{"id":9831,"date":"2026-08-26T14:10:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T21:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.penchalet.com\/blog\/?p=9831"},"modified":"2026-08-26T14:10:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T21:10:10","slug":"van-diemans-indian-spice-route-ink-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.penchalet.com\/blog\/van-diemans-indian-spice-route-ink-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Van Dieman\u2019s Indian Spice Route Ink Review: Gold Glow"},"content":{"rendered":"

Van Dieman\u2019s Indian Spice Route Ink Review: Gold Glow<\/h1>\n

\"VanOur Van Dieman\u2019s Indian Spice Route ink review<\/strong> takes us somewhere warmer this week with a tan-brown fountain pen ink illuminated by a surprisingly elegant golden shimmer. Created exclusively for Pen Chalet as part of the Van Dieman\u2019s World Oceans Collection<\/a>, Indian Spice Route takes inspiration from the trade routes that crossed the Indian Ocean\u2014and somehow manages to make brown ink feel like buried treasure.<\/p>\n

The result is earthy without being dull, shimmery without becoming distracting, and much more readable in everyday writing than you might expect from its lighter brown base.<\/p>\n

We tested Indian Spice Route on Rhodia lined paper with a J. Herbin glass dip pen, which writes approximately like a medium nib. Here\u2019s what we discovered.<\/p>\n

Van Dieman\u2019s Indian Spice Route Ink Review: Meet the Ink Maker<\/h2>\n

Van Dieman\u2019s Ink is a family-owned Australian ink maker based in Tasmania. Husband-and-wife team Peter and Belinda design, make, bottle, and label their inks in Hobart, and the company traces its beginnings to 2016. Van Dieman\u2019s describes its inks as handmade using predominantly Australian ingredients and Tasmanian water, combining the couple\u2019s chemistry background with inspiration drawn heavily from the natural world. Shop Van Dieman\u2019s fountain pen inks<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That focus on storytelling through color makes Van Dieman\u2019s a particularly natural partner for a collection built around the world\u2019s oceans. Their catalog has long included inks inspired by landscapes, wildlife, weather, and other natural phenomena, so translating ocean currents, trade routes, marine life, light, and water into ink feels very much at home in the brand.<\/p>\n

Get to Know the Van Dieman\u2019s World Oceans Collection<\/h2>\n

The Van Dieman\u2019s World Oceans Collection<\/strong> is an exclusive collaboration between Van Dieman\u2019s Ink<\/a> and Pen Chalet centered on the movement, color, history, and character of the world\u2019s oceans.<\/p>\n

\"Gioia<\/p>\n

Van Dieman\u2019s describes the project as a cohesive collaboration in which each release explores an individual ocean through color, movement, and light. The inks are packaged in coordinated nautical boxes while individual labels give each color its own identity.<\/p>\n

For the Indian Ocean release, the inspiration shifted toward warmth, monsoon movement, marine life, and centuries of exchange between distant shores. The Indian Ocean inks include Warm Waters, Manta Ray Glide, Monsoon Current, and Spice Route<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The collection was also released alongside limited-edition Gioia x Van Dieman\u2019s World Oceans Box Sets<\/strong><\/a>, each pairing a Gioia Metis fountain pen in ocean-inspired resin with one selected Van Dieman\u2019s ink from that ocean\u2019s release. One important distinction: the Indian Ocean Box Set included Warm Waters ink<\/strong>, rather than Spice Route. Each World Oceans Box Set was limited to 50 pieces.<\/p>\n

\"Several

The Indian Box Set from the Gioia X Van Dieman’s World Ocean Box Set Series, a Pen Chalet Exclusive.<\/p><\/div>\n

NOTE: At the time of this review, most versions have sold out, with the Pen Chalet listing showing only a few Southern Ocean nib options remaining.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"The

The Indian Box Set drop featured the Gioia Metis paired with the Warm Waters ink.<\/p><\/div>\n

Van Dieman\u2019s Indian Spice Route Ink Review: Featured Ink<\/h2>\n

This week\u2019s featured ink, Indian Spice Route<\/strong>, approaches the Indian Ocean from a historical rather than strictly aquatic angle.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h2>\n

For centuries, trade across the Indian Ocean moved spices, textiles, goods, people, and ideas between regions. Van Dieman\u2019s specifically drew inspiration from the colors associated with that history, describing Spice Route as a warm, desaturated brown shifting through rose-beige and dusty ochre, finished with rich gold shimmer.<\/p>\n

Our test landed in the same general color neighborhood.<\/p>\n

On the page, we saw a light tan-brown base with golden shimmer<\/strong>. The brown is warm and approachable rather than dark or chocolatey. In the heavier swatch, the base color reads distinctly tan-brown, while written lines have enough saturation to remain surprisingly easy to see.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the gold.<\/p>\n

Rather than sitting on top of the brown like loose glitter, the shimmer seems to belong there. It catches the light but blends naturally into the warm color underneath. Think spices catching the afternoon sun rather than a disco ball falling into the cargo hold.<\/p>\n

Perfect Pairings: Pens Made for This Ink<\/h2>\n

Some inks seem made for certain pens. For Indian Spice Route, we looked for resins and finishes that echo its warm tan-brown base, golden shimmer, and adventurous personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pen Pick<\/th>\nWhy It Works with Indian Spice Route<\/th>\nPairing Vibe<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Delta Duna Olive Grove Painter’s Series Box Set<\/strong><\/td>\nOur top pick. The warm tannish and earthy tones running through the Olive Grove resin echo Indian Spice Route’s tan-brown base, while the ink’s golden shimmer adds extra warmth and dimension.<\/td>\nEarthy, artistic & warm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Captain Hook Box Set<\/strong><\/td>\nTan-brown undertones and swirls hidden within the resin pick up the ink’s warm base color, while the golden shimmer adds a subtle treasure-like glow that suits the adventurous theme.<\/td>\nAdventurous, unexpected & rich<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Delta DV Original Midsize Exclusive Amber<\/strong><\/td>\nIts warm amber resin and gold trim naturally complement Indian Spice Route’s tan-brown base and golden shimmer, creating a polished tonal pairing that feels cohesive without being too matchy.<\/td>\nClassic, glowing & coordinated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monteverde MP1 Foxy Orange<\/strong><\/td>\nFoxy Orange brings out the warmer ochre and golden side of Indian Spice Route rather than matching its brown base directly. The result is a lively complementary pairing that makes the ink feel warmer and more dimensional.<\/td>\nWarm, playful & complementary<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Ink Test Results<\/h2>\n

\"Van<\/p>\n

For this Van Dieman\u2019s Indian Spice Route ink review<\/strong>, we used:<\/p>\n