Waterman fountain pens in the UK: Waterman made the Laureat during the mid-to-late 1990s, and possibly into the early 2000s. (I’m not a vintage expert – all I know is that it’s no longer available and by the time I was back into the hobby in 2010, they had disappeared from store shelves.) I purchased this particular pen in London, in 1999, when I lived in Strasbourg, France and spent many a weekend visiting friends who were studying in London at the same time. As a slimmer pen, the Laureat made for a great introduction into the world of fountain pens because at the time it felt very similar to the “stick” ballpoints and rollerballs that I regularly used in school. It slotted easily into my Filofax pen loop, and the cap was designed to post easily onto the back of the barrel. Despite the lacquered brass construction, the slim barrel meant that the pen maintained a usable weight and decent balance. Find more information on https://www.penshop.co.uk/pens/waterman/ballpoint-pens-waterman.
The writing is smooth with very limited skipping, fast dry time, and none of the headache of liquid ink which can dry out inside the pen too quickly if the cap is left off. And the two ink color choices are solid: a nice inky black and their trademark Mysterious Blue. With that in mind, you might be thinking: what’s the point of paying for a more premium, expensive Waterman pen if they all have the same writing mechanism? What makes a pen? Ultimately, how the ink flows out of the tip of the pen is just one small factor in how well a pen actually writes. Especially with rollerballs, factors like the size of the pen, the weight, the shape, the finish all play important roles in preventing hand cramps and ensuring a long-lasting, comfortable jot. The other major price factor is the materials used to make the pen. An entry level Waterman pen will not have the same quality of materials in the construction and finery as the higher end product lines. Waterman pens are a timeless brand with a design aesthetic that always says classic, refined, elegant.
Consider gifting a high-quality pen alongside a handwritten note. This gesture elevates the gift, showing that you not only value the recipient but also the art of writing itself. It’s a simple yet profound way to convey your appreciation, whether it’s for a colleague’s hard work, a friend’s support, or a loved one’s kindness. Pens are versatile gifts suitable for various occasions. Whether it’s a birthday, graduation, wedding, or a simple “thank you,” a pen can fit the bill. Here are some occasions where a pen makes an excellent gift: Graduation Ceremonies – Graduations are monumental milestones in one’s life. A pen symbolizes the knowledge gained and the journeys yet to come. Gifting a pen to a graduate encourages them to write their future, set goals, and document their experiences. A personalized pen engraved with their name or graduation date adds an extra layer of sentimentality.
If your steel-nibbed fountain pen is not going to be used for some time, we recommend you clean it and remove all the ink from the nib. This will give you the maximum service from your nib. One of the softer metals, solid gold has less ability to bend back into its original shape than steel, which makes it ideal for fountain pen nibs. As you start to write with a solid gold nib, it will begin to respond to the pressure you exert on your pen and begin to fit or ‘bed in’ to your style of handwriting. We recommend that after purchase, you use your gold-nibbed fountain pen every day for at least two or three weeks. After this amount of use, then, your nib will write in this way for the rest of its life.
Uncover the wide variety of pen types with our detailed guide. From the daily essentials to specialty writing instruments, this guide illuminates the distinct features and uses of 14 different types of pens, catering to a spectrum of writing needs and preferences. For many, the reliable ballpoint pen is the preferred option. It uses an oil-based ink dispensed by a tiny spinning ball-bearing included in the design. This one-of-a-kind mechanism controls ink flow for dependable writing every time.