Kuretake Gold MICA Ink for Dip Pen and Brush, Metallic, 60ml Review (2026)

A genuine mica shimmer, not a printed metallic look

This ink gets its shine from real mica particles suspended in a water-based pigment, which is what separates a true metallic ink from inks that only appear shiny under certain light. Kuretake markets it as effective on both bright and dark colored papers, which matters for wedding and event calligraphy specifically, since gold lettering on dark paper needs enough opacity and shimmer to stand out clearly rather than looking flat or muddy. This makes the ink useful beyond plain white cardstock, extending into black, navy or deep colored envelope work where a standard ink would disappear.

Why the mica settles and needs regular stirring

Because the shine comes from actual suspended mica particles rather than a dye, those particles are naturally heavier than the liquid around them and settle to the bottom of the bottle between uses. Letterers using this ink should shake the bottle well before starting and stir periodically during a longer lettering session, since mica that has settled produces duller, less shimmery strokes until it is remixed. This is a normal characteristic of mica-based inks generally and is the tradeoff for getting a genuine metallic sparkle rather than a flat, imitation gold color.

Works with dip pens and brushes, not fountain pens

Kuretake designs this ink for use with dip pens and brushes, where the wider ink path can handle the mica particles without trouble, and explicitly advises against putting it inside fountain pens. Fountain pen feeds are narrow and precisely engineered for filtered, particle-free ink, and the suspended mica in this formula would likely clog or damage a fountain pen's internal mechanism over time. Anyone wanting a metallic effect from a fountain pen should look for an ink specifically formulated and filtered for that purpose rather than this dip pen and brush focused mica ink. Rinsing a nib or brush promptly after each session also helps keep settled mica from drying inside the slit or bristles and affecting the smoothness of the next dip.

A 60ml bottle built for bigger projects

At 60ml, this bottle holds noticeably more ink than many smaller specialty metallic inks sold in 15 to 30ml sizes, which matters for anyone lettering a large batch of wedding invitations, place cards or gift tags where a small bottle would run out partway through the job. The larger size also reduces how often a letterer needs to reorder mid-project, which is convenient when trying to match consistent shimmer and color across a large mailing rather than blending ink from two separate small bottles that may vary slightly once opened and used over several weeks.

Who should reach for this ink

This ink suits calligraphers and crafters working on invitations, envelopes or lettering projects that call for a genuine metallic gold finish, especially on dark paper where the shimmer needs to stand out. It rewards someone willing to stir periodically during use and to clean nibs and brushes promptly, since dried metallic ink can be trickier to fully remove than plain black ink. Anyone looking for a low-maintenance, always-ready ink, or planning to use a fountain pen, should choose a different formula, since this mica-based ink is built specifically for the dip pen and brush workflow. Keeping a small jar of water nearby for quick nib rinses between colors also makes longer lettering sessions with this ink much easier to manage.

Frequently asked questions