as resistant to light and water once oxidized; independent tests have found more modest water resistance, so consider it an archival-minded ink rather than a waterproof one.

Also from the Classic line: Khaki Black and Sepia Black.

Details

• 60 mL bottle with built-in reservoir for easier filling
• Iron gall fountain pen ink (Platinum Classic no. 15)
• Color darkens on the page, noticeably within the first hour and over the first 24 hours
• Made in Japan
• Clean the pen regularly (every three to four weeks is commonly advised) and avoid leaving iron gall ink in a pen indefinitely

Boston Lore note: Ink appearance can vary with nib width, paper, ink flow, and lighting. Swatches and writing samples should be treated as a guide rather than an exact color match.