As several of you may know, I am a devotee of Waterman's Hundred Year Pen. I'm not sure I can call myself a collector at the moment as I only have two of them, but I am constantly on the hunt for good examples of the model.

A tangential interest of mine is pens that were patterened after the HYP. The Waterman Charleston is an obvious example.

Several years ago, Bexley also made a pen that was influenced by the Waterman HYP, called the Gemstone. Being a Bexley dealer, one might think it'd be a simple matter of me picking up the phone and asking for one. Well, I tried that and no luck. Bexley has none. Nada. Zilch. No one else had them either.

The bug finally became too much and I'd been scouring the 'net for some time when I finally discovered one - a new old stock Gemstone in Ruby Red. It was the only one this dealer had in stock so I quickly snatched it up. It arrived today. It's a beauty and I am STOKED!!

The only drawback is that it's a rollerball instead of a fountain pen. But I have a plan. Sssshhh. Can't tell yet.

Anyway, no one in my office today understood why I was giggling like a school girl when the mail came, so I just had to share it with you folks.

If I can figure out how to get an image of the pen online, I'll post one ASAP.

James P.

I can almost hear the giggling through the 'net James! Congrats and keep us updated with your evile genius mad scientist plans for that rollerball.

You could always just call/email Howard at Bexley and ask him if they have any section/nib assemblies that would fit that pen...then you'd have a convertible.

Skip

Hey No Fair!! Who told you my secret plan? Someone must be shot!

Howard's out today - he said he'll check on Monday and let me know if he finds anything.

If not, there's always Double-Secret Plan B :ph34r:

James P.

Hey Jimmy. I hoid about da leek inna system and Luigi an da boys are ready to go get that Williams guy for ya. Jus lemee know when...OK?

It's Here! It's Here! It's Here! (Visualize a very excited lad jumping up and down with joy and excitement!)

A few weeks ago, I managed to locate a NOS Bexley Gemstone, a long since discontinued pen that Howard Levy designed in honor of Waterman's Hundred Year Pen. The only rub was that the pen I found was a rollerball. Not perfect, but still - pretty darn good.

Well, I spoke to Howard shortly after I got the pen and he asked me to send it to him to see if he could retrofit it into a fountain pen for me. Guess what? It can and he did and it is!

Howard managed to find an old Gemstone section and 14K Bexley nib (he now uses 18K nibs exclusively) so it's even "correct."

It just arrived and I've been staring at it constantly ever since. How am I ever going to get any work done?

I can't wait to ink it up and write with it.

Woooooooooo Hooooooooo......

DANG!

I want one too ....

James - arent you supposed to be working 60 hours a day preparing for the trial, and also preparing for the class you teach?
And here I see you making double secret plans to convert your Bexley from rollerball to fountainpen. And I thought I was your friend. Sob!!
NOT!!!!!

I sure am glad that you were able to find a pen you wanted.
BTW, I traded the green striped Pelikan M800 FP for a black M1000 FP.
-Sid

That is the best looking modern pen I have seen. A very tasteful and balanced design.