My Thoughts On A Waterman Hemisphere ...

[LWW]

First off, I hadn't had a WATERMAN pen in roughly 20 years. I lost that one and decided to finally pick up another one.

 

The model I selected was a WATERMAN HEMISPHERE black lacquer with gold trim and a fine point.

 

As far as fit and finish, it is a gem. The plating and lacquer work are superb. I'm not sure how well it all will hold up due to the price point, but the look and feel indicate that it will do fine over the long haul.

 

The nib is surprisingly small but writes quite well and functioned perfectly from the first line after putting in the supplied cartridge. I also ordered the converter but haven't installed it yet.

 

It doesn't write overly wet but is pretty smooth straight from the package.

 

For comparative purposes I am using my CROSS CENTURY II in lustrous chrome ... fanboys of each please stay calm.

 

In size the two are virtually identical with the WATERMAN seeming hust a hair heavier and with a balance point closer to center length. If you like a top heavy, when posted, pen the CROSS may be a better choice for you. If a better center balance is preferred then I suggest the HEMISPHERE. Either way the difference is slight indeed.

 

As to looks, they appear far more similar than I would have guessed, color taken iout of the mix of course. Both have a classic elegance which I like

 

On the nib, the HEMISPHERE writes pretty similar to how I remember the CENTURY III writing when new, but in fairness I've diddled with the CROSS nib to improve it and will do the same withe the HEMISPHERE nib. The WATERMAN Nib is a bit more attractive being gold plated versus the cold steel look of the CROSS nib.

 

On size they are both reasonable sized pens without being huge, but this is of course an issue of taste. I'm 5-11 and weigh in at 210# but have average sized hands at best for a male. Both suit me fine.

 

Overall they are both quite good pens at a nearly identical price.

 

If one were going to only have one, it would come down to looks really and that is always arbitrary. I did like the HEMISPHERE well enough that I ordered a matching rollerball.