Dominant Industry Pearl 013 Christmas Red – 25ml Fountain Pen Ink (Gold Shimmer)

Dominant Industry Pearl 013 Christmas Red — 25ml Fountain Pen Ink

Red is the easiest colour to get wrong in an ink. Too orange and it loses its warmth; too dark and it reads as burgundy; too bright and it feels cheap on the page. Christmas Red lands somewhere that most red inks do not — a deep, traditional festive red with gold glitter suspended in it, the kind of colour that looks good on envelopes, in a journal, or anywhere you want writing to carry a little seasonal weight.

Dominant Industry Pearl 013 Christmas Red is a 25ml fountain pen ink from the Pearl Series, made in small batches in Paju, South Korea. Like all Pearl Series inks, it uses eco-friendly, cosmetic-grade shimmer particles (up to 50 microns) milled fine enough to pass through standard fountain pen feeds without clogging — shake the bottle before each fill to keep the gold evenly suspended.

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

Colour & Character

The Red

Christmas Red is a deep, warm red — not coral, not crimson, not rose. It reads as a fully saturated, traditional holiday red on most papers, with just enough warmth in its undertone to feel rich rather than flat. The colour dries slightly different from how it looks when wet, which is typical of Pearl Series inks; on Tomoe River and similar low-absorbency papers, the final colour holds closer to the wet tone and the gold shimmer stays visible and defined.

The Gold Shimmer

The shimmer is unmistakably gold — warm, metallic, and generous enough to catch light at most angles in medium and broad nib writing. In fine-line strokes it sits quietly; in swatches and broader lettering, the gold and red work together the way they do on most things that come out at this time of year. The particles are made from eco-friendly materials and are fine enough to behave well in standard fountain pen feeds. Regular cleaning after use is recommended, as with any shimmer ink.

Shading

Reviewers differ slightly on how much shading Christmas Red shows — some find it low, others rate it high. What most agree on is that the variation is there, particularly on premium, low-absorbency paper, where the ink's tonal range between thin and full-pressure strokes is visible and adds texture to longer writing samples.

Sheen

Christmas Red has no sheen. The visual interest comes entirely from the gold shimmer and the depth of the red base.

Practical Notes

Flow & Dry Time

Average flow, with dry time landing somewhere between 20 and 30 seconds depending on nib, paper, and how wet the line is. On Rhodia with a medium nib, closer to 20 seconds; on more absorbent surfaces, faster still.

Water Resistance

Christmas Red has moderate to high water resistance for a dye-based ink — not waterproof, but solid enough that light moisture exposure leaves the writing legible.

Best Paper

Tomoe River, Cosmo Air Light, and Rhodia all let the gold shimmer sit cleanly on the surface and develop well. On standard copy paper, expect the shimmer to sink slightly and the shading to flatten.

Nib Recommendation

Medium or broad nibs give the shimmer the best chance to show. Extra-fine nibs may clog over time and suppress the gold effect.

When to Reach for It

Christmas Red is a seasonal ink, but not a narrowly seasonal one. It works for holiday cards and gift envelopes in December; it also works for any writing where a deep, confident red is the right choice. The gold shimmer makes it festive without being costume-y. Pen Chalet compared it directly to Dominant Industry's Apple Blossom — Christmas Red reads warmer and more traditional where Apple Blossom goes pinkish and bright, so if you want a genuinely red red with some sparkle, this is the one.

About Dominant Industry

Dominant Industry was founded in Paju, South Korea, with a focus on small-batch ink production. Their Pearl Series uses an additive colour process — reflective and transparent pigments layered together so the ink incorporates natural light rather than simply covering a surface. The goal, as the brand describes it, is ink that can be felt as much as seen.

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
• 🇨🇦 Bilingual service — English and French

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