Tono & Lims Horten 229 – 30ml Fountain Pen Ink (Dark Blue)

Tono & Lims Horten 229 — 30ml Fountain Pen Ink

Tono & Lims Horten 229 is a dark blue fountain pen ink named after the Horten Ho 229 — the world's first jet-powered flying wing aircraft, developed by Nazi Germany in the final years of World War II. Designed by brothers Reimar and Walter Horten, the Ho 229 was a machine ahead of its time: sleek, angular, and built to disappear. Its dark, radar-absorbing surface and unconventional silhouette gave it an almost phantom quality. Horten 229, the ink, carries that same character — a deep, composed blue that does not announce itself loudly, but commands attention through restraint and depth.

This is a blue for writers who want something serious. Not a bright, expressive blue. Not a grey so dark it reads as black. Horten 229 occupies a precise, considered position: dark enough to carry weight, blue enough to remain unmistakably itself.

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

What Makes Horten 229 Different

Dark blue inks are among the most competitive categories in fountain pen ink. Horten 229 distinguishes itself not through drama or special effects, but through the quality of its colour and the reliability of its behaviour. Where many dark blues veer toward navy, indigo, or near-black, Horten 229 maintains a clear blue identity with a subtle grey undertone that gives it a sober, professional character without sacrificing warmth.

It is comparable in tone to Tono & Lims Dynamite and Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-Kai — darker than a standard navy, lighter than Taccia Ao-guro by several shades. For writers who have been searching for a dark blue that sits precisely in that range, Horten 229 is a strong candidate.

Colour Profile

Base Colour

Horten 229 is a dark blue with a mild grey cast. In the bottle, it reads as a deep, slightly muted blue — not dramatic, not murky, but controlled and deliberate. On the page, the grey undertone becomes more apparent, lending the ink a composed, almost military seriousness that suits its namesake well.

Shading

Horten 229 exhibits low shading. On Tomoe River paper, there is a gentle tonal shift from deep blue at the stroke's densest points to a slightly lighter blue in thinner areas — visible but not pronounced. Writers who prefer flat, consistent colour will find this entirely comfortable. Those who seek dramatic gradient effects should look elsewhere in the Tono & Lims catalogue.

Sheen

A mild sheen is present. In areas of heavy ink pooling or on slower-drying papers, a subtle metallic quality becomes visible at the surface of the ink film. It is not a defining feature of Horten 229 — it will not dominate the look of your writing — but it adds a quiet layer of interest for those who look closely.

Shimmer

None. Horten 229 contains no metallic shimmer particles. It is fully safe for fine nibs, vintage pens, and pens with narrow ink channels. No risk of clogging, no shimmer settling in the bottle over time.

Ink Properties at a Glance

Flow

Horten 229 is a wet ink. It flows generously through standard converters and cartridge-converter systems, making it a comfortable choice for drier pens or fine nibs that benefit from added lubrication. The wet flow also contributes to the ink's mild sheen, as more ink on the page means more opportunity for the surface effect to develop.

Dry Time

Dry time is on the longer side — approximately 50 seconds on quality paper under normal conditions. Writers who work quickly through journals or notebooks should be aware of this, particularly on coated or slow-absorbing papers where dry time extends further. For left-handed writers or those who smudge easily, a medium or broader nib on faster-absorbing paper is advisable.

Water Resistance

None. Horten 229 is a standard water-based dye ink with no water resistance. It will run if exposed to moisture. For documents requiring longevity or water resistance, a pigment-based ink is recommended instead.

How to Get the Most Out of Horten 229

Recommended Paper

Horten 229's wet flow and mild sheen express themselves best on smooth, slow-absorbing papers:

• Tomoe River (52gsm or 68gsm) — the wet flow pools gently, enhancing the mild sheen; shading is most visible here
• Midori MD Paper — smooth surface complements the ink's controlled, composed character
• Rhodia / Clairefontaine — reliable everyday option; consistent results across both formats
• Cosmo Air Light — brings out the grey undertone and mild sheen particularly well

Avoid highly absorbent papers (standard copy paper, Moleskine). Fast absorption will suppress both the shading and the sheen, reducing Horten 229 to a flat, featureless dark blue.

Recommended Nibs

• Fine to Medium nibs — well-suited to Horten 229's character; the dark blue reads cleanly at smaller sizes and the wet flow compensates for any dryness in finer nibs
• Broad or Stub nibs — the increased ink deposit brings out the mild sheen and makes the subtle shading more visible
• Vintage pens — the absence of shimmer particles makes Horten 229 safe for older pens with narrow feeds and delicate ink channels
• Dry writers — the wet flow makes Horten 229 a practical choice for pens that tend to run on the dry side

Recommended Uses

• Everyday writing and note-taking — the dark blue is highly legible and professional; a reliable daily ink
• Journaling — the grey undertone gives written pages a composed, considered quality
• Professional correspondence — dark enough to read as serious, blue enough to avoid the severity of black
• Fountain pen photography and swatching — the grey-blue character photographs well under natural light, showing the mild sheen in pooled areas

About Tono & Lims

Tono & Lims is a South Korean ink brand founded on the principle that fountain pen ink should be an artistic medium in its own right. Known for adventurous colour formulations, limited edition releases, and thematic series, Tono & Lims has built a devoted global 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.