12 Days of Inkmas: Diamine Red Dragon

Diamine Red Dragon review

Today’s Inkmas offering is Diamine Red Dragon. It’s a dramatic red-brown. I say red-brown because it is not at all pinkish though there is a cast of a deep burgundy. It’s a good holiday red for sure but its also a solidly-spirited red ink, good for use all year long. Diamine inks have impressed me with how well they stand up on paper. Generally, Diamine inks seem less inclined to bleed than other inks though they may have a longer dry time. I notice this phenomena when using dip nibs particularly.

Diamine Red Dragon writing sample

Once again, I forgot to do a water test but its not a water resistant or water proof ink so if that’s a concern, skip this ink.

Diamine Red Dragon swab

You can see the range of hue in the swab above. Red Dragon can appear dark reddish brown down to a clear, bright red in the shaded areas. There’s some nice shading, if you like that kind of thing.

Diamine Red Dragon comparison

When compared with other inks in my collection, De Atramentis Oriental Red 35ml ($12.50) was probably the closest in color. R&K Morinda 50ml ($12) has more of an orange cast, Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo 50ml ($28) is much more of a purple and the others were all more of a burgundy/brown. (The bloops are a result of trying to use fountain pen inks with dip pens. Its not always a successful venture.)

Diamine Red Dragon is available in 80ml bottles for $12.50, quite a value.


The samples above were written with a Kaweco Art Sport with a B nib (review coming soon!) in theQuo Vadis Habana bright white, blank notebook. Dry times will vary depending on paper stock. Comparison samples were written using a J. Herbin glass pen which causes some of the more liquidy inks, like De Atramentis, to run a bit. They are included for color comparison. Best efforts were made to achieve color accuracy but the limitations of camera, lighting and individual monitor calibrations may alter the final look. For best results, order a sample of the ink color you like best and try it before you invest in a whole bottle.

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Jet Pens for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

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