— Lettering
Lettering Tattoo Zurich — words that stay on skin.
Sinkply draws lettering tattoos in the fine line style — script, italic, gothic, your own handwriting and bespoke calligraphy. Multilingual quotes, from a single word to a full sentence. From CHF 150. Founded by Aroa, Staffelstrasse 8.
Lettering as a discipline of its own
Lettering isn't just writing on skin. It's a discipline with its own rules — letter spacing, line weight, slant, rhythm. The wrong style turns a quote into decoration; the right one lets the words speak, for decades.
At Sinkply we've worked with lettering daily since 2019. Every word is sketched on paper, not pulled from a font file. That's the difference between a tattoo that looks printed and one that looks like someone drew it for you.
The three main styles
Every text has a style that fits it. An Italian quote reads differently in script than in gothic — and differently again in block-serif.
Script — flowing, feminine, intimate
Cursive, connected, often with soft flourishes. The most chosen style for names, short phrases and personal quotes. Fits inner forearm, collarbone, ribs and bikini line.
Italic — cursive with structure
Slanted but not connected. Clearer than script, softer than block. A good choice for longer sentences where each line must stay readable. Works on upper arm, back and thigh.
Gothic — blackletter, bold
The dramatic choice. Heavier in feel, even when executed in fine line. Fits statements, single words and large-format compositions on back or chest.
Block-serif — the statement
Straight, unadorned, classic. The style for short, powerful words — "Be here now", "Love yourz", "546". Reads like typography from a book.
Own handwriting vs. bespoke calligraphy
Two paths lead to a lettering that no one else carries — and both live at Sinkply.
— Path 01
Your own handwriting
Send us a photo of handwriting — your own, your mother's, your grandmother's. We digitise it, clean the line and adapt it to the technique without losing the character.
Ideal for signatures, "I love you" notes, letters.
— Path 02
Bespoke calligraphy
We draw an alphabet by hand, specifically for your word or phrase. You get a lettering that doesn't exist digitally — no font, no download, only your version.
Ideal for long quotes, mantras, lyrics.
Multilingual quotes — handled with care
Aroa speaks Spanish and German, and the team works regularly with quotes in Portuguese, Italian, French and English. Every character counts — a missing accent over an "á" can change the meaning.
Our process for foreign-language texts:
- 01 You send the text in the original language, ideally with source (song, poem, author).
- 02 We verify spelling and all special characters — accents, circumflex, tilde, umlauts.
- 03 You receive the draft to confirm. Only after your approval do we tattoo.
Examples from our portfolio: "A mi manera", "A minha terra", "Carpe Diem", "Heaven on Earth", "Love yourz", "Be here now".
Price ladder — lettering
One word · up to 5 letters
Name, short word, single date. 30 — 45 minutes.
Short phrase · 2 — 4 words
"Carpe diem", "Be here now". 45 — 75 minutes.
Full sentence · 5 — 10 words
Quote, lyric, personal mantra. 60 — 120 minutes.
Bespoke calligraphy · custom alphabet
An alphabet drawn for you. 48 h design time before the session.
Lettering + motif · composition
Script with stars, flowers, lines — see "A Mi Manera".
All prices include consultation, design, Second-Skin patch and free touch-ups. Longer pieces and custom alphabets are drawn 48 h before the session.
The 48-hour design process
For bespoke calligraphy and longer sentences, we work in a two-step process. This guarantees the lettering fits you — not just the font that looked nice that day.
- 01 Consultation via WhatsApp: text, style preference, body area, references.
- 02 We draw the draft — often two or three variants to choose from.
- 03 You confirm or request adjustments. One revision round is included.
- 04 Session day: final transfer to skin, last placement check, size control.
- 05 We tattoo. Second-Skin patch applied, aftercare guide to take home.
Tip: try your lettering on a photo of your own skin in our tattoo simulator before the session.
Best body areas for lettering
Lettering lives on legibility. The body area must carry the direction of the text — forearm horizontal, collarbone angled, ribs vertical.
✓ Ideal
- · Forearm (inner & outer)
- · Collarbone
- · Ribs (vertical)
- · Outer upper arm
- · Back (shoulder blade)
- · Bikini line
⚠ Use caution
- · Fingers (skin renews fast)
- · Palm (fades)
- · Foot (lots of movement)
- · Elbow (folded skin)
Gallery — lettering work
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lettering tattoo cost in Zurich?
A lettering tattoo at Sinkply starts at CHF 150 for a short word. A full sentence in bespoke calligraphy usually lands between CHF 250 and CHF 450 — depending on length, style and body area.
Can I tattoo my own handwriting?
Yes. Send us a high-resolution photo of your handwriting (or a loved one's). We digitise it, clean the line and adapt it to the tattoo technique — without losing the character of the original.
Which lettering styles are available?
We work with three main families: Script (cursive, flowing, feminine), Italic (cursive with firm structure) and Gothic (blackletter, bold). Plus Block-Serif for statements and Bespoke Calligraphy — an alphabet drawn specifically for you.
Can I tattoo a quote in Spanish, Portuguese or Italian?
Yes. Aroa speaks Spanish and German, and the team regularly works with multilingual quotes. We carefully verify spelling before tattooing — accents, umlauts and special characters are reproduced exactly.
How long does a lettering tattoo take?
A short word is tattooed in 30 — 45 minutes. A full sentence on the forearm takes 60 — 120 minutes. Bespoke calligraphy requires 48 hours of lead time for the custom design.
Do lettering tattoos blur over time?
Fine line lettering may widen minimally over decades because skin is a living organ. That's why we choose letter sizes and line weights that remain legible in 20 years. Free touch-ups are included.
Studio & Location
Our studio is at Staffelstrasse 8, 8045 Zürich. Open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 — 18:30. Free parking available.
— See also
Ready for your lettering tattoo?
Send us your text via WhatsApp — we'll reply with style suggestions and price.
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