What does the word "warranted" mean?

[jbb]

What does it mean when a nib is Warranted 14K? Is that the same as simply being 14K? Are any nibs warranted that are NOT 14K?

[Paddler]

I read (in the History Forum?) that the word "Warranted" is a brand name and has no meaning other than that.

 

Paddler

 

[OldGriz]

Warranted nibs are just that.... warranted to be 14K gold.... they ARE NOT a brand name

[Kimo]

The word warranted was a marketing term to give people confidence that the nib really was 14K pure. You see it often on 'no name' nibs where people wanted some assurance that the nib was not just gold plated.

[jbb]

The word warranted was a marketing term to give people confidence that the nib really was 14K pure. You see it often on 'no name' nibs where people wanted some assurance that the nib was not just gold plated.

Thanks. That's what it seemed to mean but I wasn't sure.

[Hoarder68]

It is guaranteed to contain at least 58.5% gold.

[jbb]

It is guaranteed to contain at least 58.5% gold.

Is that the amount that 14K has?

[dumdummuoi]

It is guaranteed to contain at least 58.5% gold.

Is that the amount that 14K has?

 

Yes. Hence the "14K - 585" imprint on some nibs. 99.99% gold is 24K. Similarly, 18K - 750: 18K = 75% of 24K.

[Johnny Appleseed]

Warranted is similar in meaning to guaranteed. "Warranted 14K" nibs were supposedly guaranteed as being actual 14K, as opposed to many nibs that would say "14K Gold / Plate" where plate was imprinted so far down the tail of the nib as to be covered by the section.

 

However - and this is intentionally a big however - not all nibs that say Warranted are 14K. "Warranted" was only "Warranted" for what came after it - I have also seen "Warranted Iridium Tipped", "Warranted 14K Gold Plate" and "Warranted Wing-Flow" and a few others. If it doesn't say "Warranted 14K" then assume it is not gold.

 

I also don't know if there was any meaningful enforcement to the "Warranted 14K" stamping, so it could have been abused (but most "Warranted 14K" nibs I have seen have been gold).

 

John

[jbb]

While we're on the topic: Are all, most, many or just some 14K warranted nibs flexible?

[Hoarder68]

It is guaranteed to contain at least 58.5% gold.

Is that the amount that 14K has?

Yes, the weight of the gold in the nib must be 58.5% of the total weight. That is 14K, not 12K or 13K that is sometimes represented as 14K.

 

[Hoarder68]

While we're on the topic: Are all, most, many or just some 14K warranted nibs flexible?

I would say that depends on what the alloy used with the gold is.

 

[DanF]

While we're on the topic: Are all, most, many or just some 14K warranted nibs flexible?

No, they could fall anywhere along flex/rigid continuum. The size is often smaller than the # might suggest compared to a branded nib.

 

Dan

[RevAaron]

As others have said:

 

- NOT a brand!

- Most of the two dozen warranted nibs I've used had a nice bit of flex, but they can be anywhere between nail and noodle

- Usually, it means warranted to have 14k / 58.5% gold, but some less reputable companies made nibs w/ imprints like:

 

"WARRANTED

14KGP"

(14k gold plated steel nib)

 

or

 

"WARRANTED

14K

 

 

 

PLATE

"

(14k gold plated steel nib, trying to be tricky)

 

(edit to add)

I've also seen chrome-plated steel nibs that way "IRIDIUM WARRANTED" or something funky like "SUPERPECIALNIBMATERIIUM WARRANTED."

(end edit)

 

I've never had a non-scammy warranted nib turn out to be gold plate, though I imagine they exist. But, don't let it worry you... Which brings me to my last point:

 

 

- DO NOT LET A WARRANTED NIB SCARE YOU AWAY!

 

I've used a lot of lovely warranted nibs, many of which I'd happily take over a stiff Sheaffer's Lifetime or Duofold nib. You can often find pens with them for small amounts ($5-15 on eBay) that can be made to be good writers with little work. Don't let a few bad warranted nib experiences sour you- because they're not related in any way to each other other than a minimal gold content, some will be bad, some great, and most just fine.

 

They are the best proof of "don't judge a book by its cover" you can think of. When deciding whether or not to buy a pen that happens to have a warranted nib, go by demonstrated writing properties, not by brand name- a writing sample and a description will be much more useful than knowing it is made by Parker, Waterman, or Sheaffer.

 

OK, rant over!

 

Regards,

Aaron

Edited December 16, 2008 by RevAaron

[Johnny Appleseed]

As said, warranted nibs can range from stiff to uber-flexy.

 

One bit of caution on flexy "warranted 14K" nibs, however. Sometimes they are flexible, and sometimes they are just thin. Thin nibs will flex more than thick ones, but they can also permanently bend and be damaged more easily. There is a difference between cheap flex and quality flex, and Warranted nibs can come in both flavors.

 

Some Warranted 14K nibs are just to die for, and some are dogs. It is like anything, though since there is no single brand or manufacture, the results vary much more widely than with branded nibs.

 

John

Edited December 16, 2008 by Johnny Appleseed

[gregamckinney]

The best reference I know of regarding Warranted nibs is by Rob Astyk, and can be found at Lion & Pen.

 

Regards, greg

[chickpea]

warranted, like others have mentioned means that it is guaranteed to contain ~58% gold. What does that get you if the nib is, in fact, NOT ~58% gold? It gives you a breach of warranty, which is a lawsuit against the person who sold you the pen, for the breach. You will be entitled to the difference between what you have (a nib that isn't 58% gold) and what you were promised (a nib that is ~58% gold). Is it worth bringing a lawsuit for this, probably not. So in reality, the term warranted 14K does not really provide you with any sort of added benefit. It would be no different if the nib had no writing on it, but instead was advertised as a 14K solid gold nib. Really, you are far better off purchasing a product from a merchant that you trust over relying on warranties. Same goes for all purchases (whether a trivial purchase or a multimillion dollar purchase). Ultimately, the best guarantee of performance is a trustworthy person across the table from you.

Edited December 16, 2008 by chickpea

[Hoarder68]

Antique pocket watches were stamped warranted to assay 14K or 18K to assure that the gold used in the case was .585 or .750 pure gold.

[Hoarder68]

What does it mean when a nib is Warranted 14K? Is that the same as simply being 14K? Are any nibs warranted that are NOT 14K?

Items marked 14K have a tolerance of plus or minus one half of a karat. Warranted 14K can exceed the 14K but must be at least .585 fine gold.

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

warranted, like others have mentioned means that it is guaranteed to contain ~58% gold. What does that get you if the nib is, in fact, NOT ~58% gold? It gives you a breach of warranty, which is a lawsuit against the person who sold you the pen, for the breach. You will be entitled to the difference between what you have (a nib that isn't 58% gold) and what you were promised (a nib that is ~58% gold). Is it worth bringing a lawsuit for this, probably not. So in reality, the term warranted 14K does not really provide you with any sort of added benefit. It would be no different if the nib had no writing on it, but instead was advertised as a 14K solid gold nib. Really, you are far better off purchasing a product from a merchant that you trust over relying on warranties. Same goes for all purchases (whether a trivial purchase or a multimillion dollar purchase). Ultimately, the best guarantee of performance is a trustworthy person across the table from you.

 

Just to be clear on the matter, nibs stamped "Warranted 14K" were generally made between 1900-1950, so lawsuits are really not an option (if you could even determine who made the nibs in the 1st place). Nobody stamps their nibs "Warranted 14K" anymore, so it is not relevant to new pens. While the advise on trustworthyness is generally good advice it isn't really the issue here.

 

John