Waterman Gentleman First Edition

[sirksael]

First Impressions (7/10)

Let me start off by saying I am not a big fan of all-gold fountain pens. Still, this pen caught my eye on a local ad website as a good deal, being offered for a very friendly price. I recognised it as a Waterman, but the actual model name was unknown to me at that point. I made an offer and forgot all about it, until I received a mail a few days later stating that my offer was accepted.

So, fully intending to sell the pen on for a little profit, I rang the doorbel of the address that had been given to me.

And that is where things went south... A very nice and very old lady welcomed me in, offered me coffee, showed me the pen, and started telling me the story of this pen. How it had belonged to her recently departed husband, how he had been dreaming of a gold pen all his life, how he had cherished this pen once she offered it to him as a gift, and how she now wanted to sell it to someone else as her hands were too rheumatic to use it herself, her children weren’t interested at all, and she wanted someone to enjoy it as he did.

Needless to say my plans to sell the pen on were cancelled by that time.

 

http://www.krislaes.net/FPN/Gentleman1st/Waterman%20gentleman%20first%20edition%201-1280.jpg

Yes, I know it's not a Lamy, but that's the only pen stand I have

 

http://www.krislaes.net/FPN/Gentleman1st/Waterman%20gentleman%20first%20edition%202-1280.jpg

 

http://www.krislaes.net/FPN/Gentleman1st/Waterman%20gentleman%20first%20edition%203-1280.jpg

 

Appearance (8/10)

The pen looks very well finished. The spring-loaded clip spans the top of the cap, allowing you to lift the clip grabbing the clip between thumb and index finger, without actually sticking a finger under it.

The whole pen is gold, and as I don’t like gold pens I don’t have any expertise on them. I know for sure it isn’t solid gold of course, but I am unsure if it is rolled gold, gold filled, gold plated,... It seems to be a pretty thick layer of gold at least, as there is a marking “plaqué or” stamped into it.

The section is black plastic, and doesn’t look like anything special.

The nib says “Waterman Super 6 18 carats”, and looks a lot like the “Idéal” nib on my Man100.

 

http://www.krislaes.net/FPN/Gentleman1st/Waterman%20gentleman%20first%20edition%20clip%20back-1280.jpg

 

http://www.krislaes.net/FPN/Gentleman1st/Waterman%20gentleman%20first%20edition%20barrel-1280.jpg

 

http://www.krislaes.net/FPN/Gentleman1st/Waterman%20gentleman%20first%20edition%20cap%201-1280.jpg

 

http://www.krislaes.net/FPN/Gentleman1st/Waterman%20gentleman%20first%20edition%20cap%202-1280.jpg

 

 

Design/Size/Weight (8/10)

The pen is pretty heavy, being well balanced without being posted. I would never post a pen like this one anyway, being afraid to damage the finishing.

In terms of size it is about as large as a Man 100, a large pen by any definition.

 

The cap clicks into place, and seems solid when the pen is closed.

 

On the pen you can find the following markings:

On the Cap: Waterman - Made in France - Plaque OR G (or 6?) and a stamp which reads “plaqué or”.

On the barrel: a stamp which reads “plaqué or”.

 

A zoom in on the text on the cap reveals the gold layer to be pretty thick, as the text is clearly engraved.(see picture)

 

http://www.krislaes.net/FPN/Gentleman1st/Waterman%20gentleman%20first%20edition%20cap%201%20zoom.jpg

 

 

Nib (10/10)

I cannot detect any difference in writing quality between this nib and the nob on my Man 100. It lays down a perfect juicy line, has just enough flex to allow a little line variation, it allows you to write a finer line by reversing the pen as if it was specifically made for that; this pen writes as smooth reversed as it does in normal orientation.

To me, this nib is perfection, and just as good as the Man 100.

 

http://www.krislaes.net/FPN/Gentleman1st/Waterman%20gentleman%20first%20edition%20nib-1280.jpg

 

http://www.krislaes.net/FPN/Gentleman1st/Waterman%20gentleman%20first%20edition%20feed-1280.jpg

 

 

 

Filling System (6/10)

Standard Waterman Cartridge filler, nothing much to be said here. A modern waterman converter fits pretty well, and has been sitting in the pen for 3 weeks now withut any leaks. Before that I had a long waterman cartridge in there, no issues either.

I only wish a pen of this standing was a piston filler. I have nothing against cartridge fillers, not even in expensive pens, but for some reason it seems a pen like this one deserves a piston filler...

 

http://www.krislaes.net/FPN/Gentleman1st/IMG_1053-1280.jpg

A writing sample in my abysimal hand writing...

 

Cost and Value

I cannot quote this, as I have no idea what the original price was. It seems to be of equal value as a Man 100 to me, and I would probably pay the same price (but not for a golden one )

 

Conclusion (8/10)

Perfect nib, not so perfect looks but that is subjective. A very very high quality pen. A perfect alternative to a Man100 if you can find one, I don’t see these popping up very often...

Edited March 4, 2013 by sirksael

[lovemy51]

i had never seen this model before. i'm glad you are keeping it. congrats!

[steb]

Also not familiar with this model. The clip attachments are quite striking.

[buntoro]

Congratulations! You have what I consider a really unique Waterman. A first generation Gentleman. I have the same pen and found that it is indeed unique in its design esp its clip. They are great writers! I rarely see one on sale therefore I think they would rank as being quite valuable. I also have another one in gold - the Waterman Man 21 which is commonly known as the Concorde model - with an oblique broad nib. ;-) They are great writers as well. The gold finish is similar to the 1st gen Gentleman but the nib is different and the clip is similar to the rest of the Watermans. I would be interested to know of how this Gentleman got its clip and the Super Six nib.

[Montblanc owner and lover]

nice pen...do you know it's age?

[notVirtuThe3rd]

Looks really gorgeous!

Thanks for sharing this.

[TassoBarbasso]

lovely pen!

 

the French text means "gold plated" and it should indicate 6 carats.

[sirksael]

I've found a thread with some more info on the pen on FPN here. This will probably answer your questions.

[notVirtuThe3rd]

I've found a thread with some more info on the pen on FPN here. This will probably answer your questions.

 

Thanks for the link! :-)

[rochester21]

Good review !

[buntoro]

I've found a thread with some more info on the pen on FPN here. This will probably answer your questions.

 

Thank you!

 

I am also buying too many fountain pens. ;-)

[dboulonnais]

AH, you find my old post with all Gentleman/ Man

OR G : the G is for galvanization this is the mode choose for plated pen with gold

The Super 6 nib is like the Man 100 nib and this Super6 fit perfectly on MAn 100, I have one with a Super 6 nib, flex nib

You can find Super 6 nib too on Waterman Strong : if some have interest for Super 6 nib, I still have some for sale, make me a mp

[wspohn]

Interesting and attractive pen. The articulated spring mounted clip was something that they were into at the time - the same thing as also used on the Directeur General, which had an interesting nib based on the CF.

 

http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac81/wspohn/Pens/KGrHqQOKj4E6dUbyjBOtvhQb5tw60_23_zps8d8f27fd.jpg

 

http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac81/wspohn/Pens/KGrHqMOKpoE6WtzOGFfBOtvjB2qkw60_3_zps50eb2879.jpg

[georges zaslavsky]

The pen you have is a Man from the 70's but definitely not a gentleman, it was the precursor of the man 100. The nib is excellent and is every bit good as the first and second generation man 100 nibs.

[bhorne1954]

If I'm not mistaken, this is the pen used to make the Golden Gun, in the 1974 James Bond movie "The Man With The Golden Gun!Rare and expensive!

Waterman Gentleman old style!

Edited January 23, 2017 by bhorne1954