Waterman
Comments on the Waterman Line.
Hémisphère
Available in a number of finishes the pen has a tapered bodied with gold electroplate or chrome trims. This is another line that Sanford markets to retailers as a perfect corporate gift, because of price point and well accepted style.
The pens have been produced as fountain pens, roller balls, ball point and pen and pencil sets.
Edson
I still remember the day the folks at Vancouver Pen told me to give this pen a try. A love affair with the Edson started and it has never ended to this day. This is one hell of a pen. In the end, I bought the blue, green and red lines, each with a different nib. In 2007 when the Edson Diamond Black was announced to be issued I immediately pre-ordered my pen. But when it arrived, I found the finish did not have the look of the others and did not purchase the pen. That even shocked me!
The Edson is named to honour of the founder - Louis Edson Waterman. The New Waterman Sapphire Blue Edson Fountain Pen has an 18-carat solid gold nib and a translucent lacquer body that encloses a technically perfected system for regulating the ink flow. The intense colours are created by a hairline space between the outer ultra-violet varnish and the inner lining. The cap is plated with a sleek matte gold with the clip plated shiny 23.5kt gold. The Edson is designed not to leak, even at high altitudes. The fountain pen fills via cartridge or converter, and is available in fine and medium nibs. When they were first issued it was possible to order nibs in any of the seven sizes available.
For a while they were discontinued then back, and now the Blue and Diamond Black are the only two colours produced. There was a limited edition in Sterling Silver also produced. Smooth shinny surface. It wrote with one. Can you say "fingerprints" all over the pen!
Carène
Waterman says it was the smooth curved lines of a yacht that was used as the design principle for the Carène line of pens. The word carene comes from "hull of the ship" so there is the theme they used for this popular line. It has been produced in a variety of finishes.
One of the distinctions of this line is the inlaid nib, which is 18 kt gold, rhodium-plated, for the fountain pen.
Waterman has created a number of models that have been available with gold plated clip and trip (considered as the classic look) and with silver plated clip and trip (considered as the modern versions). They lines came out as Carene and Carene Deluxe depending on the type of material used.
The pens have a brass body, so there is some good weight when you hold the pan and it gives the construction goof stability.
Exception
Waterman replaced its Man 100, the previous flagship model, with the Exception. It was not a straight replacement, as the Liaison was out for a few years but did not reach the same level of acceptance.
When it was introduced, reviews said it was radical while conservative. Radical in terms of the square-design to the body, the bayonet-release nib section and considered in the classic look. This is not a pen that you would be embarrassed to write with in the most serious business setting.
The bayonet allows the nib section to be released from the body with a twist. Two pins hold the nib section in, and when turned they match to the channels that allow the nib section to be released. Different, but makes no difference to how the pen writes.
When first released there were three versions, a black, black with gold trim and the black with gray stripes. The large size was 5 9/16 inches long when closed and the barrel a good 1/2 inch across in width. Good weight at 1.75 ounces. The large models are available in the fountain pen and roller ball.
The smaller model is 5 3/8 inches in length when closed and the barrel is 7/16 of an inch in width. Lighter, it weights in at 1.5 ounces. The thinner models are available in the fountain pen, roller ball and ball point pen models.
The pen fills with a cartridge or the converter.
The nibs are very smooth, I have a broad nib in my large Exception Night & Day (Black with Gray stripes) and have tried out other styles. The nibs are not as flexible as say the Italian pens.
I particularly like the square body. It sits well in my hand, and I have no nervous concerns of the pen rolling off the desk. (Lived that experience too often!)
Sérénité
A distinctly different pen. Both the cap and barrel of the pen are made from a solid block of metal and then covered with a rich lacquered finish. Lots of hand work, the final varnish is applied by hand, and the pens hand-polished. The cap of the pen twists with a click to be released. The unique shape of the pen is a curve that comfortably fits into the hand.
The pen has been produced in a number of finishes, some lines are limited editions, and the price point is high for this model.
A limited edition line, made with cocobola wood is stunning in appearance. The Waterman information indicates the pen came from the wood of a single tree (okay, not pressed composite), found in the Amazon.
The silver bands on the pen are focal points and some are the result of engraved silver with laquer-filled etched lines. The pen clips are very specific construction. Waterman promoted them as being virtually unbreakable.
Waterman has created some stunning pens in this line. The Séeénité Air, for example, uses a variety of non-traditional pen manufacturing methods to create a rather unique pen. The pen uses quail eggshell with gold powder to create a unique look. There were only 161 pens created so this was a rather unique pen.
Waterman Charleston
This was their nostalgia line, an Art Deco look.
The body has a flute-shape to it, rather than a straight cylinder. Waterman indicated the design was based on the the Hundred Year pen, a very successful pen from the 1930s.
The cap screws on and there is gold or silver plate trim on the pen. The fountain pen has an 18 kt gold nib but it only came in fine and medium sizes so I must admit it was not one of the lines that I bought.
Élégance
The Élégance line has updated but a classic look. The fountain pen has an 18 kt gold nib with rhodium trim.. The pen body has lacquer and metal finishes, and Waterman as targeted this pen at its upper end market.
When the line was introduced by Waterman the pen was available in an ivory lacquer with 23 k gold trim. The Waterman marketing material referred to this as an ultra feminine finish. Or, there was a black with gold and black with silver trim/nib lines.
Perspective
The Perspective line was marketed with a "contemporary architecture", "contemporary urban". I take to be a pen line targeted to a younger pen buying market and the price point is what I would call mid-range. They price point was kept down as this line does not have a gold nib.
There is a squared-off clip design, the pen body is slender and straight.
The fountain pen comes with fine and medium nib options, but again, in stainless steel. The nibs have an engraved "web of powerful lines to evoke the image of a metropolitan landmark". Oh Waterman, I am not sure what that means, but it all goes to the marketing of the pen for the young city crowd.
The pen has come out in a number of different versions, there are the lacquer body with metal trim. The ball point pens had a twist action mechanism and the fountain pen a stainless steel nib. There is an etched pattern on the body. Waterman referred to this as "refined etched, graphic lines".
The Designer Perspective line has soft colours like champagne, silver or azure blue. The bodies are decorated with an engraved pattern.
The Executive Perspective has the classic black lacquer and gold trim look. The stainless steel nib is gold plated to go with the overall look of the pen.
Audace
This line of pens is linked with Paris Fashion Week. According to their promotional material, Waterman is a regular fixture at the event and their pens are linked with young and upcoming designers.
The pen is marketed as a woman's pen. It was issued in both a fountain, with stainless steel nib, and ball point model. The pens came with a fashion pen pouch.
Hemisphere
A line with a contemporary design and a slender size. There were metallic lacquer finishes as well as a stainless steel and chrome lines.
The pen has good weight as the body finish is over a brass construction. The pen uses cartridges or converter, the nib is steel.
Waterman produced both ball point, roller ball and mechanical pencils(.5mm lead size) for this line.
