New To Waterman

[SunnyShoes72]

I have been looking at Waterman lately and I have read a lot of reviews about great pens like the Carene and Edson. But the pens aren't really attracting to me, especially the nib (maybe there's something wrong with me) Does any of you have any good suggestions for any Waterman pens for a good bargain?

 

Edit: I have looked up some waterman pens and the Waterman Charleston and Hemisphere seems really appealing any experience on them?

Edited April 5, 2018 by SunnyShoes72

[senzen]

The one that always appeals to me purely on aesthetics is the Expert, and it can be found at reasonable prices, there's also the Phileas and its plastic brother the Kultur. I have a Le Man 100, very nice but not usually a bargain. I had to give up on a Laureat which kept leaking inside the cap.

 

I really like the Carènes design but it's definitely a "step above" pen, I think the Edson was the top of the line.

[pajaro]

Laureat is brass with lacquer over it. Often pretty. Phileas feels good in the hand. I find a wetter ink helps prevent drying up.

[ian1964]

+1 for the Expert. Personally, I hunt out the Mk1 which has to my mind an interesting nib and some great colours. They can also be picked up at great prices from time to time.

[escribo]

The Phileas is really a nice smooth writer. Use a dry ink in it if all you can find is a M nib. I put an F nib from a Kultur in mine, but it's not as aesthetically pleasing as the Phil's nib.

 

For fun keep an eye out on ebay or whatever for an old early 20th century Waterman like a 52 or a 52V with a 14K wet noodle nib.

[derschreibendeanwalt]

Sorry you don't like the Carene. It's a terrific pen. I've heard good things about the Expert. Years ago I bought a Le Man. It was used and the nib was in terrible shape. Richard Binder's wizardry made it one of my favorites. I recently bought an Exception. Wonderful pen but the nib needed adjusting, it was skipping badly. I generally find Waterman's pens to be very well made and think you'd be happy with any one of them.

[Chrissy]

Some Waterman pens are thinner than others. Lower priced Waterman pens come with steel nibs as standard.

 

The Edson and Carene are the top two pens in the range with 18ct gold nibs.

 

The Hemisphere is among the thinner pens and comes in many colours. It has a steel nib. Nice marbled ones can come up cheaper on ebay sometimes, or you'll find brand new Hemis on Amazon for good prices.

 

The Expert is a bit fatter, and comes with a steel nib. The mark 1 Expert with the nib that has a large breather hole is known to suffer from nib corrosion problems, so if I was buying one I wouldn't get a mark 1 version. Later versions have regular breather holes.

 

The Charleston is more expensive and comes with an 18ct nib as standard. It's a little bit fatter than the Hemisphere, and comes up on ebay too.

 

Phileas and Kulturs come with steel nibs and can usually only be found on ebay these days. Maybe a Kultur will come up on Amazon too.

 

Out of all of these pens, the only one with a screw cap is the Charleston.

 

Many Waterman's with slip on caps can have a tendency to dry out their ink fills because of the fact that the cap is a slip on version. So they can't be left with ink in them for long periods.

[Left FPN]

Earlier versions of the Expert, Hemisphere and Phili/Kultur have mild steel nibs which do suffer from corrosion.

The current Expert and Hemisphere have stainless steel nibs.

[Chrissy]

Earlier versions of the Expert, Hemisphere and Phili/Kultur have mild steel nibs which do suffer from corrosion.

The current Expert and Hemisphere have stainless steel nibs.

 

That's good to know. You often can't tell from one picture.

 

My Hemispheres both have gold Preface nibs anyhow. It's easier to get really good bodies cheaper as Hemis, then do the swap from a poor condition Preface.

[SunnyShoes72]

Some Waterman pens are thinner than others. Lower priced Waterman pens come with steel nibs as standard.

 

The Edson and Carene are the top two pens in the range with 18ct gold nibs.

 

The Hemisphere is among the thinner pens and comes in many colours. It has a steel nib. Nice marbled ones can come up cheaper on ebay sometimes, or you'll find brand new Hemis on Amazon for good prices.

 

The Expert is a bit fatter, and comes with a steel nib. The mark 1 Expert with the nib that has a large breather hole is known to suffer from nib corrosion problems, so if I was buying one I wouldn't get a mark 1 version. Later versions have regular breather holes.

 

The Charleston is more expensive and comes with an 18ct nib as standard. It's a little bit fatter than the Hemisphere, and comes up on ebay too.

 

Phileas and Kulturs come with steel nibs and can usually only be found on ebay these days. Maybe a Kultur will come up on Amazon too.

 

Out of all of these pens, the only one with a screw cap is the Charleston.

 

Many Waterman's with slip on caps can have a tendency to dry out their ink fills because of the fact that the cap is a slip on version. So they can't be left with ink in them for long periods.

I'm a student so a 18ct gold nib might not be so good....I was looking at Amazon and saw an Expert Deluxe blue that cost $81.31 for a fine nib and 95.72 for a medium nib. Is that a good bargain? And if yes should I stick with a fine nib or go for the medium since I have heard that the Waterman nibs are slightly wider than the typical european nibs.

[SunnyShoes72]

Laureat is brass with lacquer over it. Often pretty. Phileas feels good in the hand. I find a wetter ink helps prevent drying up.

the Laureat seems quite nice but the slightly weird looking gripping section?

[SunnyShoes72]

Earlier versions of the Expert, Hemisphere and Phili/Kultur have mild steel nibs which do suffer from corrosion.

The current Expert and Hemisphere have stainless steel nibs.

what's corrosion? Btw nice cat

[SunnyShoes72]

Some Waterman pens are thinner than others. Lower priced Waterman pens come with steel nibs as standard.

 

The Edson and Carene are the top two pens in the range with 18ct gold nibs.

 

The Hemisphere is among the thinner pens and comes in many colours. It has a steel nib. Nice marbled ones can come up cheaper on ebay sometimes, or you'll find brand new Hemis on Amazon for good prices.

 

The Expert is a bit fatter, and comes with a steel nib. The mark 1 Expert with the nib that has a large breather hole is known to suffer from nib corrosion problems, so if I was buying one I wouldn't get a mark 1 version. Later versions have regular breather holes.

 

The Charleston is more expensive and comes with an 18ct nib as standard. It's a little bit fatter than the Hemisphere, and comes up on ebay too.

 

Phileas and Kulturs come with steel nibs and can usually only be found on ebay these days. Maybe a Kultur will come up on Amazon too.

 

Out of all of these pens, the only one with a screw cap is the Charleston.

 

Many Waterman's with slip on caps can have a tendency to dry out their ink fills because of the fact that the cap is a slip on version. So they can't be left with ink in them for long periods.

I have pretty few pens comparing to most of you. And I have a Cross Century ii that is pretty darn thin so the thinness of the pen won't really be a problem and I most likely won't be leaving the pen unused for pretty much most of the time. As sort of a beginner, what sort of ink is most suitable for the Waterman nibs as I only have a bottle of Parker Blue quink, Parker Blue Black quink and Pilot black. I very rarely use the Pilot black as I prefer blue and I find the quink to be very wet. I have been advised to get a bottle Pelikan 4001 as it is dryer which suits some of the pens like my Cross Century ii and Parker IM that are in a M nib.

[Left FPN]

what's corrosion? Btw nice cat

When the pen nib is left inked or wet for a while. The steel will corrode (become etched by water or ink) Some inks have a faster corrosive action on the steel.

 

Fergus, now departed 3 years and much missed.

[Chrissy]

I have pretty few pens comparing to most of you. And I have a Cross Century ii that is pretty darn thin so the thinness of the pen won't really be a problem and I most likely won't be leaving the pen unused for pretty much most of the time. As sort of a beginner, what sort of ink is most suitable for the Waterman nibs as I only have a bottle of Parker Blue quink, Parker Blue Black quink and Pilot black. I very rarely use the Pilot black as I prefer blue and I find the quink to be very wet. I have been advised to get a bottle Pelikan 4001 as it is dryer which suits some of the pens like my Cross Century ii and Parker IM that are in a M nib.

 

If you don't want to use your Parker inks in a Waterman pen then by all means try Waterman inks. It won't make any significant difference.

 

Pelikan 4001 is a very dry ink. Probably too dry for regular Waterman pens

[Left FPN]

From MY personal experience, Parker Quink ate at least 2 section collars on my 1986 Executive.

[SunnyShoes72]

When the pen nib is left inked or wet for a while. The steel will corrode (become etched by water or ink) Some inks have a faster corrosive action on the steel.

 

Fergus, now departed 3 years and much missed.

Oh, but this won't happen on stainless steel right?

 

So sad to see such a beautiful creature gone

Edited April 7, 2018 by SunnyShoes72

[SunnyShoes72]

From MY personal experience, Parker Quink ate at least 2 section collars on my 1986 Executive.

Dude.............I have a feeling I am going to go hunting for some Waterman ink like Chrissy suggested and throw out my quinks

[Chrissy]

This is one of the reasons that I don't tend to buy Waterman pens with GP collars......

[SunnyShoes72]

This is one of the reasons that I don't tend to buy Waterman pens with GP collars......

.........and whats a GP collar? LOL so bad at fp terms

Edited April 7, 2018 by SunnyShoes72