Preface--Is it supposed to be this good?

[Ivy]

I have a Waterman Preface that I've been using as my main pen for about three years now. I know it's on the lower side for Waterman. I have their Carene, Lady Agatha, and Opera and none of those are quite as smooth. I have a variety of other higher end pens and none of them quite do it. So was I super lucky or is this really an unusually well-designed pen? I'm totally in love with it. I could easily say, if I could only own one pen, this would be it.

[HerosNSuch]

I have a Waterman Preface that I've been using as my main pen for about three years now. I know it's on the lower side for Waterman. I have their Carene, Lady Agatha, and Opera and none of those are quite as smooth. I have a variety of other higher end pens and none of them quite do it. So was I super lucky or is this really an unusually well-designed pen? I'm totally in love with it. I could easily say, if I could only own one pen, this would be it.

 

Which nib did you get on your Preface? Waterman nibs vary greatly in smoothness from one size to the next from my experience.

[Ivy]

Which nib did you get on your Preface? Waterman nibs vary greatly in smoothness from one size to the next from my experience.

 

Fine, which is what I have on all my pens.

[NobbyClarke]

I have a Waterman Preface that I've been using as my main pen for about three years now. I know it's on the lower side for Waterman. I have their Carene, Lady Agatha, and Opera and none of those are quite as smooth. I have a variety of other higher end pens and none of them quite do it. So was I super lucky or is this really an unusually well-designed pen? I'm totally in love with it. I could easily say, if I could only own one pen, this would be it.

 

I have no idea why the Preface seems to get little notice and when it does, it seems to be negative. I have several of them in different finishes with a mixture of medium and broad nibs. My preference is for broad but I have found that the nibs can vary quite a bit which is why I have mediums in a couple of my pens. Other than that I find the pen is well built and stylish with attractive finishes. When I was in the market for fountain pens I found that they were one of the best looking pens available - certainly more attractive than some later designs. These days they appear to be commanding something of a price premium so perhaps they are just one of those things which are appreciated by a discerning few.

Edited October 22, 2008 by NobbyClarke

[Ondina]

I have a Waterman Preface that I've been using as my main pen for about three years now. I know it's on the lower side for Waterman. I have their Carene, Lady Agatha, and Opera and none of those are quite as smooth. I have a variety of other higher end pens and none of them quite do it. So was I super lucky or is this really an unusually well-designed pen? I'm totally in love with it. I could easily say, if I could only own one pen, this would be it.

 

I have no idea why the Preface seems to get little notice and when it does, it seems to be negative. I have several of them in different finishes with a mixture of medium and broad nibs. My preference is for broad but I have found that the nibs can vary quite a bit which is why I have mediums in a couple of my pens. Other than that I find the pen is well built and stylish with attractive finishes. When I was in the market for fountain pens I found that they were one of the best looking pens available - certainly more attractive than some later designs. These days they appear to be commanding something of a price premium so perhaps they are just one of those things which are appreciated by a discerning few.

 

I agree. The quality of the materials, design and nib is excellent. Seems to me like its only in is to be slim, which many do not appreciate. It's a beautiful pen, no doubt.

 

Edited to add a review on the pen from some months back. Prefàce

 

Waterman nibs, in my opinion are one of the most reliable ones right out of the box on any size, although being my personal preferences also on the broad side, and having used only a couple of marvelous fine ones as a student, can't really speak from an ample experience. I do know that the Le Man nibs are undoubtedly the best regular, non specialty nibs I've ever tried.

Edited October 23, 2008 by Ondina

[shostakovich]

I have a Waterman Preface that I've been using as my main pen for about three years now. I know it's on the lower side for Waterman. I have their Carene, Lady Agatha, and Opera and none of those are quite as smooth. I have a variety of other higher end pens and none of them quite do it. So was I super lucky or is this really an unusually well-designed pen? I'm totally in love with it. I could easily say, if I could only own one pen, this would be it.

 

I have no idea why the Preface seems to get little notice and when it does, it seems to be negative. I have several of them in different finishes with a mixture of medium and broad nibs. My preference is for broad but I have found that the nibs can vary quite a bit which is why I have mediums in a couple of my pens. Other than that I find the pen is well built and stylish with attractive finishes. When I was in the market for fountain pens I found that they were one of the best looking pens available - certainly more attractive than some later designs. These days they appear to be commanding something of a price premium so perhaps they are just one of those things which are appreciated by a discerning few.

 

I agree. The quality of the materials, design and nib is excellent. Seems to me like its only in is to be slim, which many do not appreciate. It's a beautiful pen, no doubt.

 

Waterman nibs, in my opinion are one of the most reliable ones right out of the box on any size, although being my personal preferences also on the broad side, and having used only a couple of marvelous fine ones as a student, can't really speak from an ample experience. I do know that the Le Man nibs are undoubtedly the best regular, non specialty nibs I've ever tried.

I bought one about two years ago and was impressed with its smoothness. It is a medium nib. Very beautiful green marble on a brass body.

 

The only thing is that I've always had problems with it skipping. Until a couple of weeks ago when I took the nib out and re-adjusted it on the feed. It now writes perfectly. A very good pen.

[Richard F]

The Préface was my very first fountain pen--the one that got me hooked back in the 90s. Medium nib, basic black lacquer, an excellent writer from day one.

[effrafax]

Hi, whilst I don't have a Preface, I do have two other lower-end Watermans: a black lacquer Apostrophe (M) and a burgundy Maestro (F). They are both very good writers, with similar styling to the Preface from the pictures I've seen. Very good value as far as I'm concerned. I enjoy using both of them.

[glennhkc]

I just received a "NOS" Preface via a reputable eBay seller and find it somewhat reminiscent of my Waterman Hemisphere pens. The Preface has a smaller but 18K gold nib (Hemisphere is steel) which is initially running on the dry side with the included cartridge. Overall I find it a good size for my smallish hand and expect/hope its nibs initial dry performance to improve with use given my experience with modern Watermans. Time will tell, but even the out of the box performance is reasonable. Its no Man 100 or 200 but nor did I pay those prices for it. Satisfied at the price level.

[Actor-out-on-loan]

The one I have is super smooth, when I originally picked it up it went right in to the sonic cleaner and the first time inked it was just a gem. I use Lamy ink which in my onion makes a difference as well. The nib is 18K Medium. If I were to compare it to one of my other pens, it reminds me, writing wise that is, of my Platinum Cross Townsend also from the 90's I play this game once in awhile where I look at my pens, and which ones can I part with, it mostly has to do with how they feel when writing which ones I choose. The Preface always stays.

 

~A~