With all the customary apologies, I submit to the more experienced for an understanding of what sets the Expert II apart from the original. Thanks!

I own several Expert IIs, and I've only laid eyes on an Expert once, so I'm not an expert (pun intended) on the differences.... but here's what I think:

-- the Expert II appears to me to be slightly smaller than the Expert

-- the Expert II comes in more finishes than the Expert, especially if you count the Expert 2000 and the Expert Dune as variants of the Expert II. The Expert came in black with gold trim and, perhaps, one or two other finishes. I've only seen the black.

I believe both pens have steel nibs and c/c filling systems. I know for sure that the Expert II does.

Anyone else out there with better information?

Well, I'm a bit rusty, but I think the original Experts' bodies weren't made from metal, but rather from some kind of plastic. The Expert IIs' are made from metal... That I know for sure, since I own two.

===

Also, the originals came only in solid colours: black, green, dark blue, and burgundy.
When W'man went to the lacquered brass models, the Expert kept getting new make-up every few years, almost like the old Laureate.

I had thought the difference was in colors only - Experts being solid colors and Expert II's being marbled. But I have never actually held an Expert in my hand, so they might easily have been made of plastic.