Waterman Serenite In Blue

[ImolaS3]

A small review of my new Waterman Serenite pen. In the occasionally posted "which is your grail pen" threads, I have consistently answered with this pen - and waited to finally find one that I can actually buy.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to buy this one brand new and never inked (BNIB). Yes!!

 

 

 

1. First Impression and packaging. (10/10)

 

The outer box is elegant and understated and really quite attractive to my eyes. The card form which it is made is very heavy and thick, lending a feeling of quality. Slip the lid off and the curved blue inner box is revealed. WOW! This is a beautiful box and the best (as in highest quality) packaging I have yet to see surrounding a pen.

Open out the two curved lids and the beautifully curved pen is finally revealed. Reminiscent of samurai swords to my eye, but the paperwork underneath talks of water as the inspiration.

Lift out the tray and one finds a guarantee, a manual, 2 packs of cartridges, a converter (in the pen by the time I took these photos) and a sheet with a serial number printed on it.

Simply the best packaging I have seen.

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1001/6597/4121/2386996_x.jpg

 

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2. Appearance & Design. (10/10) (or more!!)

 

The pen itself is absolutely amazing and I have seen nothing like it. It curves in two planes and is made from brass covered in a deep blue enamel with solid silver fittings and an 18k gold nib. The curves are just wonderful (photos do not do it justice) and remind me so much of samurai swords, but look organic and sit against the hand just right for a comfortable and easy grip with nib at the exact right angle to write. I find myself just looking at it again and again and again whilst it sits on my pen box or desk. Truly a design classic in my eyes.

 

It also stands up vertically on its top or bottom or when posted!

The cap unscrews and then slides into the top of the pen with the solid silver clip resting in a small indent in the inlay where Waterman is engraved. A perfect fit as one would expect.

 

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http://www.acdseeonline.com/1001/6597/4121/2386995_x.jpg

 

 

 

3. Construction & Quality. (10/10)

 

The quality of this pen just blows me away and leaves my other pens in the shade in this regard (MB, Pelikan, Parker, Sheaffer, Cross, Visconti and others).

The way the clip sits exactly in the little recess and the cap and clip continue the curve of the pen, maintaining its lines. I have been a design engineer for a long, long time now and the manufacturing quality of this is simply stunning.

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1001/6597/4121/2386991_x.jpg

 

4. Weight & Dimensions. (10/10)

 

# length of the pen: 144 mm

# length of the pen without the cap: 128 mm

# diameter of the pen at grip: 11.8 mm

# diameter of the pen at rear: 14.8 mm

# weight of the pen: 51 g

# weight of the pen without the cap: 34 g

 

The pen feels fine writing posted or unposted for long periods and is really quite balanced.

 

5. Nib & Performance. (9/10)

 

The pen is equipped with an 18k gold nib that is rhodium plated and decorated with the Waterman logo, 18K and 750. Simple and elegant. However, the nib wraps right around the feed and as such has no spring in it at all - what some would call 'a nail'.

I personally don't like flex nibs and would rather write with a nail any day of the week than a flex, but I do like some 'give' in my nib and this is the reason I mark it down to 9 rather than 10. The feel of the nib against paper was silky smooth from the box and it has a good width for a medium nib (towards the broader side of medium). The line always starts and the pen never falters (so far after 5 days of use).

 

Photo has blobs of J Herbin Poussiere De Lune on it from a recent filling

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1001/6597/4121/2386992_x.jpg

 

 

6. Filling system. (10/10)

 

Standard cartridge converter, but the method of getting to it is really cool. One must rotate the silver section whilst holding the pen body stationary. The nib section and converter will then gradually appear from the end of the pen. Very cool.

The shape of the assembly ensures the nib section always returns to exactly the same place each time it is replaced so that the inner curve of the pen lies against the hand in use.

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1001/6597/4121/2386994_x.jpg

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1001/6597/4121/2386993_x.jpg

 

 

7. Cost & Value. (10/10)

 

Not cheap (mine was surprisingly less than half retail!) but the quality and design make it well worth the retail price to me if I could have found one on the rare occasions I had the money to buy it.

 

 

8. Conclusion. (69/70)

 

Very near perfection - some slight 'give' in the nib would have done it for me. This pen is everything I had hoped and more which is just as well as there will be no more spending on pens this year for me (only inks and books etc.).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, for next Christmas, I fancy something like one of these. My new grail pens?

 

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Edited April 19, 2011 by ImolaS3

[carlc]

Now I can see why the Serenite has always commanded the price it does.

 

That was a really tremendous review - and I have long thought (like you) - samurai sword.

 

Personally I don't like the recess for the clip - it spoils the perfect blue line of the pen but, then again, I can see why it is there (a very well thought-out touch really), but I don't post and so it is an annoyance to me (all pens must be designed to my personal whims don't you know).

 

Congratulations on achieving a grail and also on an exemplary review.

 

Carl

[PAKMAN]

The Blue is the prettiest of them all to me! Congrats and thanks for a great review!

[amble63]

Glad to see that your grail pen lived up to your expectations.

[Taurean]

Wow, this is an incredible pen! Congratulations on the acquisition.

[alvarez57]

Very nicely done and concise review.

I have always found them very attractive and this one is very pretty. Glad you found your grail pen...and now you're thinking of another!!! It happens...

 

Enjoy!

[RedSox04]

 

A true grail

[ImolaS3]

Glad to see that your grail pen lived up to your expectations.

 

Thank you - I had never seen one 'in the flesh' nor held it before committing to buy.

 

It is quite a worry when one desires (greatly) an object for over two years and then finally gets it. I was quite relieved to find it not only lived up to my expectations, but way beyond them!

[Dark_Severus]

Hi ImolaS3,

 

Firstly many congratulations on acquiring your 'grail pen'!

 

As a fellow Waterman enthusiast, I have to say that pen looks absolutely beautiful. I had at one point really wanted to get one but being out of production, they are so hard to find, especially in the UK.

 

So another tubular Waterman nib that's a nail seems no surprise. Any chance of a writing sample with that Poussiere De Lune ink?

 

You have marked this pen really highly. With that sort of score I get the message that everyone should have this pen AND it will indeed suit everyone and anyone. Do you think that perception is correct?

 

DS

[ImolaS3]

 

You have marked this pen really highly. With that sort of score I get the message that everyone should have this pen AND it will indeed suit everyone and anyone. Do you think that perception is correct?

 

DS

 

Hi DS

 

The high score is of course a very personal thing. For instance, there are people out there who love flex nibs, whilst I hate true flex nibs - we all differ and have differing tastes.

 

I marked it against all other pens I have noth seen and used and it's quality of packaging and build far exceeded that of all others I have come across (several MBs, viscontis, cross, Pelikan, Parker, scheaffer, other watermans, twsbis and a few others) and undoubtedly, the style is pretty unique in the world of fountain pens. I would have to say the craftsmanship more closely approximates jewellery than pens.

 

I cannot say that everyone should have this pen, but I expect that, the nail nib aside, anyone who likes the look of it will not be disappointed when they receive one.

 

I'll knock out a writing sample a little later

 

Regards

Imola

[Dark_Severus]

 

You have marked this pen really highly. With that sort of score I get the message that everyone should have this pen AND it will indeed suit everyone and anyone. Do you think that perception is correct?

 

DS

 

Hi DS

 

The high score is of course a very personal thing. For instance, there are people out there who love flex nibs, whilst I hate true flex nibs - we all differ and have differing tastes.

 

I marked it against all other pens I have noth seen and used and it's quality of packaging and build far exceeded that of all others I have come across (several MBs, viscontis, cross, Pelikan, Parker, scheaffer, other watermans, twsbis and a few others) and undoubtedly, the style is pretty unique in the world of fountain pens. I would have to say the craftsmanship more closely approximates jewellery than pens.

 

I cannot say that everyone should have this pen, but I expect that, the nail nib aside, anyone who likes the look of it will not be disappointed when they receive one.

 

I'll knock out a writing sample a little later

 

Regards

Imola

 

I definitely agree with you on the subjective nature of reviews here. I also concur that this pen is very beautiful, and I have only ever seen it in pictures so I can only imagine how beautiful it must be in 'the flesh'.

 

I do like springy nibs...OMAS nibs are truly wonderful writers...but I love my nails in equal measure and so I always carry an OMAS and my EDSON in my 2-pen pouch wherever I go

[Strand]

The Serenite is one of my favourite pens and I agree with the high grades given in the review. It has a very stiff nib - which may not be to everyones liking but otherwise it is a lovely pen! I just got the Cocobolo wood LE version I have been lusting for for ages- happy!

 

/Par

Edited April 23, 2011 by Strand

[ImolaS3]

The Serenite is one of my favourite pens and I agree with the high grades given in the review. It has a very stiff nib - which may not be to everyones liking but otherwise it is a lovely pen! I just got the Cocobolo wood LE version I have been lusting for for ages- happy!

 

/Par

Cocobola? I bet that is beautiful indeed. Don't suppose you could post a couple fo photos here? Or if you live in the UK, get together and compare them

 

I love wood and make furniture, modern jewellery boxes and some pen boxes (sold here) but have never really fallen for wooden pens, possibly because I haven't used any with high quality nibs yet.

[Glenn-SC]

Great review!

 

Thanks and Congratulations.

[IWantThat]

I'd have to say this would be one of my 'grail' pens too if I ever get my hands on one Thank you for the comprehensive review! I remember first seeing the black Serenite in a store display. It make me want to pick it up and write with it. Amazing pens always do that.

[greencobra]

For sure congratulations! Feels good to take the pen off the list, doesn't it? And...liked reading the review, nice job on that.

[Trom]

A unique review and a unique pen.

[Drone]

Your pen is bent. I hope it is under warranty.

[Strand]

The Serenite is one of my favourite pens and I agree with the high grades given in the review. It has a very stiff nib - which may not be to everyones liking but otherwise it is a lovely pen! I just got the Cocobolo wood LE version I have been lusting for for ages- happy!

 

/Par

Cocobola? I bet that is beautiful indeed. Don't suppose you could post a couple fo photos here? Or if you live in the UK, get together and compare them

 

I love wood and make furniture, modern jewellery boxes and some pen boxes (sold here) but have never really fallen for wooden pens, possibly because I haven't used any with high quality nibs yet.

 

 

I'll try to get some photos taken over the weekend I will post them here...

 

/par

[Ipsilon]

I have got a Sérénité Black (M nib), and it is truly a beautiful pen. I also purchased a stub nib, and it writes beautifully.

 

Congrats on your new pen: I am sure you will enjoy writing with it!

 

Y