Diamine Oxblood: Ink Review

Diamine Oxblood is one of our most popular inks. It has a very dark red hue, and is well flowing. Check out our review of this fan favorite and get your own sample to try!


Supplies Used:
- LAMY AL-star with medium steel nib (also EF and F nib)
- Rhodia No. 16 dotpad, 80g white paper
- Tomoé River white paper
- Moleskine notebook
Smear Test (Dry Time):
- Medium – Diamine Oxblood was dry in about 25 seconds on the Rhodia paper, making it a great ink to use in lots of different situations. It's fairly comparable to other inks you've probably written with and enjoyed. Sarah used Tomoe River paper for her Monday Matchup and noticed that this ink smeared hours after she finished using it, so paper choice will be key when using this ink.
Drip Test (Water Resistance):
- Low-This ink is not water resistant and your words will be ruined if water comes in contact with them. However, it's a beautiful color that would look nice as an ink wash when water is applied.
Saturation:
- Medium– There's a slight difference between swabs 2 and 3, but overall, nothing too noticeable.
Ease of Cleaning:
- Easy– There's no problem cleaning this ink when switching nibs on the LAMY AL-star. Easy cleaning is always something I look for in an ink!
Shading:
- Medium – You do get some color variation among letters.
Flow:
- Medium– Diamine is known for having inks with great flow and this is no exception. It wrote beautifully with the extra-fine, medium and broad nibs.
Packaging and Aesthetics:

Inks Similar In Color:



Summary:
This ink was easy and pleasant to use, and if you're looking for a brownish-red ink with great flow, this is definitely one to consider! It'll consistently write well for you, so you shouldn't face any surprises with Oxblood. This ink could be used professionally, but because it is red, it might not be the right ink to use in the office. If you need a deep red ink with a good flow, this is the ink for you.
You can find it in an 80ml glass bottle, as well as a 30ml bottle, a 2ml samples and cartridges.