Diamine Night Sky: Ink Review

Diamine Night Sky fountain pen ink writing sample with splatter and LAMY nib.

Hey there ink lovers!

Madigan here, reviewing the fabulous Diamine Night Sky ink, one of the many sparkling inks from the Shimmertastic collection. Margaret used this ink in her Monday Matchup a couple weeks ago and I was able to snag a sample to try out. I wasn't expecting to fall in love with this ink- I usually go for brighter shades like oranges or burgundies. However, while this ink is black, it has extra special silver sparkles. This made the ink so much more exciting to me! Read on to find out more.

Diamine Night Sky Fountain Pen Ink writing sample

Diamine Night Sky writing sample on lined cream colored notebook paper

Zoomed in writing sample of Diamine Night Sky

Supplies Used:

LAMY AL-star with medium steel nib (also EF and B nib)
Rhodia No. 16 dotpad, 80g white paper
Tomoé River white paper
Moleskine notebook

Smear Test (Dry Time):

Long– This ink had a really long dry time. After 30 seconds it was still very noticeably smearing making it less than ideal for fast writing sessions. If you're taking notes, you may want to go with an ink that is a bit more dry.

Drip Test (Water Resistance):

Low– This ink turned into a huge mess when water was applied. The lines disappeared, but the pigment stayed behind making weird swirls. Could be good for art and ink washes, but not ideal if you're looking for your writing to stick around.

Saturation:

Medium-This ink has a dark hue, but there was still a difference between the first and second swab. I think you would have seen more, but the sheen overpowers the pigment.

Ease of Cleaning:

Medium– Despite the shimmer particles, this ink was relatively easy to clean out of the pen. The dark hue makes a few more flushes necessary, but all in all, not too bad.

Shading:

Low– While this ink is sparkles beautifully, it is not a shader.

Flow:

Medium– Despite the long dry time, this ink doesn't gush from the pen. It does have a steady flow and is pleasant to write with.

Packaging and Aesthetics:

50ml glass bottle with 2ml ink samples also available.
A taller, skinny bottle with a medium size opening. Could be difficult to get the very last drops from the bottom. Nice label!
Comes in a matching box. Nice opening experience.

Bottle of Diamine Night Sky with ink swab on white background

Diamine Sparkling Shadow Fountain Pen ink swatch

Summary:
This ink is awesome. Subtle, almost graphite shimmer when laid on thick, a nice smoky black when the shimmer isn't coming through as strong. It's literally the only ink on the market that combines silver flakes with black ink. The result is an ink that is serious, but also seriously fun. I can see this being a great work ink (probably not if you work in a law office, but in a more creative place, it should go over well). It has enough personality to make it stand out without being over the top. Say yes to this one- you won't be disappointed.