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DWL · ***

Waterman Expert info needed

georges zaslavsky · Experienced

I can show you my experts and my laureat collection

A circa 1995 1st generation Waterman Expert fountain pen in Black plastic and gold plated trim. For decades, Waterman has churned out unique designs, beautiful materials in vibrant colors. The Expert was originally produced in plastic that was light weight and featured a distinctive two-tone, steel nib. They also had a firm clutch to the cap that let you know it was snapped securely to the barrel. Around 2000, Waterman introduced the second generation Expert that never matched up to the first generation. The body was made lacquer over brass that dramatically increased the weight of the pen. The also redesigned the nib and, while the nibs wrote well, they looked cheap. Finally, they redesigned the clutch in the cap that did not engage to the barrel as securely as the first generation. Over time the clutch wears out and the cap can disengage from the barrel with little or no effort. These first generation Experts were a well kept secret and were underappreciated for their design, feel or how well they wrote. This pen measures 5.6 inches in length with the cap clutched snuggly to the barrel.

Expert I has a stiff nib, gold colored with sort of a chamfered shape to it, it's bevelled on both sides, rather than being rounded. The cap has a stylized "W" on the front, between the trim rings, and "Waterman Paris" on the back. The end of the cap is just solid plastic with a "W" embossed in it, also the barrel is plastic.
The Expert II has a gold insert in the end of the cap, has "Waterman Paris" on the front between the trim rings and "France" on the back. It has a two-tone rounded nib which is stamped with "Waterman Paris" and has a distinctively different collector. This pen is a bit heavier than the other one because of brass barrel.
Hope it helps

J M Pennifeather · Newbie

Lovely pens, the Expert looks a little different today. Not sure better or worse but prefer the older colours

jor412 · Vintage

That's a great collection. I have a black Laureat II (I think) and a green marbled one. Is there any way to change the nib on the laureats?�

georges zaslavsky wrote:

I can show you my experts and my laureat collection�

DWL · ***

Nib swaps are simple.

Soak the nib section in a cup of water for a few minutes to remove any dried ink, remove from water & dry.

Hold the nib/feed between your thumb & index finger, pinch and pull the nib/feed straight out. Clean and rinse again. Instillation is the exact opposite. Hold the nib/feed tight and push them back into place. Adjust nib for alignment & smoothness and your done.

jor412 · Vintage

Ok, I'll try that. I was trying to remove the nib w/o the water but got scared I might break it. :p Thanks!

-- Edited by jor412 on Saturday 23rd of April 2011 08:15:28 PM

DWL · ***

no worries, glad to help

Aerome · Newbie

I've got a couple of Expert II's and love them.� I didn't see a diamond on either.� The W in a six sided box (like a stop sign) and they both are gold and silver.� After buying a few pens on Ebay, these got me hooked on fountains.� I've even seen some swirl type pattern in the plastics in both the whites and blues.

jslallar · Newbie

these beauties are Expert I
older pen, parts not interchangeble with Expert II, but nearly the same.
no longer in production.

DWL · ***

Thanks. But those are all moved on to new homes some time ago. I miss the purple expert, it was a superb writer w a sweet broad nib.

jor412 · Vintage

I have another Laureat II with an "L" nib. What's an L nib? It seems to write like an M nib, although when I look at the tipping on both, the L nib seems broader.

I put my Laureat with an M nib away for a while and recently brought it back into rotation. After using several different pens, I now know why I got hooked on fountain pens. This was a really great first pen to start with. It writes with a smooth, wet line; starts right away even if I don't write with it daily; and has good heft for such a slim pen. The design isn't flashy but the pen is glossy enough and has enough trim to give it a business-like or even classic look.