Waterman Hemisphere, or Parker Sonnet?

[UsFour]

These are two slim pens I am considering -- perhaps the black lacquer, gold trim versions of each -- though I might go for the black matte Parker.

 

Do folks know anything about them? I believe both meet my requirements for "slender-ness," but I am curious to learn more, if possible.

 

Thank you for your time. Best to all!

 

 

 

[milo]

hi,

 

the hemisphere is pretty slim...not sure which pens you've previously used, but it is definitely slimmer than for example the Waterman Kulter, and possibly slimmer than most Pelikans, although someone else can confirm that. I'd recommend it if you like slimmer pens, since the finish is of good quality and the nib is very smooth and wet.

 

[FrankB]

My focus would be the nibs. Both are good writing nibs and, in my experience, very reliable. The Sonnet nib is larger, which is something I prefer. I seem better able to aim my nib at the paper when it is larger. I also like the shape and feel of the Sonnet. However, I cannot see you going wrong with either pen.

[tt32003]

the Sonnet costs about 80% more than the Hemisphere right ?

[jimk]

I have both pens, but they're in storage. As I recall, the Hemisphere is distinctly more slender than the Sonnet. Both of mine write very well - I have fine nibs on them.

[PhillipG]

Don't know much about the Hemisphere but if the nib is

as good as the Phileas and Harmonie then both pens are

a good choice. Just a matter of which you prefer.

[lapis]

I wouldn'get either.

Check out at a Pelikan M215 or a Waterman Charleston instead.

They both look better, feel better and write better.

 

Mike

[wvbeetlebug]

I am partial to the Sonnet because I have one. I have not had the chance to try a Hemisphere. The one I have has a nice F nib that has just the slightest bit of flex to it. In other words, it's not a nail.

[ZeleniLav]

I have both. They're both about the same size (slimness included), but the Hemisphere is lighter and feels, well, cheap. Of the two, I prefer the Sonnet.

[UsFour]

Don't know much about the Hemisphere but if the nib is

as good as the Phileas and Harmonie then both pens are

a good choice. Just a matter of which you prefer.

 

Thank you for your reply, Philip. If time allows, would you please post a few lines about your experiences about the Harmonie? I don't know much about it either. I'd be interested in learning how width, weight, nib quality, and whatever else you think is important to know.

 

Thanks!!

 

[xena]

I have no experience with the parker sonnet, but i have been very happy with my Hemisphere. It's nib feels more flexible than the Phileas. I would also consider the Expert II- a slight bit more girth, which depending on your hand may be more comfortable. If you have had a Waterman Laureate, that is roughly the section width.

[JJBlanche]

Both modern Parkers and modern Watermans, in my limited experience with them, feel (and look) cheap and overpriced. After seeing my pens, a friend picked up a Parker FP, which promptly and literally fell apart in his hands. My father has several (non-FP) modern Watermans, all in various states of disrepair.

 

Of the two, then, I'd go with neither, although Waterman would get the nod if you've absolutely limited yourself to these two brands. If you're looking for slim, you need to ask yourself whether you've tried a pen with more girth. For example, before I got into fountain pens, I used a Parker rollerball that was fairly thin, but weighed a ton because of all-metal construction. Because of that fact, I wanted a heavy pen, and also one that was relatively thin (after a life of Bics, the idea of using a pen as big-around as a Sharpie was distasteful).

 

These days, I use a Pel 600. Not as thick as the thickest pens out there, but quite thick by any measure. Featherweight compared to that old chunk of brass I was using. I find it to be perfect for me.

 

Before you lay down any amount of money on a new pen, carefully consider what it is you want and need. If slim still comes up as a requirement, there are several other choices beyond Waterman and Parker, Caran d'Arch being one of them (and made in France, which I believe was an earlier requirement, although I could be mistaken on that point). The Pelikan M300 is also a great choice for you, me-thinks. Richard still has several colors/designs in stock, and the pen is certainly thin, the barrel diameter being that of the 1745 (10mm).

 

I'm sure only a minor amount of perusing on Art Brown would reveal more choices (most or all of them no doubt better than Parker and/or Waterman). I believe Cartier makes a thin pen, etc. Good luck.

Edited September 15, 2008 by JJBlanche

[cfpen]

I own the Hemisphere, it's a good pen, quite smooth, with a metal barrel.

Apart the steel nib versus the gold one (and the price), I think the choice is a design matter.

The Hemisphere looks more modern than the Sonnet, which is something classic in my opinion.

[GirchyGirchy]

Not sure about the Hemisphere, but I would avoid the Sonnet....it's pretty but fragile in my experiences. Mine skips and dries out constantly. It's been sent back to Parker to no avail.

 

If you check out the "Least favorite pen" or "Most disappointing pen" threads, you'll see many references to them.

[Robert Hughes]

Dunno about the Hemisphere, but but I would get the Sonnet....it's pretty and bulletproof in my experiences. Mine never skips, though it will dry out if you leave it uncapped a few minutes. I've used many kinds of ink and never needed to send it out.

 

You'll see many references to them as disappointing. But you'll also see many kudos for them. It's like any other pen model, some are good right off the bat, others aren't. Try one; if you like it, that's great.

Edited September 16, 2008 by Robert Hughes

[churl]

I am not familiar with the Hemisphere FP, but it looks like it might use the same steel nib as the Waterman Harmonie? I love my Harmonie and would swear buy it. I've had 3 (theft and droppage ruining two), and every time a solid performer.

 

To echo other posters, I've had a fair deal of problems with my Sonnets, mostly with skipping. It took me about 6 months till it wrote consistently, and now I like it, but man, that was a painful 6 months. I think with Sonnets, you either love or hate.

[GirchyGirchy]

Dunno about the Hemisphere, but but I would get the Sonnet....it's pretty and bulletproof in my experiences. Mine never skips, though it will dry out if you leave it uncapped a few minutes. I've used many kinds of ink and never needed to send it out.

 

You'll see many references to them as disappointing. But you'll also see many kudos for them. It's like any other pen model, some are good right off the bat, others aren't. Try one; if you like it, that's great.

Mine dries after less than a few minutes being uncapped. Plus it dries overnight while tightly capped.

 

Its writing slowly gets worse during the day until it is useless.

[adair]

I hated the two Sonnets that I purchased on two separate ocassions several years back. I was attracted by the sleek design---they are pretty pens---but the nibs dried out immediately after each uncapping. It was maddening. I hate the feel of a dry nib on paper, which is on the same level to me of horror as squeaky chalk or finger-nails on a chalkboard...

 

I have never tried Hemispheres, but I did give the Waterman Carene and the Charleston a try. Neither proved a smooth, flowing pen for me, and fortunately I was able to return them.

 

My advice: save up for a Pelikan or an Aurora 88. Another possibility to consider might be "recent vintage" pens, like the Parker 75 or 45---those that I have tried are vastly superior to the Sonnet. They are recent enough that you can find plenty of NOS for a good price. Sheaffer Legacy is a good pen, too, and is also obtainable as NOS quite reasonably (check isellpens.com).

 

Good luck on whatever you choose!