Colorverse No. 15 Gravity Wave — Vivid Teal, Intense Pink Sheen, Expressive Shading Fountain Pen Ink (65ml + 15ml)

Colorverse No. 15 Gravity Wave — Vivid Teal, Intense Pink Sheen, Expressive Shading Fountain Pen Ink (65ml + 15ml)

Colorverse No. 15 Gravity Wave is a fountain pen ink from Season 2: Astrophysics — Colorverse's eight-colour series dedicated to the creative energy of physics and the universe's most dramatic forces. Gravity Wave draws its name and character from one of modern physics' most astonishing discoveries: gravitational waves, the ripples in spacetime produced by the collision of massive objects, first detected by LIGO in 2016 after a century of theoretical prediction. The ink translates that moment of discovery directly onto the page — a vivid, electric teal base with subtle yellow undertones that make the green register more alive and luminous than a standard blue-green, paired with one of the most celebrated sheens in the Colorverse catalogue: an intense, electric cinnamon-pink that emerges at pooling points and stroke edges with a force entirely consistent with its namesake.

The two-bottle set — a 65ml desk bottle and a 15ml travel companion — arrives in Colorverse's signature constellation-decorated presentation box with illustrated stickers and a bookmark themed to the Astrophysics series. As a Season 2 Astrophysics entry, Gravity Wave is a pure dye ink with no shimmer particles; the visual drama comes entirely from the teal base, the expressive shading, and above all the extraordinary pink sheen that makes this ink one of the most visually spectacular in the Korean ink canon.

Available at Shosai (shosai.ca) in Gatineau / Ottawa — with in-store pickup (J9J 0K6) and Canada-wide shipping.

What Makes No. 15 Gravity Wave Different

Teal is a competitive colour space in fountain pen ink. The category is well-populated with competent blue-greens, and the difference between a forgettable teal and a genuinely remarkable one comes down to the specific balance of blue, green, and undertone — and what the ink does beyond its base colour. Gravity Wave addresses both questions with unusual authority.

The base colour itself is distinguished by its yellow undertones — subtle enough not to push the ink toward green or chartreuse, but present enough to give the teal an electric, luminous quality that purely blue-toned teals lack. The result is a teal that reads differently under different light conditions: bluer in cooler light, greener and more alive in warmer or natural light, with a vibrancy that sustains interest across an entire writing session rather than resolving into a flat, predictable colour.

What truly sets Gravity Wave apart, however, is the sheen. Reviewers consistently identify the pink sheen as one of the most intense and most generous in the Colorverse range — described variously as electric cinnamon-pink, dark pink, vivid pink-red, and hot pink depending on paper and ink load. At pooling points, the sheen transitions the ink from teal through a dramatic dark red-pink iridescence; at stroke edges, it produces a continuous pink border that frames each letterform with a colour entirely opposed to the base. The effect is, by any standard, spectacular — and it is the reason Gravity Wave has sustained its reputation as one of the most visually rewarding inks in the Astrophysics series since its release.

Colour Profile

Colour

No. 15 Gravity Wave is a medium teal — a vivid, electric blue-green with subtle yellow undertones that push the colour toward a more luminous, energetic register than standard blue-green inks. In the bottle, it presents as a rich, saturated teal with visible depth and a lively chromatic energy. On the page, it dries to a confident, legible teal that holds its vibrancy well across nib sizes and paper types: fully saturated and luminous at medium to broad sizes, clean and distinctly teal at fine sizes, and never flat or muted regardless of conditions.

Writers and reviewers describe the base as medium teal, electric teal, vivid turquoise, blue-green with yellow warmth, or a lively teal that shifts between blue and green depending on light — a colour that is energetic, contemporary, and consistently more complex than a single description captures. The yellow undertones are subtle enough that the ink reads unmistakably as teal rather than green or chartreuse, but present enough to give it a warmth and luminosity that purely cool teals lack. In natural light, the green register is most apparent; in cooler or artificial light, the blue register dominates — giving the ink a light-responsive quality that rewards close attention.

Shading

Medium to expressive, with tonal complexity that rewards quality paper and broader nibs. Gravity Wave shades from a lighter, more luminous teal in fine strokes to a deeper, richer, more saturated blue-green at pooling points and heavier stroke areas, with the full mid-tone teal occupying the range between them. The shading is not the dominant visual feature of this ink — that role belongs to the sheen — but it is present, clearly visible on quality papers, and contributes meaningfully to the ink's overall visual complexity. Reviewers describe it as medium shading with frequent flashes of lighter tone, decent but present shading that adds depth to the base colour, and shading that becomes most active and most rewarding on Tomoe River and Rhodia with medium to broad nibs.

Sheen

Intense, generous, and extraordinary. The pink sheen is the defining characteristic of Gravity Wave and one of the most celebrated sheen effects in the Colorverse catalogue. At pooling points and saturated stroke areas, the ink develops a vivid, electric cinnamon-pink iridescence — described by reviewers as electric cinnamon-pink, dark pink, intense pink-red, and hot pink — that stands in dramatic chromatic opposition to the teal base. The sheen is not a subtle edge effect; it is a generous, clearly visible iridescence that frames stroke edges, floods pooling points, and transforms the appearance of the ink under raking or direct light. Vanness designates the sheen as high pink; Mountain of Ink notes high sheen with lots of dark pink sheen; Inky Inspirations describes the effect as vibrant and electric.

The sheen performs best on smooth, slow-absorbing papers — Tomoe River, Rhodia, Clairefontaine — with medium to broad or stub nibs that deposit sufficient ink to allow the iridescent effect to develop fully. On standard absorbent papers, the sheen diminishes significantly or disappears; the smooth paper and generous ink load combination is essential to experiencing Gravity Wave at its most spectacular. Under natural or raking light, the pink sheen is most visible and most dramatic; under flat or diffuse light, the teal base dominates.

Shimmer

None. Gravity Wave is a pure dye ink with no shimmer particles. The visual complexity of the ink — teal base, expressive shading, extraordinary pink sheen — comes entirely from the dye formulation and its interaction with paper surface. No shimmer means no particle settling in the bottle, no feed channel buildup, and no maintenance considerations beyond standard dye-ink care. Safe for all pens including vintage instruments and fine-nibbed pens.

Ink Properties at a Glance

Flow

Wetter than average and well-lubricated — one of the wetter inks in the Colorverse range. Gravity Wave flows generously and smoothly across a wide range of pen and nib combinations, contributing to both the expressive shading and the intense sheen by depositing sufficient ink on the page to allow both effects to develop fully. The generous flow is smooth and controlled rather than unpredictably wet, but writers who prefer drier inks should note that Gravity Wave runs on the wetter side of the Colorverse spectrum. pH approximately 8.7 — slightly alkaline, consistent with many Korean ink formulations; safe for all modern pen materials.

Dry Time

Moderate to slow on quality papers — approximately 20 to 50 seconds on Rhodia or Clairefontaine with a medium nib; longer on Tomoe River due to the slow-absorbing surface and the ink's wetter flow. Writers who prioritise fast dry time should account for the combination of a wetter ink and slow-absorbing premium paper; on more absorbent everyday papers, dry time is considerably faster. The slower dry time on quality papers is directly related to the ink's sheen performance — the same conditions that slow drying are the conditions that allow the pink sheen to develop most fully.

Water Resistance

Low. Gravity Wave is a water-based dye ink with no meaningful water resistance. Exposure to moisture will cause the colour to run or fade, and it is not suitable for documents requiring archival longevity or water resistance. For everyday journaling, artistic writing, and creative correspondence, this is not a practical concern.

Feathering and Bleed-Through

Minimal on quality fountain-pen-friendly papers (Rhodia, Tomoe River, Clairefontaine, Midori MD, Leuchtturm1917). The wetter flow means feathering is more likely on absorbent papers; this ink performs best on papers designed for fountain pen use and is not recommended for standard copy paper at broader nib sizes.

How to Get the Most Out of No. 15 Gravity Wave

Recommended Paper

Gravity Wave is a sheen ink at heart, and sheen inks require smooth, slow-absorbing papers to perform at their best. The paper choice is more consequential for this ink than for most:

• Tomoe River (52gsm or 68gsm) — the definitive paper for Gravity Wave; the slow-absorbing surface allows the pink sheen to develop at maximum intensity; the teal base reads at full chromatic depth; shading most active and most beautiful here; the electric cinnamon-pink sheen is most spectacular on Tomoe River under natural or raking light; the ink's full visual drama — teal base, shading, extraordinary pink sheen — is most completely expressed on this paper
• Rhodia / Clairefontaine — excellent and reliable results; the pink sheen develops clearly and generously; teal saturation fully expressed; shading clearly visible at medium and broader nib sizes; the practical everyday choice for experiencing Gravity Wave's sheen without the handling considerations of Tomoe River
• Leuchtturm1917 — good overall performance; teal saturation present and vivid; sheen visible at pooling points; the cream-toned pages provide a warm ground that suits the electric teal base and makes the pink sheen particularly striking by contrast
• Midori MD Paper — smooth surface supports good colour development and sheen visibility; a reliable and pleasurable pairing for journaling and extended writing sessions
• Standard copy paper — functional at fine nib sizes for basic legibility; sheen largely absent; shading minimal; feathering possible at broader sizes; not recommended for experiencing Gravity Wave's full visual character

For maximum sheen performance, prioritise Tomoe River or Rhodia with a medium, broad, or stub nib. The sheen is the reason to use this ink; the paper and nib choice determine whether it appears.

Recommended Nibs

Gravity Wave is a sheen ink that requires generous ink deposit to perform at its most spectacular:

• Stub and cursive italic nibs — the highest-intensity sheen and most dramatic shading contrast; the electric cinnamon-pink sheen is most vivid and most continuous at stroke edges with stub nibs; the variation between thick and thin strokes showcases both the teal base and the pink sheen within each letterform; the definitive choice for experiencing Gravity Wave at its most visually extraordinary
• Medium and broad nibs — intense sheen clearly visible and active at pooling points and stroke edges; teal base at full saturation; the recommended everyday choice for experiencing the ink's full visual character; sheen is generous and clearly visible at medium widths on all recommended papers
• Fine nibs — the teal base reads cleanly and vividly; sheen reduced but present at pooling points; shading less active; a practical choice for everyday writing where the electric teal colour is the primary appeal rather than the sheen effect
• Extra-fine nibs — fully functional for the teal base colour; sheen largely absent due to insufficient ink deposit; shading minimal; recommended only where fine line precision takes priority over the ink's sheen and shading characteristics
• Eyedropper pens — an excellent pairing; the high ink volume and consistent generous flow ensure sustained sheen performance throughout the fill; particularly effective for extended artistic or calligraphic work where consistent sheen intensity is important
• Dip pens — exceptionally well-suited to Gravity Wave's visual drama; the sheen and teal depth are most spectacular in dip pen applications with generous ink loads; a natural choice for calligraphy, expressive lettering, and any artistic work where the electric teal and pink sheen combination is a compositional centrepiece

Pen Maintenance

Colorverse No. 15 Gravity Wave is a pure dye ink with no shimmer particles — it carries no particle clogging risk and is low-maintenance across all pen types. The slightly alkaline pH (approximately 8.7) is within the safe range for all modern pen materials; writers using vintage rubber sac pens should flush regularly as a precaution, consistent with standard care for any wetter ink. Flush every 4–6 weeks under normal use, or when switching inks. Compatible with all standard converter and cartridge systems.

Recommended Uses

• Artistic writing and expressive calligraphy — the electric teal base and extraordinary pink sheen make Gravity Wave one of the most visually spectacular inks available for calligraphic and artistic applications; stub and italic nibs at broad widths produce a page quality that is genuinely dramatic; particularly effective for display lettering, title pages, and any writing context where visual impact is the primary goal
• Journaling with visual ambition — the combination of vivid teal base, expressive shading, and intense pink sheen produces journal pages of genuine visual complexity; the ink rewards the kind of attentive, unhurried writing that allows sheen effects to develop fully; particularly compelling in combination with Tomoe River paper notebooks
• Correspondence and letter writing — Gravity Wave's electric teal and pink sheen make handwritten letters genuinely memorable; distinctive enough to make a lasting impression, and the scientific nomenclature of the series provides a natural conversation point for recipients who notice the ink
• Nature and science writing — the gravitational wave connection makes this a compelling choice for science enthusiasts, physics students, and anyone whose writing engages with the natural world at the scale of the cosmos; the ink's visual drama suits the subject's intellectual scale
• Fountain pen photography and swatching — Gravity Wave is among the most photogenic inks in the Colorverse catalogue; the electric teal base and pink sheen are most dramatic under natural or raking light on Tomoe River; swab photography with a generous ink load showcases the full teal-to-pink sheen transition at its most spectacular; a natural choice for ink photography and social media documentation
• Ink collection display — the 65ml bottle with its teardrop base and constellation packaging is among the most display-worthy formats in the hobby; Gravity Wave's vivid teal reads beautifully on a shelf alongside other Astrophysics series bottles

About the Astrophysics Series

Astrophysics is Colorverse's Season 2 collection — an eight-colour series charged with the creative energy of physics and dedicated to the universe's most dramatic forces and phenomena. Where Season 1's Spaceward drew its palette from the deep personalities of space, Astrophysics turns to the science itself: gravitational waves, dark matter, quantum fields, and the fundamental forces that govern the structure of reality. Each colour in the series is formulated to carry the specific visual energy of its subject — vivid, complex, and rewarding of close attention. As a series, Astrophysics is among the most celebrated in the Colorverse catalogue, and Gravity Wave — with its extraordinary pink sheen and electric teal base — is consistently cited as one of its most visually spectacular entries.

About Colorverse

Colorverse is a Seoul-based fountain pen ink studio dedicated to translating the wonder of the cosmos — and the quieter wonders of everyday life — into thoughtfully formulated, plant-based fountain pen inks. Founded in South Korea, Colorverse inks are made with plant-origin colorants and solvents, treated for hydration and antibacterial stability, and designed to maintain a neutral pH range for safe, long-term use in all fountain pens. Distributed internationally and available in Canada through select retailers, each Colorverse ink carries a number, a name, and a story. Shop the full Colorverse collection at Shosai — Ottawa and Gatineau's home for Japanese and Korean stationery.

Product Specifications

Available at Shosai — Ottawa–Gatineau

Shosai (shosai.ca) is a fine stationery boutique serving the Ottawa–Gatineau National Capital Region. We carry a curated selection of premium fountain pen inks, papers, and writing instruments from the world's most respected stationery brands.

• 📍 In-store pickup: Gatineau, QC — J9J 0K6
• 🛵 Local delivery: Available in the Ottawa–Gatineau area
• 🚚 Canada-wide shipping available
• 🇫🇷 Service bilingue — français et anglais

Whether you are new to fountain pens or a seasoned collector, Shosai is your local destination for inks that go beyond the ordinary.