Diamine Polar Glow: Fountain Pen Ink Review

Diamine Polar Glow bottle and ink swab

Initially launched as part of the 2019 Diamine InkVent calendar and now a part of the regular Diamine Blue Edition collection, Diamine Polar Glow is a deep blue ink with a heavy sheen and touch of shading. Check out our impressions below!

Diamine Polar Glow writing sample on white dot grid paper

Diamine Polar Glow writing sample on Tomoe River blank white paper

Diamine Polar Glow on Leuchtturm1917 dot grid paper

Ink Review

Supplies Used:

LAMY safari with medium steel nib
Rhodia No. 16 dot pad, 80g white paper
Tomoé River 52 gsm white paper
Leuchtturm1917 80g notebook

Smear Test (Dry Time):

20+ seconds – Polar Glow has a decently long dry time which really allows the sheen to show and while flow is good if you are jotting something down in a hurry you'll want to take care not to let it smear.

Drip Test (Water Resistance):

Low – This ink is like many others out there in that it does not have any water resistance so it wouldn't be a great candidate if you expect to be out in the elements or used for line work in art. It could be useful for water washes as it lightens to a light turquoise but does not fully dissipate.

Saturation:

Medium – The sheen really helps keep this ink deep blue with red-purple tones and you don't see much difference from swabs 1 to 3.

Ease of Cleaning:

Medium-High – This ink is not water resistant and washes out pretty readily. You may experience slight staining on a lighter colored pen body though a little pen flush or soapy water should clean it up nicely.

Shading:

Low – This ink has lots of sheen but only a touch of shading. On Tomoe River you can see the shading best but on paper like Leuchtturm it is difficult to differentiate.

Flow:

Wet – Diamine is known for its wet writing inks and Polar Glow is no exception. It works well in every pen we tried it in and allows for a smoother writing experience.

Packaging and Aesthetics:

The Diamine Blue edition inks have one of the best bottle designs we carry! With a not quite square shape and stout legs, this bottle has a very whimsical appearance great for display.

If you're interested in similar colors, check out our Swab Shop where you can compare colors side by side.

Summary:

Overall, Diamine Polar Glow is a versatile ink that is a well behaved, sheen-heavy blue with turquoise hints and a touch of shading. It is a complex color with no shimmer and is not water-resistant. We suggest checking this out if you're looking for a gorgeous ink with lots of personality.