I picked up an interesting 52 recently that has two gold rings on the barrel. This isn't your typical gold bands, but actually more like rings. They are both double hallmarked (14k? 9k?), although I cannot read the hallmarks very well (one is almost triangle shaped with the letters "CAP" inside). The lever appears to be gold fill, but here's where I think it's not 100% correct. The cap has the standard nickel (?) clip, not even gold filled. It seems funny to me that if someone where to purchase a pen with gold bands, that they'd want it to have a gold fill clip at least.

Sorry, don't really have a camera to take a picture, but can certainly provide more information if necessary.

Thanks!
Brian

My guess is that either the rings were applied after the pen was purchased or the pen and the cap didn't leave Newark together. I'd have to see a picture to have a sense of whether the rings are Waterman's or not.

'Twas cool to see you at DC.

The cap is probably not original, or the clip was likely a later addition. The bands you describe sound like typical French-market trim. If so, they would bear French 18K hallmarks (always very small!). The GF lever box would be correct. If you pull the nib, you might well find that it too is 18K, bearing the same tiny but deeply impressed French hallmarks on the heel, hidden under the section.

Same here Richard. Glad to see you got that case and the twist filler.

If I can get a some pictures taken, I'll post the 52, but I am starting to lean towards the cap not being correct.

Thanks (and David too)!
Brian