Dryden Designs Fountain Pen Ink Cartridges

Fountain pens are making a comeback in recent years as people rediscover the joy of writing with these classic writing instruments. And one of the most popular brands of ink cartridges for fountain pens is Dryden Designs. Their cartridges come in a wide array of gorgeous colors and are designed to work flawlessly in most fountain pens.

But with so many options, it can get confusing to figure out which Dryden Designs cartridges are right for your needs. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive buying guide covering everything you need to know about selecting and using Dryden Designs ink cartridges for your fountain pen.

A Rainbow of Color Options

One of the best aspects of Dryden Designs ink cartridges is the vast spectrum of ink colors available. There are traditional options like black and blue. But you can also choose from vivid tropical tones like mango, guava and papaya. Softer pastel hues like lavender, pink and mint are available too. And you’ll find regal purples, bold reds, moody grays and glossy metallics as well.

With so many colors to pick from, you can find the perfect shade to match your personality and writing style. More colorful inks are great for adding flair to journaling and creative writing. While classic blacks, blues and reds are ideal for professional or academic uses. Browse the full catalog of colors before you buy so you can pick the perfect palette for your fountain pen.

Designed For Universal Fountain Pen Compatibility

Dryden Designs ink cartridges are made to work in most major fountain pen brands and models. The cartridges feature a standard international size and shape. So as long as your pen takes standard international short or long cartridges, Dryden Designs inks should fit right in.

Some fountain pen brands like Delta, Monteverde, Omas and Sailor use proprietary cartridge designs. So double check your pen brand and model specs before buying Dryden Designs cartridges just to ensure compatibility. But the vast majority of fountain pens on the market will work flawlessly with standard international Dryden cartridges.

Easy Drop-In Installation

One of the appeals of ink cartridges versus bottled fountain pen ink is the convenience and ease of switching colors. And installing a new Dryden Designs cartridge into your fountain pen is very straightforward.

First, remove any existing empty cartridge from the pen. Flush the pen’s ink reservoir with water using either the cartridge converter or a blunt syringe. Let the pen dry completely before inserting a new cartridge.

Then simply select the Dryden Designs color you want, and push the cartridge firmly into place until it clicks. It’s normal for a small amount of ink to squirt out initially when the cartridge seals. Then your pen is primed and ready to write!

With just a few seconds of effort, you can swap Dryden Designs cartridges out and change ink colors whenever inspiration strikes. The process is very clean and mess-free compared to filling from a bottled ink well.

Where To Buy Dryden Designs Cartridges

You can purchase Dryden Designs ink cartridges both online and in many retail stores. Major fountain pen specialty shops like Goulet Pens, JetPens and Anderson Pens all stock the full range of Dryden colors and types. Prices range from $5-$10 per 5-6 cartridges.

Dryden Designs cartridges are also carried by large online retailers like Amazon and WalMart. Plus, you can find them in well-stocked art supply stores, university bookstores, and niche stationery boutiques.

Wherever you buy, look for multipacks with color variety or sets focused on a particular color palette. This allows you to stock up and save rather than buying individual cartridge colors.

Affordable Price Point

A set of 6 Dryden Designs ink cartridges generally costs between $5 and $10. This puts them at an affordable price point compared to bottled fountain pen ink. Bottles start around $12 for 30ml and go up to $40 for premium brands like those from Diamine and Pilot.

The cartridge format does mean you are paying a bit more per fluid ounce compared to a full bottle. But the convenience of popping in a fresh cartridge versus using a converter or syringe fill may be worth the slightly higher price. Dryden Designs cartridges are very competitively priced, especially if you buy multipacks.

Refill Dryden Cartridges With Bottled Ink

While Dryden Designs cartridges are not designed to be refilled, many fountain pen enthusiasts do reuse the cartridges. You can refill used Dryden cartridges with bottled ink from any brand once the original ink is depleted.

A blunt syringe makes it easy to refill Dryden Designs cartridges with your favorite bottled fountain pen inks. Simply draw ink up in the syringe and push it into the empty cartridge. Refilling does take a bit more effort than tossing in a fresh cartridge. But it allows you to reuse cartridges and access any ink color under the sun.

Long Lasting Ink Supply

Dryden Designs ink cartridges are available in both standard short international size and long international size. The short cartridges contain approximately 0.9ml of ink which will typically last for 40-60 pages of writing. The long 1.4ml cartridges have 60-100 pages of use before running dry.

Page yields can vary based on the wetness of your fountain pen nib, size of writing, and other factors. But the reservoir in both cartridge sizes should provide a good amount of writing time before needing to be replaced. Dryden Designs ink flows smoothly and consistently right up until the last drop.

Sold Individually or in Value Packs

Dryden Designs ink cartridges are sold both individually and in multi-packs of the same color or assorted colors.

Individual cartridges are handy if you just want to try out a new color without committing to a set. But the best value is often found in the 5, 10, or 20-pack sets which offer a lower per-cartridge price when buying in bulk.

Packs grouped by color allow you to stock up on your favorites. While the randomly assorted packs provide a range of shades to fuel creativity and variety in your writing. Look for special edition packs coordinated into popular color palettes too.

Vibrant Color That Won’t Bleed or Feather

The rich, saturated pigments used in Dryden Designs ink deliver striking color. And the inks are formulated for optimal flow and consistency. This allows the ink to glide smoothly onto paper from your fountain pen nib without skipping, blobbing, feathering or bleeding.

The ink is designed to dry relatively quickly on paper as well. So you don’t have to worry about smearing or smudging as you write. And even on more absorbent papers, the vibrant tones won’t feather out or bleed through the page. Dryden Designs cartridges provide consistent, vivid color with every write.

Suitable For Calligraphy and Ornate Writing

The bold, bright color palette of Dryden Designs ink cartridges make them a perfect match for embellished handwriting styles. The rich pigments really make delicate calligraphy flourishes pop visually. And the smooth ink flow is ideal for preventing skips or blobs when writing with ornamental pens.

Some fountain pen ink brands can clog or dry out when used for calligraphy. But Dryden Designs inks glide smoothly and maintain their vivid intensity even for decorative writing. So your creative envelope addressing and journal headers will radiantly stand out on the page.

Water and Smudge Resistant Formulation

No one wants to see their carefully penned words smeared or blotted away by a drop of water or accidental smudge. So Dryden Designs inks are specially formulated to be water resistant once dried on the page.

While still wet, the ink can transfer or run like any fountain pen ink. But once dried fully, the Dryden color will remain vivid and intact even if water droplets hit the page. Rubbing or highlighting won’t cause the dried ink to smudge either thanks to its durable formulation. So your important documents will remain pristine and professional even with handling.

Cartridges vs. Bottled Ink – What’s the Difference?

Fountain pen enthusiasts often debate the merits of bottled ink versus cartridges like those from Dryden Designs. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Convenience – Cartridges are much quicker and easier to load into pens versus using a converter or syringe to fill from a bottle. This makes color switching faster too.
• Cost – Bottled ink provides more fluid ounce per dollar. But cartridges avoid the upfront cost of buying full bottles of each color.
• Color Options – Bottled ink provides nearly endless mix and match color options. Cartridges offer fewer colors, but give you variety packs.
• Mess-free – Cartridges are neater and minimize staining or spills versus bottled inks. Some also find the cartridge filling process to be less messy.
• Environmental Impact – Reusable glass ink bottles produce less waste versus disposable plastic cartridges. However, cartridges can be refilled using a syringe and bottled ink.

For many fountain pen fans, the best solution is to keep both bottled inks and a selection of Dryden Designs cartridges on hand. Use cartridges for convenience and bottled ink when you want access to a wider palette.

What Pens Work With Dryden Cartridges?

As covered earlier, Dryden Designs cartridges are made in the standard international size that is compatible with most major fountain pen brands. Some exact models known to work perfectly with Dryden Designs ink cartridges include:

• Pilot Metropolitan
• Lamy Safari
• Platinum Plaisir
• Kaweco Sport
• TWSBI Eco
• Faber Castell Loom
• Diplomat Magnum
• Monteverde Ritma
• Waterman Phileas
• Parker Vector
• Sheaffer 100
• Cross Bailey

Basically, any fountain pen designed for standard international short or long cartridges will work with Dryden inks. Just double check cartridge compatibility before using them in less common vintage or novelty pen models.

International Cartridges Fit Worldwide Pens

The standard international cartridge size was adopted globally by most brands. So the short and long Dryden Designs cartridges will reliably fit fountain pens sold worldwide.

Fountain pen brands popular internationally like Montegrappa, ST Dupont, OMAS, Delta, Caran d’Ache, and Aurora typically work with international cartridges. Dryden Designs are great for use in pens while traveling internationally or imported pens purchased overseas.

Just watch for pens made only for proprietary cartridges like Sailor and Platinum models made for the Japanese market. Besides a few exceptions, Dryden international cartridges should perform consistently no matter the country your fountain pen is from.

Archival Quality Ink Options

In addition to their wide spectrum of vivid colored inks, Dryden Designs also offers their fountain pen cartridges in professional archival quality ink shades. These include rich black and blue black options designed to last safely on paper for decades without fading, discoloring or deteriorating.

The archival ink cartridges are perfectly matched to the brand’s Collector’s Series fountain pens. But they can add lightfastness and longevity to any writing when used in place of standard cartridges. Dryden’s archival inks provide confidence your important documents and keepsakes will stand the test of time.

Recycle Empty Cartridges Properly

While convenient, ink cartridges do produce more plastic waste versus glass bottled ink. To offset the environmental impact, always dispose of used Dryden Designs cartridges properly for recycling rather than throwing in the trash.

Most office supply stores, university campuses, and community recycling centers now have programs accepting spent pen cartridges for repurposing. Simply collect empty cartridges in a bag until you can drop off at a designated recycling point.

Refilling empty cartridges with a syringe also allows you to reuse them rather than disposing. With conscious recycling habits, we can enjoy cartridges while minimizing unnecessary waste.

Rave Reviews From Customers

Thousands of fountain pen users have taken to the web to offer glowing reviews of Dryden Designs ink cartridges. Customers consistently praise the rich, vivid color produced by the cartridges along with the smooth, skip-free ink flow.

Many reviews mention the convenience, ease of loading, and mess-free refilling experience provided by the cartridges compared to bottled inks. Customers also describe the cartridges working flawlessly in a wide range of fountain pen brands and models.

Negative reviews of Dryden Designs cartridges are very rare. When they do appear, it is typically regarding a damaged cartridge leaking ink in transit. But the vast majority of experiences shared by fountain pen enthusiasts show these cartridges offer quality ink and convenience.

Eco-Friendly Ink Options

In addition to their standard ink cartridge lineup, Dryden Designs also offers eco-friendly cartridges made from plant-based materials. These use renewable, non-toxic ingredients sourced sustainably from crops like corn and sugar cane.

The eco cartridges produce vivid ink just like the standard options. But their plastic casing comes from more environmentally responsible materials. This allows environmentally-conscious writers to reduce their use of petroleum-based plastics.

Dryden’s plant-based ink cartridges cost a bit more than the standard ones. But the investment contributes towards a smaller carbon footprint. And performance is indistinguishable from standard cartridges.

Quick Drying, Long Lasting Protection

The carefully engineered ink formula used in Dryden Designs cartridges is designed to dry rapidly on the page. Most standard colors will be dry to the touch in 5-10 seconds. This prevents messy smudges and allows pages to be handled quickly after writing.

Even once dry, the ink remains vivid and flexible rather than fading, flaking or deteriorating over time. Independent testing shows the ink retaining its integrity for over 50 years with proper storage. Dryden cartridges give you quick convenience without sacrificing archival quality results.

Buy More & Save with Bundles

If Dryden Designs ink cartridges become your go-to for fountain pen writing, you can save money by purchasing cartridge bundles. Many online retailers offer multi-pack discounts, buy 2 get 1 free deals, and free shipping on larger quantities.

Purchasing a variety pack bundle with all your favorite colors allows you to stock up while taking advantage of volume discounts. This provides savings over buying individual cartridges. Just be sure to check the expiration dates of any cartridges you don’t use right away.

A Must-Have Accessory for Fountain Pen Lovers

Dryden Designs ink cartridges deserve a spot in every fountain pen user’s toolbox. Their broad spectrum of colors, archival ink options, eco-friendly plant-based plastic, and competitive pricing make them a top choice. And their reliability, smooth flow, and quick-loading design ensure writing convenience.

For both beginning fountain pen enthusiasts and seasoned collectors, Dryden Designs sets the standard for quality and color. Pick up a variety pack or two to fuel your next writing inspiration. With their high performance and huge selection, Dryden Designs ink cartridges are a must-have accessory.