Initial Impression: 10/10
This pen is the bluest blue I have ever encountered... Until you see it in person, you really cant describe it. My wife, who is not into fountain pens, was amazed by this, and after years of collecting, there have only been a few she has been like that with Its one of those pens that you cant stop staring at.











Look/Finish/Hardware: 10/10
The Guilloche is very impressive! Then with the plated Platinum, it makes this pen a joy to look at. The only thing I would change about the finish is, would be to change it to Sterling silver to keep down the weight. More and more these days I am steering away from heavier pens. I like them, but for everyday use, I am finding that I dont carry them as much. I think one reason is because I like to keep my pens in my top pocket... This is not one of those pens, unless I decide to use 5 cans of starch that day!












Feel/Balance: 5/10
The feel is fantastic, but I am a pen posted kind of guy... Dont get me wrong, you can post this pen, but its ridiculously heavy when you do! You really cant write a long time with it posted. When writing with it un posted its perfect, but not quite long enough for me. Plus, I do things like grab a clip board and take notes or check items in... Where do put the cap? This is why for me it got a 5 out of 10. Now if you dont like posting your pens then this should be 9 for you, because its quite balanced when its not posted...











Filling System 9/10 Nib: 10/10
The nib is fantastic, its a medium and has a little modern flex, enough for me to enjoy, but not too much for to have to concentrate while writing.
Piston filler, and it holds a good amount of ink, only thing I would like is to have an ink window to see if I need more ink...
















Price/Value: Retail Price 10/10 Price I paid 9/10
I got a what I feel is a good deal on this pen, although if I bought it for more than its original retail price. Unlike some Montblancs, I feel I got what I paid for, the The Guilloche is amazing, the nib is fantastic and it one of the few pens out there that have this kind of design. If you compare this to some David Oscersons, or Michel Perchins, I think the value goes up much more...















Overall: 9/10
Generally speaking, I feel pens should be for writing and good looks evenly... With this pen even if it wrote horribly, which it does not it would still get high marks as the pen is almost mesmerizing...

Nice review. Thanks.

Thanks for a great review. I like the many pictures showing some of the details that make this pen. I never thought of comparing it to say a David Oscarson or Michel Perchin, but there are some comparable elements. They are all metal or mostly metal pens, have good attention to detail, have great finishing of the nibs, and are somewhat limited in production, although the MB with so many copies begins to challenge the notion of it being a limited edition. Where they differ: J. Verne is a piston filler, is not of sterling silver, has a plastic section which some feel is better than the smooth silver sections of the Oscarson and Perchin, and subjectively, is of an inspired design that shows in the many details that try to connect the namesake to the pen, e.g., hardhat helmet porthole at the cap top, the deep blue of the enamelling over guilloche evoking one's gaze into the deep ocean, and overall heavy weight and feel of the pen similar to the diving suits inspired by the Jules Verne novels. The Oscarson and Perchin pens are magnificent designs in their own right, but very, very different in execution. I am certain that someone who is familiar with Faberge eggs would be able to itemize all the design similarities as well.

Best Regards

Nice review. The pen is truly beautiful.

Very nice pen. Great review and pictures, too!

Wow it is stunningly beautiful

Thank you for sharing this with us. The picture of the blue guilloche are breath taking and I guess that it is even more impressive in the flesh.

What a sweet pen.
As usualy stunning pictures and I love reading your reviews Bryan.
Enjoy the pen

Thanks everyone! Its easy to do reviews on nice pens!
Bryant

Ha, you're like the Edward Bernays of the fountain pen world. Every time I read one of your reviews, I end up adding a new pen to the wish list.

One of my favorite writers editions.



Cheers,
Sean

a pen with character, with a nice design and great nib.

For me, this has nicer styling than many of the MB LEs. A little bit understated. Nice to see. The blue and silver look very good together.

Great review Bryant. Best themed FP in the WE series in my opinion - so many features that create the link to Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. You are right on the money regarding the balance if you are used to posting your pens. I don't, so I find the balance more than acceptable.

Mark.

Thanks Mark, I think its the best themed as well... I wish I didn't like to post my pens... I would get along with so many other great pens!