Waterman Phileas Nib

[Poetman]

For long sessions, I prefer my Waterman Phileas nib to my Expert I nib because I find it a bit wetter/bolder of a line. Doe anyone know if this same nib is used on other Waterman models or on other manufacturer's pens? I vastly prefer the design on the Expert, but the Phileas' writing is superior, and I would like to find something that integrates both. As the Phileas was an inexpensive ($20) office supply store pen in it's heyday, I do not imagine the hard, steel nib is special at all. I would appreciate any suggestions others might have here. For those unacquainted with this Phileas, here is a closeup image of the nib, with a good representative writing sample from a blog:

 

[Honeybadgers]

Yes. The waterman L'etalon (or just etalon) uses a nib that is the same shape and swaps directly into a phileas.

 

Only downside is they're 18k gold nibs and used examples are ~$250-400.

 

I have one in my Phileas because the phileas was my mother's and the pen has a lot of sentimental value to me, but I wanted a nicer nib. The L'etalon nib is still very firm, but definitely was made with more care and attention than the Phileas. 

 

There was a demonstrator version of the phileas that I can't recall the name of, but it's the same kind of $20 pen.

 

If you like the personality of waterman's nibs, look at the Carene. The medium nib in a carene is un-freaking-believably glassy smooth with a hint of stub character too. It's literally the only medium nib in my entire collection.

[Poetman]

Thank you. I am not necessarily looking for the same nib, and certainly not on a more expense pen, just for another lower-priced pen with a similar nib. I read the this nib is a number 6 nib. Does that just refer to the size or the exact nib? Would any number 6 nib feel like the Phileas. I love the look of the Carene, and use the rollerball, but I am not a big fan of hooded nibs. 

[Honeybadgers]

The carene isn't a hooded nib. It's an inlaid nib. I don't really love hooded nibs either, but the carene has a LOT of little touches and details (I particularly like the cap on my deluxe model) that make it still a very dramatic looking pen. 

 

The nib is not a #6 in the phileas. Not at all. It's a proprietary shape with wings that fit into the feed. All waterman nibs seem to be this way, TBH.

 

If you want a pen that has a similar "large" nib, you can find some grey-market platinum 3776's for around $100-120. The nib variety they have is insane. Roughly the same thickness aroudn the section, too.

 

A pelikan M205/M200/M215 (all the same, just different finishes, with the 215 having a slightly heftier brass body and the same lightweight cap) might fit the bill, as well. 

 

If you don't mind chinese, penBBS makes some nice acrylic "larger size" pens in the $20-40 range. Their nibs are a mediumish line.

 

But otherwise, it's kind hard to recommend pens based around a generic steel nib. But if you're after smoothness and medium/wet character, I can't recommend the carene highly enough.

 

 

[flodoc]

11 hours ago, Poetman said:

For long sessions, I prefer my Waterman Phileas nib to my Expert I nib because I find it a bit wetter/bolder of a line. Doe anyone know if this same nib is used on other Waterman models or on other manufacturer's pens? I vastly prefer the design on the Expert, but the Phileas' writing is superior, and I would like to find something that integrates both. As the Phileas was an inexpensive ($20) office supply store pen in it's heyday, I do not imagine the hard, steel nib is special at all. I would appreciate any suggestions others might have here. For those unacquainted with this Phileas, here is a closeup image of the nib, with a good representative writing sample from a blog:

 

Since Parker and Waterman pen brands are owned by the same company, it should be no surprise that similar, if not identical nibs are found on both brands. The last version of yhe Parker Premier has a nib and feed identical to the Phileas with the exception that on the Premier it was available in gold. The Premier is made of lacquered and plated brass, so is a more substantial pen than the Phileas. The writing experience is different with each pen with the Premier being very smooth and the Phileas having noticeable feedback, but not unpleasantly so. See photo below

[Licue]

10 hours ago, Honeybadgers said:

There was a demonstrator version of the phileas that I can't recall the name of, but it's the same kind of $20 pen.

You mean the Kultur?

 

The Kultur's nibs look like they're pretty much the same as the Phileas', except they are plain steel instead bi-colored steel.

 

I really like writing with the Kultur, the nib is quite nice indeed, but unfortunately mine (/both of mine) has pretty bad sealing and can dry out/hard start within only a few days. Afaik this is a rather common issue with the Kultur. 

[Poetman]

On 3/9/2022 at 10:38 PM, flodoc said:

Since Parker and Waterman pen brands are owned by the same company, it should be no surprise that similar, if not identical nibs are found on both brands. The last version of yhe Parker Premier has a nib and feed identical to the Phileas with the exception that on the Premier it was available in gold. The Premier is made of lacquered and plated brass, so is a more substantial pen than the Phileas. The writing experience is different with each pen with the Premier being very smooth and the Phileas having noticeable feedback, but not unpleasantly so. See photo below

Thank you for sharing this, Flodoc! I have only owned a Parker Sonnet, which I do not like at all. While the feel of the pen is nice--though heavier than I like--the nib both skips horrifically and is too springy. Is this Premier nib hard and as a reliable as the Phileas?

[flodoc]

23 hours ago, Poetman said:

Thank you for sharing this, Flodoc! I have only owned a Parker Sonnet, which I do not like at all. While the feel of the pen is nice--though heavier than I like--the nib both skips horrifically and is too springy. Is this Premier nib hard and as a reliable as the Phileas?

The Premier nib is totally unlike the Sonnet nib. It is very similar to the Phileas nib, but smoother. However, the Premier is a metal pen and heavier than the Phileas and the Sonnet. It is also larger than the Sonnet. I personally love the Premier nib but not the pen. I think it is the shape of the section that puts me off more than anything else.