Review: Waterman Expert 3 Matte Black Fountain Pen @KnightsWritingC

Thanks to Knights Writing Co. for lending me this pen for review! I haven't reviewed any modern Waterman fountain pens recently. I've spent several months with this one to really get a feel for it and it's pretty decent.

ABOUT

Body material: Resin
Trim: Chrome
Cap: Snap on
Posts: Yes, snap on
Nib material: Steel
Filling system: Standard international cartridge/converter
Length (capped): 141.29 mm/5.50"
Length (uncapped): 125.36 mm/4.94"
Length (posted): 150.88 mm/5.94"
Length (section): 26.69 mm/1.05"
Diameter (barrel): 10.09 - 12.62 mm/0.40" - 0.50"
Diameter (section): 9.52 - 11.26 mm/0.38" - 0.44"
Weight (all): 27 g
Weight (cap): 11 g
Weight (body): 16 g
Price: $220.00 CAD
Where to buy: Knights Writing Co.

PACKAGING

Waterman's pen presentation is consistent between models and simple, so I like it. The box is a hard blue clamshell that has a silky smooth texture. It has a ribbon of blue across the middle. The pen sits inside on a velvety cream colored bed. The bed is removable - underneath you will find warranty information and an ink cartridge. I love the texture of the boxes as well as the color. It's a secure, robust box.

APPEARANCE

The Expert 3 is a classy pen. It isn't fancy or complicated but I like the simple and elegant design. It is round, tapering towards the ends. The end of the barrel is blunt and flat with a shiny resin end. The finial is a shiny black top with an angled edge, featuring the W logo. I like the shape and especially that angled top as it's not just another cigar (which I also like). The clip is attached externally to a chrome ring around the top of the cap. It's a tie-shaped clip - sort of - and has the W logo engraved in the chrome at the top, as well as a slit running down the middle.

The cap and barrel are all matte, brushed resin, which contrasts nicely with the shiny ends and chrome trim. The center band is wide, located at the end of the cap. It is chrome with a glossy black band near the bottom and is engraved with Waterman Paris, France.

The section is smooth black resin, round, and tapers slightly near the nib before flaring out into a wide ridge. There are no cap threads and the step up to the barrel is small. The design and appearance are pretty classic and it appeals to me.

NIB & PERFORMANCE

The nib is a steel fine. It has a single slit and no breather hole, coupled with a plastic feed. The nib is engraved with the W logo, Waterman Paris, and F (fine). It's on the plain side but it does suit the pen in its simplicity. As I expect from Waterman, the nib is a reliable performer. It's smooth with a touch of feedback, no skips or hard starts, is on the dry side for notetaking and journaling, dries quickly, and it is definitely a great choice for daily use. It isn't going to make your inks pop off the page, but it will do what a proper fountain pen should do. It's a solid performer - just no issues. It's a firm nib and offers only a tiny bit of line variation. It also serves well for fast writing.

The cartridge pops into place easily and a converter is easy to use. One downside: at this price, the pen should come with a Waterman converter and it's crazy that it doesn't.

IN HAND

The clip is snug but springy. It can be lifted to slide it on and off pockets, pouches, and papers, and it holds tightly in place.

The section is really comfortable and I like it. No sharp edges, no slipping, even though it's smooth to the touch. Great for long writing sessions.

Top to bottom: Omas Divine ballpoint, Waterman Perspective, Waterman Expert 3, Lamy Safari.

Unposted, the pen is not particularly heavy but the weight, length, and balance come together well to make this a comfortable pen. For long writing sessions, I prefer the pen unposted. The cap posts with a click so it's secure, won't fall off, and it's also very satisfying! It is still well balanced because it posts deeply and it doesn't feel top heavy, but I still prefer to use it unposted.

PROS & CONS

OVERALL

Waterman manufactures reliable, safe pens. They write well, perform well, and are well made. My real issue with this pen is the price. At around $220 CAD, it's insanely expensive and it doesn't even come with a converter. It is a great writer, it's reliable, pretty good looking, and it's comfortable, but $220? On the other hand, it can be counted on to work for new users and experienced writers - great as a gift because you won't have to worry about it working or not. No tuning, no adjustments, it just works out of the box.

What do you think of it? Is it worth the price?


I was loaned this item free of charge for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion. The pen has been returned to Knights Writing Co.