I received my new Waterman Carene yesterday in a gorgeous blue colour (ultramarine blue, I believe). It just seems perfect in every single way: the colour looks so deep under bright light (and I didn't think I'd get away with anything other than black or silver), the nib is so smooth, the 'tail' lines up perfectly with the nib, the trim has such an elegant shine, and the overall design is so streamlined and sleek (like the nib!).

I know Ghost Plane likes to chirp up about Carenes a lot, and it's probably Ghost Plane's enthusiasm that pushed me over the edge. I'm happy with my new pen though!

I just need to buy a nice set of inks now. I have been looking at Diamine Umber and Diamine Emerald and Diamine Kelly Green... but I could do with at least one blue and a black, after I've chosen my green of course.

The Carene is a wonderful pen and I fell in love with it a long time ago, which is probably why I now have 5 of them!

I have just started using the Diamine brand of ink and find that it is delightful to use with a wide range of interesting colours. My favourite colour is Saddle Brown though I also enjoy using Diamine Umber and today I received my first bottle of Diamine Kelly Green - all nice colours. As far as blue ink, I think that Diamine Imperial Blue is a wonderful colour and I keep a bottle of that at work and at home.

I hope that you enjoy using your new Carene

I'm glad I contributed to your joy. Now you know why I purr every time I pick up a Carene.

On the topic of inks and Carene. I am looking at getting a new pen and the Carene has certainly caught my eye! I also like what I have read about the Noodler's Bullet Proof black and the Aurora Black. Has anyone had any issues with these inks and the Carene with a F nib?

This board has been quite a useful tool so far in my research for a new pen! I have an old Elysee right now which I am fond of, but want another pen now. The black Carene with silver is where I am leaning though I am also considering the Exception Night and Day (also black and silver).

Just got a Carene blue deluxe with a stub nib. It is a strikingly beautiful pen. Much nicer than the pictures. The tail of mine doesn't line up with the nib. Is it supposed to? I was wondering about that.

cantwell - You may find the nib creep with Noodler's to be a difficulty with the inlaid nib. Granted it wasn't an F nib, but my B nib bathed me in ink whenever I loaded it with Noodlers. Waterman, Herbin and PR inks proved better behaved. I'm sure the F nibbers will be along soon to give you accuracy for size.

zenshrink - Play with it a little. You might find it's either a matter of where you start it or whether you're overcranking it. Remember, that O-ring can "give" sufficient that you overtorque things, resulting in crooked tail. If you stop where it's lined up AND the body is stable with the nib, you're where you should be. Welcome to stub bliss!

Thanks, Ghost Plane. I have been reading through the Waterman forum a lot more this evening and have found the topic discussed concerning Carenes and Noodler's ink. There is a lot to dig through when you start reading! Most comments have agreed with what you have said. I had Herbin in my Elysee and it was very nice. I think I will order some of that when I get my new pen. Of the inks you mentioned which do you prefer?

I know in your other posts you mention that you stick with a B nib. Did you decide on this from trying different sizes? I am not sure what the nib size I have is so it is hard to compare though I do find it a little thick which is why I am leaning towards the F on the Carene.

I am torn between the Black/Silver and the Charcoal Grey Carene. It is damn hard to tell what they look like from photos online! Any comments?

Have you looked at the Waterman site?

http://waterman.com/en/style/pens/product/carene

My Black Sea with the gold trim looks just
like the picture on the site - high gloss
black.

I would imagine the Charcoal Grey would
be much the same as depicted there - dark
grey with a satin finish.

I'm biased since I have both I actually purchased the Charcoal Grey, then was gifted a Deluxe black and silver with a stub. I was afraid black and silver would be too ostentatiously traditional, whereas the grey is richly discrete. I prefer the matte surfaces given a choice, altho' I also have the sea green shimmer and amber shimmer just because they're so darn pretty.

I went to B nibs and then stubs after experimentation with the traditional F and M that was all I knew existed until I found this place. I write fast, I write a LOT and my handwriting requires serious ink flow. Bs and stubs are wet enough to keep up and make the slashes more legible. [I didn't say legible, I said MORE as opposed to less ]

For work projects where I absolutely, positively require no runs, drips or errors, I use Waterman ink. No one cares about fancy colors there, other than assuring the real estate closing is done in blue. Outside of that, it took a little experimentation to discover what colors of the Herbin and PR traveled best in my pens. Of the Herbin, Bresil has been the best behaved of the colors I've tried. Makes my writing look positively archival. In PR, be careful of Tanzanite and Blue Suede that run a bit wet and Shoreline Gold will bubble in your converter and run dry, much like it's Noodler's counterpart Apache Sunset. Arabian Rose is very well behaved in my pens. I still use Blue Suede in them, I'm just careful not to put it in a traveling pen that's literally being tossed into a briefcase or purse. Black Cherry also behaves well for me, as does Orange Crush.

Experiment and see what works in your nib and travelling conditions. When I go mobile, I pop out the converters and throw in Waterman cartridges in a little snack size baggie. Fast, cheap and ensures you don't get a handful of ink when you uncap at the other end.

I want a Garnet Red

After a long hiatus, I inked up my brown Carene with Visconti Sepia. I had forgotten how much I liked the way that pen wrote. I've also been getting quite a few compliments on its good looks. Too bad it's too heavy for me to use for extended writing sessions!

James

I looked at the nib of my Elysee today and I saw that it had an M on it so I am thinking that the F nib is the way to go. I am off to order my Charcoal Grey Carene now along with some J Herbin ink as I have had good experience with that so far. Thanks for the help!

I am looking for a nice deep black. The J. Herbin I used in the past I liked so I think I will go for some of that with the Carene. Have you used black in either the Herbin or Private Reserve? Is the Waterman black a deep back? Anyone else? Thanks!

Waterman's not that deep a black. Since I prefer color, I can't tell you about any of the blacks in the other brands. Sorry.

No worries! I ordered a Charcoal Grey F nib last night along with a bottle of Aurora Black, Private Reserve Black and Pelikan Black. I am just waiting on my confirmation now!

I got a call today from the folks at FPH and apparently the charcoal grey is being discontinued. They don't have any with the F nib in stock so they are going to see if they can order one. Perhaps it will be the black and silver after all!

Since the nib sections are all alike and black I don't see why they don't just change out a section and give you the nib you want on the pen you want!!! My Brick and Mortar store would do this!

They had no F nibs in stock at all as this is what they said they would have done. I am now just waiting for their next shipment to make it here. They have been great so far other than not having it in stock.

My favourite black is a 50/50 mix of Black Parker Quink and Pelikan Black. Though I heard Aurora makes a nice black ink.

Though for my Carenes only Waterman ink will do and I tend to stick with Florida Blue and Blue Black. My fav Carene is not a big lover of my black ink mix:)

Regards

Rowdy

(who only has 2 Carenes). I've just recently discovered them.

Wow, figures they'd discontinue the other color I'd like to have.

*bangs head on desk*

So figure I'd better get a gray one before I go through another incident like I did last month with a "new" (but not new) purple carene on ebay.

It should probably arrive next week sometime...

this place is bad for my checking account

(ps. thedailyplanner.com is having a waterman and parker sale with free shipping over $100, they have an amber shimmer medium on sale $120, no affiliation) (they did have a gray one listed, but it's gone now)

The Carene is the only modern Waterman that tempts me, especially the island colours. If anybody owns the Lagoon, I am curious whether you'd describe the colour as more of a pastel blue, pastel green, or turquoise? It looks different on different photos. Is it a loud or a subdued colour?

Oh, and where do you get them with stub nibs? I have not seen any of the online sellers offer that as an option.

You can grab stubs from Mr Lewertowski's site. I've never dealt with the factory as I discovered stubs long after mine ceased to be new.

Why they're not more widely offered, I'll never know.

Any chance you could do a writing comparison of the stub, broad and medium nibs? I have a medium at the moment, and I'm after another Carene (probably a lovely Islands version from Mr Lewertowski) but with a different nib.

My scanner is down at the moment, but if I can get one to work, I'll give it a go as I still have an M nib I keep in my Daytimer. Interim, the stub is very much like a crisp edged B, if you can imagine such a thing. It turned my scrawl into lovely Gothic looking lettering and I adore it. If your M is a little narrow for you, consider a stub or B. If it seems a tad generous, you might be leaning toward an F. If you're undecided, spring for the stub as there are plenty of us to take it off your hands if you decide you don't like it and they're harded to find than the B nibs [in my experience]. If you send your pens to nibmeisters for grinding tho', the B would be a better candidate for butchering, um, modifying later.

HEY GHOST PLANE!! I dare ya to look at the Carene!




http://cgi.ebay.com/WATERMAN-CARENE-PINK-G...idZp1638Q2em122

no really, I just want you to be happy

When I have the cash, JML will take care of me. He IS my Carene pusher.

Ghost Plane - the link she gave IS JML! Lovely Carene, but it's not your preferred B or Stub nib - "merely" a Fine.

I saw. What I meant is that I shall contact JML when the time comes.

===========

Oh girl, just arrange for direct deposit!

Hello All,

I've been reading through these posts about the Carene fountain pens, which I just love, and the prospect of purchasing new nibs for them.

Now, I don't know if this is true for all the Carene line, but I have the deluxe series in Prussian Blue & Green, and Amethyst bronze. I actually have a few that have broad nibs, two have medium and one has a fine nib. I tried to interchange my nibs between the Prussian Blue and Amethyst bronze - fine for broad - and found that the gold tip on the tail end of the pen did not line up with the center line of the nib. So, I tried to swap other nibs for different colored pen bodies. The same thing happened - the gold tail piece did not line up with the center line of the nib.

When I swapped nibs for pens with the same body color, I did not experience this problem. Now I'm only taking about 6 or 7 pens here, and the Deluxe variation of the model line. This struck me as unusual, so maybe I ran into an anomaly but I'd like to offer this as a word of caution.

Peace,

Phroneo

I have the Deluxe version of the rollerball and the fountain pen. There is a threaded sleeve at the end of the section that you adjust so that one can line up the tail piece to the nib. It takes a little time and trial and error to play around with the number of turns needed to line up the tail piece. Does your nib/section have the threaded sleeve?

Al

Hello Al,

I'm not certain that I'm following you here. I just pulled all of my Carene FPs and RBs and all of the section threaded brass 'tail' pieces are the same construction.

Going down the outside diameter there are the threads, then 2 rubber o-rings, and then it steps to a gold plated piece that is between the threads and the section body. It appears as if the threaded piece was fit into this unit.

This gold plated piece has one rectangular cutout at the 6:00 position, then there is a outward 'shelf' and then, up close to the section, there are what appears to be two tabs at the the 3:00 and 9:00 positions. No matter how hard I try I cannot get the threaded part to unscrew from the section. There has to be a way - after all, it was assembled.

Now if this is the unit you are describing to me that can be repositioned in order to permit a pen body to line up with the center line of the nib, I'd certainly be grateful if you would explain to us all how to release it.

If I can do this, I will be able to use my broad nib with my Prussian Blue Carene Deluxe, which is my favorite out of all of them.

Peace,

Phroneo

Phroneo
You will be able to use your broad nib with your Prussian Blue. Here's what you do:
- open the pen to access the converter; put the barrel section of the pen down
- on the section with the nib attached to the converter, find the small silver ring that covers the area where the converter meets the pen
note: if you hold the pen with the nib facing up, the threaded section is ABOVE the silver ring
- turn the silver ring counter clock-wise to loosen (note: it may be tight; you may need something to grip it - e.g., small pliers)
- once the ring is loosened, the threaded section above is free to rotate
- rotate the threaded section clock-wise or counter clock-wise (note: just a small turn - i.e., less than 1/4 turn)
- turn ring section clock-wise to tighten the threaded section back in place
- replace pen barrel and note where nib lines up relative to button section
- if still not aligned, repeat steps above until nib comes into line (note: you'll get the hang of turning the threaded section one way or the
other until the nib finally aligns)
- be patient - it'll take time but will be worth it when you get it completed

If these instructions do not make sense or if you are not able to follow them, please let me know and I will try to take photos.

Best of luck. Enjoy your pen.
Maine Vintner

Thank you for the clear, concise instructions, Maine Vintner.

I can get the small ring unscrewed,, which as you say, frees
the outside threaded ring above it to move but that ring isn't able
to be turned; I mean it is, but there on the underlying metal
tube (for lack of a better term) there is a notch into which
the second ring can only go one way.

Clear as mud?

Neither one of my Carenes lines up.

Thanks for the feedback on the notes. If you were able to loosen the small ring you are more than
half-way home. When you loosen the ring the threaded section should move; there isn't really any-
thing holding it in place other than the ring below it (which has been loosened). The thing to look
out for is it is hard to see the threaded ring move with the naked eye. It may be moving and you
might not perceive it. You can mark it with a Sharpie so you have a reference point.

Try it again and let me know if this still doesn't do the trick. The key to this is the threaded ring. It
should turn when the solid ring is loosened. If it does not, try taking the silver ring all the way off to
ensure it is not retightening against the threaded ring without your knowledge.

Hope this helps.

Maine Vintner

Huh.

I got the green shimmer fixed, thank you!

But the black?

No go.



That section labeled "notched tube" doesn't move-
doesn't turn, and I can't get the second ring to turn
because it can only go on over the notch.

I can tell you the threads feel sticky ... like old grease.

I wonder why the difference between the two... the green shimmer
"ring two" moved freely.

EDIT:

YEAH!

The black one is able to be fixed now. (I just have to have the patience to do it)

Couldn't figure out why I could move one ring on one pen and
not the other.

Had to have something to do with that notch and the ring
going over it.

Sure did.

Popped the "ring two" off, turned it over, and put it back
on and problem solved! The little piece of metal inside goes
over the notch and the ring is able to still turn.

Thanks so much!

I did the same thing with my misaligned Carene Deluxe Blue and it worked. Interesting that they put the ring on upside down!

Thanks for the help.

Thanks Con and Main Vintner, I just aligned my Carene and interestingly enough my ring was on upside down too.

One of the great quality control mysteries of the Carene solved!

Thanks to everyone who participated in helping to get our pens fixed. You are all a great group of people!

Alan

It's items like these that demonstrate why this is such a great site and community. Glad to be able to be
of some assistance. I don't know why they make such a great pen with this feature but they do. Really
opens up a world of nib and color combinations once you unlock the code, though.

Enjoy your great Carene's everyone!

I'm glad I could contribute.

Really glad my pens look all better!

My Charcoal Grey Carene is on its way from the US and has crossed the border. I am hoping that the barrel alignment that you guys have talked about won't be an issue, but its great to see the fix for it just incase! I am looking forward to it arriving though it looks like tracking might end once it crosses the border so I will just have to wait for it.

The information on this site helped make my decision on the pen and I am guessing it might be just the first of many! Given the problems a number of people mentioned concerning the Noodlers ink I decided against that, but I did order three other types of inks to give it a try.

Can't wait to read the nirvana post after you actually ink it and use it.

I now understand some of your enthusiasm for the Carene - I just got a royal blue (from Brauns pens) last Monday and it is quickly becomging my number two favorite (my Pelikan M 805 still holds first place in my heart <smile>). The Carene is an incredibly smooth, precise writer ... not quite as wet as the Pelikan ... so when I'm looking for a little less ink on the page .. the Carene is the one I go to! Love the balance, the feel, and the 'substantial' feel of the pen. All your glowing reports of the Carene helped tip my decision to buy one. I'm very happy I did ... the only problem is that now I already one a red (garnet) one .. a charcoal one ... a black sea one ... a stub nib .... LOL

Congrats, Reid. I only want my fellow pen lovers to be as happy as I am. Be forewarned, the stub makes this B nib lover happy, so if you're looking for a finer nib, skip the stub.
["More for me, more for me," she chortled.]

Congratulation Reid. I am anxiously awaiting mine to show up. I couldn't help but notice you are from Nova Scotia and also ordered from the US. I am in Newfoundland and I didn't have much luck finding a good price on the Carene in Canada. I am curious to see what sort of customs/duties there on when it arrives. I ordered mine from the Fountain Pen Hospital in NY.

That's a good, reliable place to buy. I'm waiting in reverse. Have a Visconti coming in from B.C.

Hi there in Nfld ....
I hope you are enjoying the same heat wave we are here in NS!

My pen came with no taxes or any other costs added. I have found that when pens come by Express (USPS) they often seem to sail through the customs without GST being charged on them ... even got my M805 (Nearly $300) with no Cdn tax added.


Hope you enjoy your new pen. I couldn't find a deal in Canada anywhere near the one from Oscar Braun Pens ($99).