Waterman Expert, Medium Steel Nib
Ive had this pen for a few months and have given it a fair amount of use, and run several different inks through it, so its time for a review.
First Impression. Rating: 8
I had a chance to try this pen at a pen shop in Zurich, Switzerland, so I had a pretty good idea what to expect. It came in a standard blue Waterman box, nothing special, but attractive and well-made. Included with the pen were the usual instruction booklet and warranty, along with a single Serenity Blue ink cartridge. Much to my surprise, a converter was NOT included with the pen. I purchased one online at an additional expense.
Appearance. Rating: 8
The pen is a fairly simple design, with a matte black body and cap, shiny black jewel on the barrel, and a shiny black jewel on the cap. The end of the cap jewel has a inset, shiny chrome disk set at a shallow angle. The body is thick in the middle and tapers smoothly to each end. The pen is constructed of metal (brass?), with a matte black lacquer coating. Because of the metal body, its fairly heavy but not unduly so. The hardware (furniture) is a shiny chrome metal plating and is smooth and well done. The pocket clip is tight and springy and feels very solid. The overall appearance is conservative and un-flashy. It would work quite well in a business setting.
Design/Size/Weight. Rating: 9
This is not a small pen, but not oversized. It might be too large for someone with small hands, but should be quite comfortable to a user with normal to large hands. The section is smooth but not slippery, and since its a snap-on cap, there are no threads to interfere with your grip. The cap snaps on the back of the pen for posting, but I find it a bit too long and back-heavy, so I use it unposted.
Nib. Rating: 9
The Medium nib is stainless steel with a nice smooth glob of tipping material. The nib is rigid with almost no flex. There is excellent ink flow, but its not sloppy. Its one of the nicest steel nibs Ive tried.
Filling System. Rating: 10
Cartridge/Converter. As mentioned above, a converter was not included with the pen, only a single Waterman ink cartridge. A proprietary Waterman push-in, twist-type converter was purchased and installed. Ive used the pen with both cartridges and the converter, and have had no issues with either filling system.
Cost and Value. Rating: 6
This pen was received as a gift, so I cant comment on the cost, but similar pens are available in the $90 to $120 range. As far as value, I felt that not including a converter with a $100 pen was a very poor decision on Watermans part. Even the cheapest Asian pens include a decent converter. Other than that shortcoming, I think its a fine value.
Conclusion. Total Rating: 8.3
This is a well-made pen with a very good, smooth steel nib. Its solid and durable, and should provide many years of excellent use. Its a regular in my rotation and I wouldnt hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade to good-looking, well-performing pen without having to jump to the next price level for a gold nib.
Additional Photos:
Ive had this pen for a few months and have given it a fair amount of use, and run several different inks through it, so its time for a review.
First Impression. Rating: 8
I had a chance to try this pen at a pen shop in Zurich, Switzerland, so I had a pretty good idea what to expect. It came in a standard blue Waterman box, nothing special, but attractive and well-made. Included with the pen were the usual instruction booklet and warranty, along with a single Serenity Blue ink cartridge. Much to my surprise, a converter was NOT included with the pen. I purchased one online at an additional expense.
Appearance. Rating: 8
The pen is a fairly simple design, with a matte black body and cap, shiny black jewel on the barrel, and a shiny black jewel on the cap. The end of the cap jewel has a inset, shiny chrome disk set at a shallow angle. The body is thick in the middle and tapers smoothly to each end. The pen is constructed of metal (brass?), with a matte black lacquer coating. Because of the metal body, its fairly heavy but not unduly so. The hardware (furniture) is a shiny chrome metal plating and is smooth and well done. The pocket clip is tight and springy and feels very solid. The overall appearance is conservative and un-flashy. It would work quite well in a business setting.
Design/Size/Weight. Rating: 9
This is not a small pen, but not oversized. It might be too large for someone with small hands, but should be quite comfortable to a user with normal to large hands. The section is smooth but not slippery, and since its a snap-on cap, there are no threads to interfere with your grip. The cap snaps on the back of the pen for posting, but I find it a bit too long and back-heavy, so I use it unposted.
Dimensions:
Length Capped: 142mm
Length Uncapped: 125mm
Cap Diameter: 13mm
Section Diameter: 11mm
Barrel Diameter: 12mm
Overall Weight (Filled): 34 grams
Nib. Rating: 9
The Medium nib is stainless steel with a nice smooth glob of tipping material. The nib is rigid with almost no flex. There is excellent ink flow, but its not sloppy. Its one of the nicest steel nibs Ive tried.
Filling System. Rating: 10
Cartridge/Converter. As mentioned above, a converter was not included with the pen, only a single Waterman ink cartridge. A proprietary Waterman push-in, twist-type converter was purchased and installed. Ive used the pen with both cartridges and the converter, and have had no issues with either filling system.
Cost and Value. Rating: 6
This pen was received as a gift, so I cant comment on the cost, but similar pens are available in the $90 to $120 range. As far as value, I felt that not including a converter with a $100 pen was a very poor decision on Watermans part. Even the cheapest Asian pens include a decent converter. Other than that shortcoming, I think its a fine value.
Conclusion. Total Rating: 8.3
This is a well-made pen with a very good, smooth steel nib. Its solid and durable, and should provide many years of excellent use. Its a regular in my rotation and I wouldnt hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade to good-looking, well-performing pen without having to jump to the next price level for a gold nib.
Additional Photos:
