Best Waterman For The Money ?

[spraine]

Hi folks-

 

In the past 10 years or so, what is the best Waterman fountain pen for the money?

 

Put another way: what model gives the best, most reliable performance at the best price?

 

Thanks,

Steve

[Xof72000]

I've never manage to answer that question ...

 

"What is the best car ?" ... "best pen ?" ... it all depends of what you are looking for !

Do you want a "quick" writing pen ? one with a flexy nib ? ... just like buying a car (for example) depends very much on the use you will have of it, I think there is no universal truth.

[spraine]

Hi-

Not looking for universal truth.

 

Just seeking personal opinions. Isn't that all anyone can offer, anyway?

 

I expect the factors mentioned, and others, to be part of why people feel a particular pen (or two? or ?) would answer the question.

 

 

Perhaps a third way of asking the question is to pose:

 

"About which of your Waterman pens do you feel, 'Wow! This pen is worth every penny I spent on it, and more!'"

 

 

The problem I see there is that that may always be true for the most expensive pens, which is NOT the original question.

 

 

Thanks, in advance, for taking another look at the question.

 

 

Steve

[rhosygell]

A vintage 56, 15 PSF, 452, Ink Vue and 94 in no particular order.

 

 

 

[gvl]

A vintage 56, 15 PSF, 452, Ink Vue and 94 in no particular order.

 

Good pens but I don't think these would come under "last 10 years or so".

 

Waterman Laureat and Phileas are both highly regarded modern pens at the cheap to middling price range although second hand prices seem to have risen recently.

 

If you don't mind having a pen with a harder less flexible nib, the Carene is a more expensive pen and has a solid gold nib. The Expert is somewhat cheaper but is still a good quality pen but without the gold nib.

[GardenWeasel]

Maybe not in the last 10 years...but its hard to beat the LeMan 100 as a "forever" pen... it could easily be the one-and-only pen needed (and no, that is not sacrilege!)

[esteroids]

For little money I like the Forum. It's got the Laureat nib and feed, similar size but with plastic construction, some fun colors and also chrome bodies. My favorite right now is a fluted chrome with a stubbed M nib.

 

Exclusives are still going for low prices. If you like slender pens their nibs are wonderful, though firm.

[Freddy]

Hi folks-

 

In the past 10 years or so, what is the best Waterman fountain pen for the money?

 

Put another way: what model gives the best, most reliable performance at the best price?

 

Thanks,

Steve

 

For your consideration..Waterman Le Man { 100 / 200 } or any Waterman made using

100 / 200 chassis..such as Opera..Rhapsody..Patrician..Night & Day..et al..

 

Hope this helps..

 

Fred

[MarneM]

I've heard contrary opinions, but I love my Expert II (mine is in the color "Smart Blue"). It was my first fountain pen. It wrote smoothly right out of the box. I love the weight of it, and I love how it looks. It writes with a lovely, fine line, and has never had any issues with skipping or starting.

 

My other "best Waterman for the money" has been my Ebay purchase of a Waterman C/F from the 1950's. Technically this doesn't fit in with the "last ten years" stipulation, but I did buy it within the last year, so it's a model that is available, even if not commercially. There seem to be plenty of them floating about. Mine was $12. If you throw in the $10 converter and shipping for said converter from France, the total was around $30. Again, it suits me very well. It's slim and has a very fine line, with just a little bit of flex. I use it for most of my daily tasks, including all my journal writing, and I've yet to have any problems with it. Plus, I'm less afraid of losing or damaging it than I am of the more-expensive Expert.

[Effin1]

Waterman Taperite. I can't say that it's the most stylish pen I own but it's solidly built and easy to repair. Mine writes with a smooth wet line and, IMO, they are relatively cheap to buy

[watvolk]

Best deal for me is the Exclusive or the Preface which has followed the Exclusive line.

120 Euro for a pen with 18k nib, available as Obligue and Stub - that's it.

Kind regards,

Volker

[torstar]

The Phileas for $25 never failed me.

 

The Expert for $100 (?) was a great graduation gift until I broke it 6 years later.

 

My Edson for half price used has been a treasured part of the rotation for 10 years.

 

The LeMan II was great until stolen from work.

[haldane3]

The Carene. Modern, stylish, smooth performer.

[Bearcat]

LeMan is good. The brass bodied Experts are a good value. Carenes are sweet, but over-priced IMHO.

[olivier78860]

In the last ten years, I would say the Liaison, in black hard rubber, with a fine semi flex nib; it has a very nice line.

[Freddy]

In the last ten years, I would say the Liaison, in black hard rubber, with a fine semi flex nib; it has a very nice line.

 

Please elaborate re: Liaison in Black Hard Rubber..I was only aware of Brown..Orange..Green in ebonite..

with the black made of resin..ie plastic..

 

Thank you for your consideration..

 

Fred

Edited October 10, 2012 by Freddy

[olivier78860]

In the last ten years, I would say the Liaison, in black hard rubber, with a fine semi flex nib; it has a very nice line.

 

Please elaborate re: Liaison in Black Hard Rubber..I was only aware of Brown..Orange..Green in ebonite..

with the black made of resin..ie plastic..

 

Thank you for your consideration..

 

Fred

 

You're right actually. I thought I had read about it but it seems my memories got mixed up. I've got the orange and black one, and it's a really nice pen, by the way.

[Freddy]

Thank you..

 

Fred

[Tdot]

Perhaps a third way of asking the question is to pose:

 

"About which of your Waterman pens do you feel, 'Wow! This pen is worth every penny I spent on it, and more!'"

I can't think of any modern Waterman that doesn't make me feel that way. Even though that's true, I never liked the lower end plastic or skinny models (though they're fine pens).

 

The problem I see there is that that may always be true for the most expensive pens, which is NOT the original question.

I don't know where "expensive" boundaries are, or what the going rate is for my favorites, but my votes go to

• 
   
  
• Le Man 100/200
  
• L'Etalon
  
• Carene
  

I've owned from the basic to the flagship from Waterman, and those three models are my workhorse values worth more than whatever the price tag was.

[Kaptenmork]

I have two expert (II), they cost less than 100$, very good quality and always works.