Sailor Ink Studio: A Complete Guide to 100 Colors

When Sailor announced their ambitious Sailor Ink Studio collection in 2020, the fountain pen community took notice. With 100 carefully curated colors spanning the entire spectrum, this collection represents one of the most comprehensive ink offerings from a single manufacturer. According to Mountain of Ink's comprehensive overview, these colors range from pale grey to bright reds, featuring a full spectrum of carefully curated options. After extensive testing with dozens of these inks, I'm excited to share what makes Sailor Ink Studio special and help you navigate this colorful maze.

What Makes Sailor Ink Studio Unique

The Sailor Ink Studio line stands out for its systematic approach to color. Unlike traditional ink collections that evolve organically over time, Sailor designed this as a complete color system from the ground up. Each 20ml bottle features consistent packaging, clear color coding, and most importantly, reliable performance across the entire range.

What impressed me most during testing was the consistency. Whether you're using the vibrant #162 (a stunning coral pink) or the deep #280 (a rich forest green), the flow characteristics remain remarkably similar. This consistency makes the collection particularly appealing for artists and calligraphers who need predictable behavior across different colors. The Goulet Pens numbering guide explains how the three-digit system indicates lightness, darkness, and hue variations within the collection.

Performance and Ink Properties

Sailor Ink Studio inks are well-behaved across different pen types and paper qualities. The formula sits between Sailor's premium Iroshizuku-style inks and their standard cartridge inks in terms of saturation and flow. Here's what you can expect:

Flow: Moderate to good flow in most fountain pens, rarely too wet or too dry
Dry time: Average 15-30 seconds depending on paper and nib width
Water resistance: Minimal — these are dye-based inks that wash away easily
Shading: Excellent shading in broader nibs, subtle in fine nibs
Sheen: Generally minimal, though some deeper colors show slight sheen on good paper

For more details on understanding these properties, check out our ink properties guide.

Standout Colors Worth Trying

The Blues (#100-199 Series)

The blue series showcases Sailor's expertise with this classic color family. #123 offers a perfect everyday navy that works in professional settings, while Studio 140 delivers a vibrant turquoise that rivals more expensive specialty inks. According to The Gentleman Stationer's detailed review, Studio 140 is a light sky blue with lavender undertones that offers excellent legibility and reliable performance. For comparison with other blue options, our blue ink guide provides additional context.

The Purples (#600-699 Series)

Purple lovers will find exceptional options here. #650 provides a rich royal purple with beautiful shading, while Studio 224 offers a unique lavender that's surprisingly versatile for everyday writing. As highlighted in Goulet Pens' comprehensive review, Studio 224 is a cool-toned purple with excellent shading and quick dry time. These purples maintain their character across different paper types — something that can't be said for all purple inks.

The Greens (#200-299 Series)

#243 deserves special mention as one of the best forest greens I've tested from any manufacturer. It's deep enough for professional use but interesting enough for personal correspondence. Studio 341 provides a lighter sage green that's perfect for editing and annotation work. According to The Well-Appointed Desk review, Studio 341 is a blue-green ink with excellent shading that ranges from light dusty teal to medium-dark teal, making it an excellent everyday option.

The Navy Blues (#400-499 Series)

For those seeking deeper blues, Studio 442 stands out as a medium to dark blue with subtle purple undertones. The Pen Addict's detailed analysis reveals how this ink shows excellent shading in wider nibs and includes fascinating chromatography results showing its complex color components.

Packaging and Value Proposition

Each Sailor Ink Studio bottle contains 20ml of ink — smaller than the typical 30ml or 50ml bottles from other manufacturers, but reasonable given the extensive color selection. The bottles feature clear labeling with both color names and numbers, making organization straightforward.

At approximately $18-22 per bottle, these inks sit in the mid-range pricing tier. While not as economical as bulk standard inks, they're significantly more affordable than Sailor's premium lines like Iroshizuku. The value proposition improves when you consider the color accuracy and consistency across the entire range.

You can find individual bottles like Sailor Ink Studio colors on Amazon or explore the full collection at specialty retailers.

Best Practices for Sailor Ink Studio

To get the most from these inks, consider these practical tips:

Paper matters: While these inks work on standard copy paper, they truly shine on fountain pen-friendly papers like Rhodia, Clairefontaine, or Tomoe River
Clean regularly: Like most dye-based inks, thorough pen cleaning between colors prevents muddying
Sample first: With 100 colors available, sampling prevents expensive mistakes — many retailers offer 2ml samples
Storage: Keep bottles away from direct sunlight to maintain color integrity

Who Should Consider Sailor Ink Studio

This collection works best for several specific groups:

Color enthusiasts who want access to precise color matching
Artists and calligraphers needing consistent performance across multiple colors
Intermediate users ready to explore beyond basic blue and black inks
Collectors who appreciate systematic, well-organized collections

If you're just starting with fountain pens, you might want to begin with our recommended beginner inks before diving into this extensive collection.

Finding Your Perfect Match

With 100 options, choosing your first Sailor Ink Studio colors can feel overwhelming. Start with our InkPalette color matching tool to identify colors that appeal to you, then consider sampling 3-5 options before committing to full bottles.

The Sailor Ink Studio collection represents fountain pen ink design at its most systematic and comprehensive. While you won't find groundbreaking properties like extreme sheen or shimmer, you will find reliable, beautiful colors that perform consistently across the entire range. For fountain pen users seeking color variety without sacrificing quality, this collection delivers exactly what it promises — and that's no small achievement in the world of fountain pen inks.