Waterman Expert Fountain Pen, Gloss Black with 23k Gold Trim, Medium Nib, Luxury Pen in Gift Box, Fountain Pen for Writing

This Waterman Expert Fountain Pen is the single finest pen I have ever had the privilege of owning. It flows smoothly and evenly, and never has any false starts. The pen is just the right thickness for my large hands, making for a very comfortable and easy writing experience. The black lacquer and 23k gold trim & nib are vibrant and gorgeous to look at, and its craftsmanship is top of the line. When writing, the ink drys rather quickly on paper (I use Waterman ink exclusively). Furthermore, even if I have not written with this pen in a few weeks or a month, I can open it up and begin writing with zero issues starting or flowing. It has become my only writing tool, as nothing else can suffice. The strokes are clean and crisp, and - even as a left-handed writing - glide across the paper. In short, this pen is phenomenal and will make for a wonderful lifelong writing companion.

I've had it only a few weeks, and already this beautiful pen has joined the Waterman Carene on my desk as a beloved favorite that I reach for often. It's my fifth Waterman fountain pen, and it has everything I love about the others, namely the super smooth and lusciously wet nib. It may be a fine nib, but it definitely doesn't write like most fine nibs. The ink flow is generous without being a gusher, and always ready to go even if I don't write with it a few days. Never any hard starts or skips. No nib creep, either. Like their inks, the mid- and higher-end Waterman pens like this one are always well-behaved in their writing. The pen is on the hefty side, but never uncomfortable or heavy to the touch, although people used to lighter pens like, say, a TWSBI Eco may find it tiring at first. After a while, though, you don't notice the weight. Posted or not, it's always perfectly balanced in the hand, which helps more than anything with reducing hand fatigue. Because it has such classic, classy looks, this is the kind of pen you can proudly give someone for a promotion or graduation, and it can last a lifetime despite everyday usage, as long as you maintain it properly. This is the brand I recommend most often for people who don't know fountain pens well. I have never had a bad Waterman experience. I'm sure it's possible to have one, no company doesn't put out some boo-boos, but I have yet to get one from Waterman. As long as that continues, I will continue to assure everyone that the chances of a great writing experience with a Waterman is higher than with most companies, and you don't have to break the bank for it, either. Sure, this pen can be on the pricey side compared to some pens, but compared to other luxury brands? Watermans are downright bargains in comparison to several brands that don't necessarily write any better.

This is the most expensive pen I've ever bought. So I'm not able to compare it to other higher priced devices. But I've loved fountain pens for years and made extensive use of lesser ones. Until a few years ago I had a nice Waterman fountain pen that I bought at an art supply store for $35 (in 1998). The Expert is slightly slimmer, but heavier than that one. Took me a minute to get used to the weight but now it seems natural. I've had the pen a month now and am impressed with how smoothly it writes. I bought a converter also (not included) and some ink, and even with frequent usage I'm still using the same ink from the first time filling it. It does not dry out quickly like my previous pens apparently did. The worst was when I went a whole week without using it, but after dipping the tip in a capful of clean water it wrote perfectly. Usually it starts writing right away with no problems. Previously I've had medium point nibs while this is a fine, so it's hard to compare the writing. The Expert seems a little more scratchy than my cheaper one was, but far less temperamental in terms of writing angles and workable stroke directions. Also it wrote without skipping right from the start and didn't need any kind of wearing in period. (Unlike previous pens I've had). It does occasionally skip still if I get it turned at the wrong angle, but it's far more forgiving of that than I ever would have expected. Overall I have no serious regrets. Wish it cost less but that's so for almost everything. It doesn't come in the marbled blue and black color that my previous pen had, else I would have got that instead. I got the black with gold trim, which looks elegant and professional. I would prefer something more unique, but it does look very good. No complaints. Highly recommended.

Excellent mid-tier fountain pen. Well-made, sturdy, and the nib flows very well. Complements the Waterman rollerball and ballpoint if considering.

The Waterman Expert is a midrange fountain pen, a good daily writer at a fair price it has been rated one of the best pens in its price range by at least one trustworthy reviewer. Beyond that it's essentially subjective, unquestionably a competent pen, but not one to make an impression either favorable or unfavorable. The look is subjective. Because the top rises further above the clip than most pens, the overall length is slightly longer than most pens, and it is more visible than most when pocketed, but when the pen is posted it has the same length as a Parker Sonnet, The cap slides off, but when put in place or posted there is a solid clicking around which is reassuring. The stainless steel medium nib is quite wet, (NB I use Pelikan ink and have not tried this pen with other inks.) The pen is apparently made in France. In the end, this is a well made, attractive pen at a good price point, suited for every day writing by people who buy fountain to use rather than to collect. My experience with Waterman pens is that they're reliable and durable.

Best pen for the money. no skips, moderately smooth, minimal feedback on junk pad paper. My wife HATES fountain pens because she says they are a PITA, but she tried this one and said, now if they all wrote like this, I would get one. I asked her if she wanted it and said no because it was to basic and plain looking. I agree. Good daily driver, not anything special to look at. I love my Waterman Carene L’Essence du Bleu pen, but it's more than 3X so... I have yet to get a bad Waterman, unlike my equal love of Visconti pens, but that is like buying/playing Russian roulette or buying Forrest Gump chocolates.

The Waterman Expert fountain pen arrived today on schedule and included a wonderful blue ink. The fine nib writes well and is what I hoped for. The pen weighs about 30g which gives a good solid feel and is about 50% when posted vs the Lamy Safari Vista that I was using previously before backing over it with my car last week, sadly. I must note also that I very much like the clip tension on this Waterman Expert. It is not crazy tight so slides onto my clothing without me worrying it is going to mess up my shirt pocket, which is nice. This pen feels like good quality and I appreciate that the cap snaps onto the pen both when capping it and when posting it to write. Extremely satisfying and makes me know that I don't need to worry about it coming off and inking anything accidentally.

I wanted to like this pen. I don't and didn't so I returned it. Issues: 1. Not a smooth writing experience at all. Scratchy, scratches paper. Later got the Duke Charlie Chaplin which was far less expensive and provided the smooth consistent writing experience that one expects out of a Waterman. 2. Skips. As if the scratchy writing itself was an insufficient complaint (and a certain level of scratchiness can occur, does occur, with fine and extra fine point nibs but usually in less expensive pens like the Lemay Safari (which is still a very nice pen), but the Waterman not only scratched paper but it skipped; one would be writing or trying to write, and then find an entire letter or letters not being written, not receiving any ink. I cleaned the pen thinking there might be an issue, but no joy. The pen was just an extraordinarily bad writing experience. So, I returned the pen. I enjoy the Duke Charlie Chaplin though I liked the length of the Waterman better, and the Lemay as well as another EF nib pen that I got are much more serviceable -- they are not as smooth as the Duke, but they provide a nice writing legibility and they are consistent -- no skipping. I doubt I'll be re-visiting a Waterman. Pity.