Sailor Ink Studio Numbering: Explained!
Sailor Ink Studio fountain pen ink comes in 100 colors, each named with a three-digit number. They span a whole range of colors and hues, some even having special dual-shading properties.
Ever wondered what these three-digit numbers mean? There's a method to the madness. 
Note: This is my personal explanation of the naming convention based on my observations, not an official one.
The Sailor Numbering System
First Digit
The first digit represents the lightness or darkness of the ink. Inks in the 100’s range are lighter, while those in the 800’s are much darker.
Second Digit
The second digit corresponds to a rough color grouping. Here’s how it breaks down:
- 20’s ~ Black and grey
- 30’s ~ Red, pink, fuchsia, and burgundy
- 40’s ~ Blue and turquoise
- 50’s ~ Purple
- 60’s ~ Green
- 70’s ~ Yellow, olive green, and orange, with brown continuing into the 80’s
What about the 00’s, 10’s, or 90’s? We don’t have any colors from these groups yet, so their meanings remain a mystery!
Third Digit
The third digit represents a specific hue within that color group.
Comparing Colors
If you compare two inks with the same last two digits but different first digits, you’ll generally find they are lighter or darker variations of the same color. For example, inks in the 40's with different first digits will show variations in lightness or darkness within the blue and turquoise family.
You can explore and compare all of our ink swabs side-by-side in our interactive Swab Shop. 
The Full Color Chart
(click to enlarge)
As you can see, it’s not a perfect system, but certain patterns start to reveal themselves!
Sailor Ink Studio fountain pen ink is made in Japan and available in 20ml square glass bottles. You can also purchase 2ml ink samples to try out the collection without committing to a full bottle. This exclusive ink line is available only at select retailers in the US.
I hope this breakdown was helpful in understanding Sailor’s Ink Studio numbering system! If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Care team, who will be more than happy to help. Write on!
