I'm new to the forum and have enjoyed all of the advice.

I'm wanting to buy a new fountain pen. I own a Waterman Expert ruby lacquer and have enjoyed it. But I bought it as a replacement for a Pelikan Sourveran 400 I purchased in Germany that was eventually stolen or lost at a conference. I didn't have the money to replace the Pelikan. Having owned and used a Waterman Lauret (sp?) prior to the Pelikan, I went back to Waterman and opted for the relatively reasonably priced Expert as a replacement. Now, I'd like to make my next FP purchase.

I had my focus on a Carene, but when I went to the pen store the other day I saw the Exception. It's a beautiful pen and now I'm leaning toward it over the Carene. It's pushing my budget, though, but I probably could swing the slim Exception.

What are your thoughts on what to buy next? I know it comes down to personal preference, but I'm wondering if the Exception is worth it, or whether I should go with a Carene. I like the black Exception with silver trim and would want a broad nib. If I can't get the Night & Day, should I not even bother with the slim? Additionally, I know this is the Waterman forum, but does anybody think I might should branch out to a different brand if I were to spend what I'd spend on an Exception? I thought about getting a Pelikan again, but honestly I think my Waterman Expert writes more smoothly than the Pelikan I originally had. Oh, also, I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and am only aware of Paradise Pen in the Galleria as the place to see the pens in person. Anybody familiar with any other store in DFW that would have a selection? I bought the Expert at Penwright, but I understand they're no longer in business.

I'd appreciate anybody's input and look forward to future postings.

Thanks,

Will H.

Yay! Another B lover.

Think strongly about the dimensions of the pen. Do you lean toward slim pens or will you really need the fatter girth of the full size Exception or Carene for writing marathons? Be aware of the sensory inputs you prefer and don't settle or you'll end up selling and buying until you end up with what you really wanted to begin with.

Depending on the prices quoted, have a look at the Yard O Led Grands and Standards [Pam Braun does good prices]. Silver, juicy B nibs, heavy for their size, but just about indestructible and they honor their warranties.

For similar luscious nibs I've gone to Viscontis [oh help, I'm up to 9 now!], Krones [piston fillers] and Deltas. All their B nibs are to die for.

My 5 Carenes are my workhorses away from the office/house and take incredible abuse while looking good, my YOLs are my perfect pens and never leave my desk, the others go through rotation as the mood strikes me.

If you watch the auctions carefully on fleaBay, you can get a Carene at a very good price. The Islands series (Lagoon and Sand) have rhodium plated fixtures.

You might also look for a good used Sheaffer Imperial or Legacy in broad as they are usually quite smooth and very wet.

--Roy

You may want to catch a meeting of the local pen club and see what someone there may have. I am a fan of vintage stuff as I won't afford a high-end modern pen.

Ron

Thanks for the feedback! I welcome more. I said I wanted a "broad" nib. I was thinking "broad," but I really meant "medium" because that's what I"ve always used. I may indeed want a broad, though. It's just that I've never had the opportunity to try a broad nib out. I definitely don't want fine, and I rather have a wetter nib than drier.

Is there a local pen club in Fort Worth?

Thanks, again.

Will H.

I second the Visconti suggestion. Also, depending on what your budget is, consider an Aurora (Ipsilon, 88, or Optima), a Conway Stewart 100, or, if you have nothing against Montblanc, a MB Meisterstuck 146. Those are all very juicy writers that (to me) seem like natural possibilities if you want to go beyond the Waterman Expert, but remain in the same vein.

QM2

You seem to know what kind of nibs you like. After that, the major issues are (1) weight, (2) girth, and (3) appearance.

I, too, started with an Expert II, and I loved it. My next pen was a Pelikan M800, slightly larger and slightly lighter. I loved it, too. My third pen was a Dupont Orpheo, larger and heavier than either of the preceding pens, and I liked it as well.

The Carene is a nice pen, but I need to warn you that the inlaid nib behaves very differently from the regular nib on the Expert II. Be sure to take it for a test drive before you buy. The Exception, on the other hand, is more like the Expert II.

How different and in what way Charlie, do the Carene and Expert perform in your opinion?
I've tried the Carene and am seriously considering it as my flagship to complement my Phileas. An Expert could be a nice mid ranger in the fleet.

Expert II writing and the exception writing are very similar. The exception is definitely heavy and more modern looking. Carene will have the similar weight of the expert ( a little bit heavier than expert). Personally for the extra money, exception is a good buy. But if you like the way inlaid nib writes, then you will love carene. People who hold their pens all the way down, usually like inlaid nibs. My brother loves inlaid nibs and thinks they are the best. But me, I love them nibs to be big and nice.

-Ralph

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