Caran D'ache Leman Review

[jar]

I have just acquired my first Leman in rhodium and medium blue, and unscrewing the barrel from the section seems to take a lot of effort (and many, many turns), and as someone mentioned earlier is a very squeaky procedure. Is this normal? Will the aforementioned grease improve both aspects or should I be returning the pen?

 

I have to say I haven't found the build quality as remarkable as I expected, although I can see the pen lasting many years without issue. Maybe I'm spoiled because I have some other very fine pens which seem more impressive. Both St Dupont and Cartier appear far more precision engineered and smooth in operation, if perhaps slightly less robust.

Totally normal. Remember that the Leman is one of the economy Cd'A pens, the next step up from the Ecridor line. I find my Varius and Hexagonal models closer in attention to detail to my ST Duponts.

[Batman]

Totally normal. Remember that the Leman is one of the economy Cd'A pens, the next step up from the Ecridor line. I find my Varius and Hexagonal models closer in attention to detail to my ST Duponts.

Interesting, I always thought the Leman was Cd'A's flagship pen.

[aggoo]

Thanks for the assistance Jar. Glad it it normal. I'll lubricate the section a bit and see if it improves.

I had to laugh a little at your description of the Leman as an "economy" pen. Here is Australia it retails for $1100. I dread to think how much a premium pen should cost!

[jar]

Thanks for the assistance Jar. Glad it it normal. I'll lubricate the section a bit and see if it improves.

I had to laugh a little at your description of the Leman as an "economy" pen. Here is Australia it retails for $1100. I dread to think how much a premium pen should cost!

Yeah, prices can be crazy. There is the Ecridor that is considerably cheaper but then there are also the Varius and Hexagonal models with inlaid Chinese Laque and even the Ecridor is one fantastic pen.

[liberalartsthot]

I own the Caran d'Ache Leman Grand Bleu, M. I am an amateur and it is my first pen, quite heavy but getting used to it slowly! Wish it was more flexy, as I find it hard to do any sort of Calligraphy with it! Beautiful tho

[GregW]

CdA Leman vs. GvFC Ebony vs. Lamy 2000
 

I like sober but classy fountain pens for work - to write and sign my prescriptions, mostly. 

After having bought and used every day a black Lamy 2000, I was looking for a somewhat more classy looking pen and recently got a black CdA Léman. I hesitated a lot between the Léman and a Faber-Castel Classic Ebony. The Ebony’s nib is significantly smoother, softer and has a really generous sweet spot !! But its looks… not my taste, too artsy. 
Without being scratchy, the CdA does have a stiff nib (I tried several pieces) but it allows a very precise application of the ink. Its sweet spot is ok. I love its feel and engineering. 

 
The Lamy 2000 has a softer nib, with a sweet spot that is juuust fine. I had bought it online at Lamy and because its nib scratched, sent it back to Lamy to be adjusted.

 

Even though I really like the shape of the Lamy, I wish it looked more high end - which is not in contradiction with its Bauhaus design… think of the beautiful steel and black leather chairs ! 
 

Voilà voilà 🙂

 

[A1979]

On 6/26/2021 at 1:21 PM, GregW said:

CdA Leman vs. GvFC Ebony vs. Lamy 2000
 

Even though I really like the shape of the Lamy, I wish it looked more high end - which is not in contradiction with its Bauhaus design… think of the beautiful steel and black leather chairs ! 
 

Voilà voilà 🙂

 

Agree. I have been using the black Lamy 2000 (the Macrolon one) for a while, but it was definitely too light for my taste, so I sold it. Afterwards I’ve bought the stainless steel and the “Black Amber” versions, which I still have and use.