If you are new to high-end or luxury pens, you’ll notice that many of today’s long-established pen companies have a long history in the USA and France. In fact, during the late 1800s and the early 1900s, the competition among the pen industry was fierce.
And one of the older pen companies is WATERMAN.
Back in the early 1880’s, an insurance salesman in New York named Lewis Edson Waterman lost a big sale with a client because of a leaking fountain pen that leaked ink all over the contract.
So in 1884, the insurance salesman turned pen salesmen, Waterman invented the “Three Fissure Feed” system which prevents excessive discharge of ink when a pen is in use. Waterman would file a patent for its first reliable fountain pen in New York: The REGULAR.
In 1888, Lewis Edson Waterman would create the “Ideal Pen Company”, which would later be renamed to LE WATERMAN.
The company would receive the gold medal of excellence at the “Exposition Universelle” in Paris in 1900. While Lewis Edson Waterman would pass away in 1901, his nephew Frank D. Waterman would become the new leader of the company and by 1904, WATERMAN patented the first permanently attached pen clip, so people could have the pen clipped to their pocket.
In 1908, the company would release their first retractable-nib “safety” pen.
But the company’s French connection would take place in 1926 as Jules Fagard created the JIF-WATERMAN company in France and the branch would manufacture WATERMAN pens in France.
And in 1953, the company would introduce their new design of their WATERMAN clip inspired by a futuristic design of a missile.
But while the New York-based company thrived in the late 1800’s, unfortunately their competitors gained the upperhand and WATERMAN in the US shut down in 1954. But the WATERMAN brand in France, continued to prosper.
The company has been owned by several companies such as the Bic company, The Gillette Company and is now owned by Sanford, L.P., who also owns WATERMAN’s longtime competitor, PARKER. But to this day, WATERMAN is headquartered in Paris, France.
And the company produces inexpensive pens such as their Waterman Graduate ($14.55) to higher-end pens such as the Waterman Expert Ballpoint Pen featuring a metallic black lacquer with ruthenium trim for $108.19.
The WATERMAN Expert, according to WATERMAN, is “Hand-crafted in France, the collection features updated, modern finishes & a wealth of exquisite materials including rich, deep lacquers and fine engraving and a elegant nib that gives a smooth and effortless writing experience”.
The WATERMAN Expert features “black ruthenium-plated trims, black PVD-coated stainless steel nib, and metallic effect lacquer and is, quite simply, made to stand out. Made in France, benefitting from Waterman’s in house craftsmanship”.
The WATERMAN Expert is elegant but the black version is more gunmetal gray and while the pen is smooth, it is not as smooth as my high-end PARKER, but I do like it.
The Waterman ballpoink ink refill are about $6 for one refill and is cheaper to buy one on Amazon versus buying a set of three.
But overall, I do like the WATERMAN Expert and company has no doubt a long history and I do recommend it,
