Dominant Industry Pearl 018 Tanzanite — Deep Purple, Blue Shimmer & Copper Sheen Fountain Pen Ink (25ml)

Dominant Industry Pearl 018 Tanzanite — 25ml Shimmer Fountain Pen Ink

Dominant Industry Pearl 018 Tanzanite is a 25ml shimmer fountain pen ink built around a saturated deep purple-blue — a colour that sits where midnight violet meets deep indigo, anchored by suspended blue metallic particles and finished with a quiet copper sheen. This is not a pastel or a dusty purple. Tanzanite presents as a dark, confident deep purple that retains its depth both wet and dry, with blue shimmer that activates fully under light and rewards wider nibs and wetter writers.

Part of Dominant Industry's Pearl Collection — a series dedicated to shimmer inks with metallic particle suspension — Pearl 018 takes its name from tanzanite, the rare blue-violet gemstone found exclusively in northern Tanzania. The ink earns that reference: a deep, gemstone-quality colour with layered optical effects that shift depending on light, paper, and nib.

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

What Makes Pearl 018 Tanzanite Different

Purple is a well-populated category in fountain pen ink. Tanzanite does not compete on brightness or playfulness. Instead, it occupies a more specific position: a deep, almost brooding purple-blue that is dark enough to read as near-black at smaller nib sizes, yet reveals extraordinary complexity — blue fire, copper warmth — under closer inspection or broader application.

Many users reach for Tanzanite as a sophisticated alternative to black or navy ink. It is dark enough for formal and everyday use, yet visually distinctive in a way that plain blacks and blues are not. The combination of deep violet base, blue shimmer, and copper sheen creates an ink that changes character depending on how you use it — subtle and professional in a fine nib, dramatic and gemstone-like in a broad or stub.

Colour Profile

Base Colour

Pearl 018 Tanzanite is a deep purple with a pronounced blue-violet character. In the bottle, it reads as a very dark blue-purple — rich and saturated, closer to deep indigo-violet than to a red-leaning purple. On the page, it dries to a composed, dark violet that holds its depth across nib sizes. At fine nib sizes, it can read as a near-black with purple undertone. At medium to broad sizes, the full blue-violet character becomes visible alongside the shimmer.

Users frequently describe it as a dark purple that leans blue rather than red — a distinction that makes it more versatile for formal and professional contexts than warmer purples.

Shading

Low. Tanzanite exhibits minimal tonal variation between lighter and denser areas of each stroke. The ink delivers a consistent, saturated deep purple across the page without dramatic light-to-dark gradient separation. Some subtle depth variation is visible on premium papers at broader nib sizes, but the ink's primary character is consistent saturation rather than expressive shading. Writers who prefer even, reliable colour will find this entirely comfortable.

Shimmer

Blue metallic shimmer particles, medium intensity. The suspended blue metallic particles are the defining characteristic of Pearl 018 Tanzanite. They are clearly visible on smooth papers at medium to broad nib sizes, reading as bright blue sparkles against the deep purple base — a contrast that gives the ink its gemstone-like quality. At fine nib sizes, the shimmer is present but more restrained. On Tomoe River paper with a wet or broad nib, the blue shimmer is vivid and unmistakable.

Shake gently before each use to redistribute settled shimmer particles evenly throughout the ink.

Sheen

Medium copper. On premium papers, Tanzanite develops a visible copper sheen at the edges of heavier ink deposits — a warm, metallic surface quality that becomes distinct under raking or directional light. The copper sheen is an unexpected complement to the cool blue-violet base, adding a layer of warmth and complexity that rewards close observation. It is more present than a merely subtle sheen, but does not dominate the ink's overall appearance.

Ink Properties at a Glance

Flow

Average to good. Pearl 018 Tanzanite flows at a balanced, moderate rate through standard converters and cartridge-converter systems — consistent and smooth without being notably wet or dry. It is a reliable choice across a wide range of pen and nib combinations. As with all shimmer inks, regular pen maintenance is recommended to prevent particle accumulation in the feed.

Dry Time

Approximately 40 seconds on quality paper under normal conditions (medium nib on Rhodia). Longer than non-shimmer inks due to the particle suspension, and consistent with other inks in the Pearl Collection. Writers who work quickly may wish to allow additional drying time, particularly on slower-absorbing papers.

Water Resistance

None. Pearl 018 Tanzanite is a water-based dye ink with shimmer particle suspension and no water resistance. It will run or fade when exposed to moisture and is not suitable for documents requiring archival longevity. For archival applications, a pigment-based ink is recommended.

Feathering and Bleed-Through

Minimal on quality papers. On fountain-pen-friendly papers — Tomoe River, Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Midori MD — Tanzanite performs cleanly with well-defined stroke edges and no bleed-through. On standard absorbent papers, some feathering may occur, and shimmer expression will be suppressed.

How to Get the Most Out of Pearl 018 Tanzanite

Shake before use. Shimmer particles settle at the bottom of the bottle between uses. A gentle shake before filling ensures even particle distribution and consistent shimmer expression throughout your writing session.

Recommended Paper

Pearl 018 Tanzanite rewards smooth, slow-absorbing papers that allow the shimmer particles to settle on the surface rather than absorbing into the fibre:

• Tomoe River (52gsm or 68gsm) — the gold standard for shimmer inks; slow absorption allows blue shimmer particles to develop fully on the surface; copper sheen most visible here; the deep purple reads at maximum saturation
• Cosmo Air Light — excellent shimmer expression; clean stroke edges; the blue sparkle reads with high clarity against the dark violet base
• Midori MD Paper — smooth surface supports good shimmer development; reliable everyday pairing for the deep purple character
• Rhodia / Clairefontaine — consistent, dependable results; shimmer present and visible; a practical everyday option

Avoid highly absorbent papers (standard copy paper, Moleskine). Fast absorption buries shimmer particles below the surface, suppresses the copper sheen, and may cause feathering.

Recommended Nibs

• Medium to Broad nibs — the primary recommendation for all shimmer inks; more ink on the page means more shimmer particles deposited, making the blue sparkle and copper sheen fully visible; the deep purple character reads at its best
• Stub or Italic nibs — the contrast between thick and thin strokes gives the shimmer a dynamic, varied expression across the page
• Eyedropper pens — an excellent pairing; high ink volume and consistent flow maximise shimmer expression throughout long writing sessions
• Fine nibs — shimmer is present but restrained; the ink reads primarily as a deep purple with subtle blue sparkle; functional and attractive, but does not fully showcase the Pearl Collection character
• Extra-fine nibs — not recommended; risk of particle clogging in narrow feeds; shimmer largely suppressed at this nib size

Pen Maintenance

As with all shimmer inks, flush your pen every 2–4 weeks to prevent metallic particle accumulation in the feed and nib channel. Pearl 018 Tanzanite is pH neutral and safe for resin and celluloid pens, but regular cleaning is essential for long-term pen health with any shimmer ink.

Recommended Uses

• Everyday writing as a black or navy alternative — dark enough for formal and professional use; visually distinctive in a way that plain blacks and blues are not; a confident choice for writers who want depth with character
• Journaling and sustained writing — the copper sheen and blue shimmer add quiet visual complexity to longer writing sessions without overwhelming the page
• Calligraphy and broad nib writing — broad strokes bring out the full shimmer and sheen character; an excellent ink for calligraphic work where visual richness is the goal
• Fountain pen photography and swatching — the deep purple photographs with strong contrast under natural light; blue shimmer reads clearly in macro shots on Tomoe River; copper sheen visible in raking-light photography

About the Pearl Collection

The Pearl Collection is Dominant Industry's dedicated shimmer ink line — a series of inks formulated around suspended metallic particles in richly coloured dye bases. Each ink in the Pearl Collection is designed to deliver a layered optical experience: a strong base colour, visible shimmer, and in many cases a contrasting sheen. Pearl 018 Tanzanite is among the most distinctive entries in the series, combining a rare deep violet base with blue shimmer and copper sheen in a combination that few other shimmer inks replicate.

About Dominant Industry

Dominant Industry is a South Korean fountain pen ink brand known for its Pearl Collection shimmer inks and a broad catalogue of richly formulated colours. Founded on a commitment to high-quality ink production, Dominant Industry has built a strong international following among fountain pen enthusiasts, calligraphers, and stationery collectors. Their inks are manufactured in South Korea and distributed through curated stationery retailers worldwide.

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.