Review: Waterman Phileas

[Donald2]

The Phileas is a Waterman icon. I own a few that I purchased back in the early 2000's that are NOS as well as the one that I currently use. I like that these fountain pens are made in France. They are very high quality for the price that I paid for them back in the early 2000's.

Edited April 5, 2018 by FountainPenGuru

[pajaro]

I liked the size and weight of the Phileas, but mine dried up too fast. Beautiful colors, though.

[Honeybadgers]

Thankfully mine doesn't dry up at all.

 

Did they ever make a gold nib for the phileas?

[Corona688]

Gold in what sense? Yellow? Or flex?

[Honeybadgers]

Gold in what sense? Yellow? Or flex?

 

Gold as in aurum, 14k/18k.

[Corona688]

My Phileas nib appears to have a gold inlay, I couldn't tell you what karat it is. Quite possibly plated, also.

Edited April 9, 2018 by Corona688

[CSG]

I bought one of these probably five years ago and found it to not be the great writer that so many here feel it is. I've looked at the nib under a loupe and can't figure it out as it all looks good. Mine skips a bit too often and I've cleaned it thoroughly so I'm stumped. I typically use Waterman ink. I was just playing with it last night and that's what prompted my comments in this thread.

 

I'm not a big collector and only have a few fountain pens but even my disposable Pilot Varsitys are better writers than this. FWIW, I'm a lefty and perhaps the nib on the Phileas doesn't cut it for lefties.

Edited October 17, 2019 by CSG

[CSG]

Well, after doing a little more work, things with this pen seem to be OK now. The work being messing with the nib. Don't know how permanent this fix is but I'll take it.

[BlueJ]

The Phileas was made to meet a fairly modest price point, so I doubt Waterman ever sold it with a gold nib. The stainless steel nibs did have a gold-colored inlay, but if it had any real gold it was likely only a very thin plating.

[Honeybadgers]

If anyone's wondering, I found an 18k F nib for it (rhodium plated, not gold, but it still looks superb), from a L'etalon that I got from dutchpen for $80. exact same size, slightly different scrollwork, and it's, dumbly, noticeably firmer than the steel nib. But it's tuned gloriously and feels a little more premium than the flaking off gold plating on the old phileas. So I was able to find the upgrade. Not worth doing for most of you, but the pen was my mother's, so its sentimental value outweighs its monetary value.

 

I use the pen as my "lucky" pen for my final exams every quarter.

[gillum51]

Very good review. I would agree that the Phileas is an excellent pen. in fact, as you mention in your review, my green marbled Phileas was my first fountain pen I purchased back in the mid 90's. It is still in my rotation and writes as well as many of my other pens that cost several times as much. I've not had any problems with it even after 20+ years.