Waterman Centurion?

August 6, 2009

A friend of mine showed me this mysterious Waterman pen he got as a gift in early 90's, and I then spent a good half day trying to identify it. Based on this entry I'm guessing it's a Centurion, but is it?

It's a Waterman for sure, in a blue plastic box and all:

On one side of the cap it proudly states "Amsterdam Stock Exchange"

And on the other it's "Amsterdamse Effectenbeurs"

The ribbing on the barrel, which made the identification so hard

So, my questions:

1) Is it a Centurion? Or something else entirely?

2) My friend is willing to sell the pen to me but neither of us can figure out what a fair price would be. Okay, it's a promotional pen, but Centurions seem to be fairly rare as well, and this specimen is in a very good condition, too. (And, Amsterdam Stock Exchange has been history for nearly a decade also, heh!) Even after searching through net auction sites all over the world, I haven't been able to find any quotes for any Centurions. What should I pay for the pen?

-- Kupukello,

Helsinki, Finland

Edited August 6, 2009 by kupukello

August 6, 2009

Yes, that is a Centurion.

Similar in appearance to the Laureat - however, in my view, not as good.

If I remember correctly, it is a lighter pen, the body and cap being made of plastic. Wrote reasonably well but not as smooth as the Laureat.

This was a relatively cheap pen in the Waterman range and, although your friends' pen is boxed and appears to be in good condition, I would value it at around 10-15 Euros.

August 6, 2009

1) Yes - it is a Waterman Centurion....I recognise it because I have one in a green marbled colour. The build quality is okay provided it isn't thrown around too much.

It writes quite well with a nice wet line with only a degree of feedback. It's a cheaper version of the Waterman Laureat which has a better build quality and greater heft - but I would argue - the same nib as the Centurion. The next model up from the Centurion is the Waterman Maestro ( which is collectible ).

2) Because it's an entry level 'Student' cartridge pen - it's rarity doesn't necessarily mean that it will fetch a premium price - although bright marble colours will be more attractive to a collector ( your colour appears to have a very light marble dark blue colour ).

Generally, if there is no logo on the pen then this is more attractive to a collector, but it depends on the logo - 'Amsterdam Stock Exchange' sounds interesting - sell it to someone from the financial markets and you may get slightly more money.

I would suggest a price of about £10 to £13 pounds sterling for your pen because of the very light marble effect dark blue colour and because of the 'Amsterdam Stock Exchange Logo' which has an interesting history.

I hope this helps. kavanagh

Edited August 6, 2009 by kavanagh

August 7, 2009

The pen is definitely plastic and very lightweight, even the box it came in doesn't pretend to be anything else but that. My other Waterman, which I've decided is an Executive (heck if I knew!) weighs twice as much. I usually stay away from F nibs (totally unsuitable for my boisterous handwriting...) but this particular specimen feels very good in my hand and even better when writing. Definitely a keeper!

.... Compared to another Mysterious Waterman (Executive?)

10e-15e sounds like a reasonable price, thank you for your help!

August 7, 2009

The colour is blue marble, and a very pleasant blue at that, even when the pen has this very annoying plastic-y feeling to it. The logo bothers me too, I doubt it will have any other than entertainment value in the future either. As far as I know, the pen has been used for the duration of one cartridge only and then it has been stowed away in the box, so in that regard it'd be a good buy, especially if we agree on the 10-15 e price range, hih! For all its tackiness (logos and all) it feels very good in my hand, and even better when writing.

Hmmm. Or, I could recycle the box to my other Waterman, which I think is a Executive and decidedly boxless.

Thank you for your help!

-- Kupukello, still in Helsinki, Finland

August 7, 2009

For all its tackiness (logos and all) it feels very good in my hand, and even better when writing.

-- Kupukello, still in Helsinki, Finland

The most important thing is whether you find it pleasant to use and how it writes - and it sounds as though it scores on both fronts. Enjoy your purchase!

I wouldn't worry too much about the logo. 'Amsterdam Stock Exchange' has an certain upmarket appeal, better than say an advert for dog food!

The other pen is a Waterman Exclusive - a much more upmarket model. Your box would be useful for storing this pen but the original box would have been a more luxurious one.

August 7, 2009

Ah! Waterman Exclusive! Now I have a name for that pen, too, thank you! I bought it from Penfriend in London a few years ago, the price wasn't exactly low but I liked the feel and look of the pen. It's got a nice ... flat (?) nib, perfect for italics. Back then I didn't realize how important the box is, so I didn't even ask for one when they put the pen in a Penfriend pouch.

The rest of my pens I think I know the name of: my workhorse Pelikan M200 (trustworthy companion for nearly two decades already), the tacky shiny Faber Castell e-Motion, the pretty Aurora Style and a dozen of nameless, leaking, awful but pretty cheap-os, the queen of them being the weird Bic (!!) Turn & Up fountain pen.

(See? I got an excuse to list my lovelies!)

August 12, 2009

The pen is definitely plastic and very lightweight, even the box it came in doesn't pretend to be anything else but that. My other Waterman, which I've decided is an Executive (heck if I knew!) weighs twice as much. ....

Your other pen is an Exclusive.

An Executive looks like this:

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7669/watermanexec1we4.jpg

August 14, 2009

The centurion body and cap were made of brass on which a specific coated lacquered marbled paint was applied. So, it is not a that lightweight pen. It is a smaller variant of the laureat but with a firmer nib. The centurion was a mid range- beginning of the high range line of waterman back in the day.

August 15, 2009

A friend of mine showed me this mysterious Waterman pen he got as a gift in early 90's, and I then spent a good half day trying to identify it. Based on this entry I'm guessing it's a Centurion, but is it?

It's a Waterman for sure, in a blue plastic box and all:

On one side of the cap it proudly states "Amsterdam Stock Exchange"

And on the other it's "Amsterdamse Effectenbeurs"

The ribbing on the barrel, which made the identification so hard

So, my questions:

1) Is it a Centurion? Or something else entirely?

2) My friend is willing to sell the pen to me but neither of us can figure out what a fair price would be. Okay, it's a promotional pen, but Centurions seem to be fairly rare as well, and this specimen is in a very good condition, too. (And, Amsterdam Stock Exchange has been history for nearly a decade also, heh!) Even after searching through net auction sites all over the world, I haven't been able to find any quotes for any Centurions. What should I pay for the pen?

-- Kupukello,
Helsinki, Finland

Yes all are correct it is a Waterman Centurion the price for this pen new in 1990 was £22.50 including VAT, I have two of these, they are superb pens, very classy and elegant, the Laureat 44 was £39.00, the Graduate was £7.99.

The price list I have starting at the highest price and going down for all models is as follows:- Man - Gentleman- Lady- Exclusive- Jetset- Laureat 44 -Supermaster GLD plate - Centurion- Agora 12- Campus- Intenational- Forum-Graduate.

The Centurion in Waterman advertising Autumn in 1990 the pen is noted "As a contemporary note of elegance and warmth" and an up to the minute pen, with an original and refined design, coordinating bands and cap clip and a nib plated with fine gold. The Centurion is available in subtle laquer shades: green or blue marble, tobacco or sienna.

I write with one of these daily and the nib glides buttery smooth and whisper quiet.

Hope this information is of help and interest to you, enjoy your pen.

Regards babgynut