Waterman Sérénité

[Kurtz]

It came on friday, directly from France (no customs threaten ). I didn't bought it for me, but as a present to my wife. Altough I think this pen is suitable for all genders, I see it as sort of female biassed design.

OK. I handled it, took some photographs and inked with Parker Quink.

 

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/250/wvkb1.jpg

 

About the handling, the pen is superb. Not being as bulky as I thought was good news. The shape is very adaptable and, most important, the feeling is sturdy as nails; probably because of its metal body, lacquered in blue, embellished with sterling silver for the displayed metallic ornaments (who needs precious resin when you can get precious metal for the same budget ?).

 

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/2746/wenz5.jpg

 

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/161/we2uf5.jpg

 

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/2555/wciao0.jpg

 

The cap can be posted thanks to an interesting design which allows you to, both, post it (despite such an exotic design) and not damage any of the parts.

 

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/6714/wcpe5.jpg

 

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/7321/wafs8.jpg

 

This special design of the cap, also allows the pen to conceal the threads of the screw so that you cannot see them when posted. This resulting in a very sleek aspect.

 

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/9070/wpobh9.jpg

 

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7005/wp2up0.jpg

 

The nib is F size and a pleasure to write with.

 

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/8866/wpsp3.jpg

 

 

 

What else can I say? I love this pen. Far more attractive in person than in photographs.

 

 

[hari317]

Nice review and thanks for sharing, The silver trim looks very classy with the blue body.

[FrankB]

Good review and nice photos. Thank you.

 

I love the looks of the Serenite, and I love looking at them. I do not doubt the pens write nicely. But I most likely will not own one. Why? It is as simple as the metal section. I just cannot tolerate a metal section on so costly a pen.

[goodguy]

Thank you for the interesting review and wonderful pictures but you really didnt say anything about the nib.

I own a new black Serenite and I posted a review on it only few weeks ago.

I found the nib to be very smooth and wet but very boring with very little feedback.Its not a nib that talks to you makes makes you want to pick up the pen and write with it.

Other then that its a nicly balanced pen and has the most unique designed pen I own.

[Kurtz]

Thank you for the interesting review and wonderful pictures but you really didnt say anything about the nib.

 

You are right, but this is not by chance. I am not yet experienced enough to feel that nuances in a pen. The only fountain pen I have owned during years has been a Parker Sonnet. Now I am starting to go deeper in this world and cannot go further than saying if a nib writes OK or not. I hope in the future I will be able to be more precise.

At the moment, I feel more secure talking about construction and taking some pics to be as descriptive as I can.

Now I am waiting a Pilot VP from Richard Binder's (I expect it at my door tomorrow or so, if not trapped in customs). I will try to compare when in my hands. What I can say is that I like the Sonnet nib very much, but I do not know if this is due to the fact that I am accustomed to it.

 

 

 

 

[Titivillus]

Darn, darn, darn! everytime I see another picture of this pen I get closer to wanting one myself. I wonder how many more steps until I finally cave in and buy one

[AJP]

Good review and nice photos. Thank you.

 

I love the looks of the Serenite, and I love looking at them. I do not doubt the pens write nicely. But I most likely will not own one. Why? It is as simple as the metal section. I just cannot tolerate a metal section on so costly a pen.

 

 

I agree with FrankB the metal section does give the appearance of lesser end pen. For the money I think ebonite or another material would have been better suited. Although, I must admit I'm liking the shape more and more and ultimately it may not be a deal breaker for me

 

By the way your review and pics were great!

[Siv]

What a wonderful looking pen and great photos. Really desirable fro an aesthetic perspective.

 

The nib doesn't seem to fit the look of the rest of the pen though...

[jbn10161]

Thanks for the review. I think the Waterman Sérénité is one of the most graceful, new, and beautiful fountain pen designs out there. A very nice gift for your wife.

[sasdrtx]

Nice pix, and a beautiful pen. But worth $900? I don't get it. It should be solid gold for that price.

[goodguy]

Thanks for the review. I think the Waterman Sérénité is one of the most graceful, new, and beautiful fountain pen designs out there. A very nice gift for your wife.

Dont know about you guys but my Serenite is MINE all MINE !!!

If my wife wants one (shedoesnt care about pens at all) she can get one of my other pens

[goodguy]

Nice pix, and a beautiful pen. But worth $900? I don't get it. It should be solid gold for that price.

If you buy it for FULL retail then no its not worth 900$

[Kurtz]

Nice pix, and a beautiful pen. But worth $900? I don't get it. It should be solid gold for that price.

 

Sure it is $900 in the stores, but you can get it new for less than $400 in the internet.

 

 

 

[Titivillus]

Nice pix, and a beautiful pen. But worth $900? I don't get it. It should be solid gold for that price.

 

Sure it is $900 in the stores, but you can get it new for less than $400 in the internet.

 

can you please PM me where! ebay has them $750 to $900!

 

Kurt

 

[Titivillus]

Nice pix, and a beautiful pen. But worth $900? I don't get it. It should be solid gold for that price.

 

Sure it is $900 in the stores, but you can get it new for less than $400 in the internet.

 

can you please PM me where! ebay has them $750 to $900!

 

Kurt

 

With thanks to Kurtz I am now the new owner of a pen about half of what I could find it.

 

Kurt

 

[goodguy]

Nice pix, and a beautiful pen. But worth $900? I don't get it. It should be solid gold for that price.

 

Sure it is $900 in the stores, but you can get it new for less than $400 in the internet.

 

can you please PM me where! ebay has them $750 to $900!

 

Kurt

 

With thanks to Kurtz I am now the new owner of a pen about half of what I could find it.

 

Kurt

Congrats I know you will love this pen.

[Calbei]

Lovely pictures! And yes, sometimes pictures do speak louder than words... very nice.

 

No affiliation, but a reputable seller on eBay, lewertowski, sells such pens for £240, which I believe is approx. $390?

 

Sadly an Edson would set me back £350, so it's going to be a few years yet.

[MYU]

The Serenite (Sérénité) is truly stunning. Absolutely beautiful photography, Kurtz. I love the look of this pen... I'm sure for the quality that has gone into it, it's worth the price.

 

For now, I'm settling on something else that has a similar kind of shape (at 1/20th the MSRP):

 

http://www.thewritingpenstore.com/images/products/detail/OnlineNewoodFountainCalligraphy.1.pnghttp://www.thewritingpenstore.com/images/products/detail/OnlineNewoodFountain.png

 

 

It has a tapered shape, but does not "lean" like the Sérénité. And of course doesn't have that ingenious cap management system (hidden threads and sunken posting). One day... one day, I'll own one of those.

Edited October 27, 2008 by MYU

[WillAdams]

For those who're curious, the image above is from:

 

http://www.thewritingpenstore.com

 

I've just ordered one --- looking forward to getting it. Thanks Myu!

 

William

Edited October 27, 2008 by WillAdams

[wspohn]

I, too, received one of these pens last week - it must be going around.

 

While retail pricing is high, as are some ebay prices, the excellent reliable ebay seller lewrtowski sells them for E 299. or just over $400 US.

 

I waited quite awhile to buy one of these as the less expensive black version just did not do anything for me. I am glad I waited as the blue is very striking and far, far more comely than the original black or IMHO than the new grey.

 

Mine has an XF nib and is a smooth writer. With a little use, you realize that the small nib is really well suited to this design, which is all about style. No idea how this modal has been received in Japan, given that it purports to derive its styling from Eastern idiom. I'll get some more user time in over the next few weeks and post a follow up if anything turns up.

 

BTW, the odd and reportedly fussy to use bayonet mechanism used to secure the cap on the original black pens has given way to a more easily used screw on cap on the blue, and the threads are nicely hidden hen it is posted.

Edited October 31, 2008 by wspohn