The Man 100 was the flagship pen of Waterman for a number of years. So it should. Quite the writer. Well designed and classic looking pen.
I was really taken with the Man 100 and purchsed a number of pens in this line. The basic black, the big black pen that is a must for any pen user. The Man 100 was introduced in 1983, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the original U.S. firm. By now, Waterman ws all being produced in France.
A good design and the investment in design research and testing paid off. Waterman used for the Man 100 model for a number of other models. For example the Opera. A classic black pen with art deco design to the body finish. The Patricians, one of my favourite pens, were also based on the Man 100 body.
The silver and gold model was stunning. In 1999 Waterman issued the Limited Edition L'Etoile. Sterling silver, only 1,000 produced. Beside the body having a different pattern, the nib section was in silver, as was the top, so as opposed to the regular production Man 100 sterling silver with the black top and nib section, then pen was totally silver.
Based on the Man 100 body The Patrician can only be described as a beautiful pen. There are some eighteen layers of lacquer and varish that finsih the body of the pen.
The pen has an art deco look as it was meant to reflect on the original Patrician from the 1930's - to the degree that they could, using the M100 body. The pen has a great writing 18K gold nib.
I purchased the pens in blue, green and cardinal red, the three colours that first came out. I was told at the time to get ready for a purple and others. But, pen stores told me that the response to the pen was not as strong as Waterman expected, and the additional colours were never produced.
I still remember the day the folks at Vancouver Pen told me to give this pen a try. A love affair with the Edson started and it has never ended to this day. This is one hell of a pen. In the end, I bought the blue, green and red lines, each with a different nib. In 2007 when the Edson Diamond Black was announced to be issued I immediately pre-ordered my pen. But when it arrived, I found the finish did not have the look of the others and did not purchase the pen. That even shocked me!
The Edson is named to honour of the founder - Louis Edson Waterman. The New Waterman Sapphire Blue Edson Fountain Pen has an 18-carat solid gold nib and a translucent lacquer body that encloses a technically perfected system for regulating the ink flow. The intense colours are created by a hairline space between the outer ultra-violet varnish and the inner lining. The cap is plated with a sleek matte gold with the clip plated shiny 23.5kt gold. The Edson is designed not to leak, even at high altitudes. The fountain pen fills via cartridge or converter, and is available in fine and medium nibs. When they were first issued it was possible to order nibs in any of the seven sizes available.
For a while they were discontinued then back, and now the Blue and Diamond Black are the only two colours produced. There was a limited edition in Sterling Silver also produced. Smooth shinny surface. It wrote with one. Can you say "fingerprints" all over the pen!
Waterman replaced its Man 100, the previous flagship model, with the Exception. It was not a straight replacement, as the Liaison was out for a few years but did not reach the same level of acceptance.
When the Exception was introduced, reviews said it was radical while conservative. Radical in terms of the square-design to the body, the bayonet-release nib section and considered in the classic look. This is not a pen that you would be embarrassed to write with in the most serious business setting.
The bayonet allows the nib section to be released from the body with a twist. Two pins hold the nib section in, and when turned they match to the channels that allow the nib section to be released. Different, but makes no difference to how the pen writes.
When first released there were three versions, a black, black with gold trim and the black with grey stripes. The large size was 5 9/16 inches long when closed and the barrel a good 1/2 inch across in width. Good weight at 1.75 ounces. The large models are available in the fountain pen and roller ball.
The smaller model is 5 3/8 inches in length when closed and the barrel is 7/16 of an inch in width. Lighter, it weights in at 1.5 ounces. The thinner models are availalbe in the fountain pen, roller ball and ball point pen models.
The pen fills with a cartridge or the convertor.
The nibs are very smooth, I have a broad nib in my large Exception Night & Day (Black with Grey stripes) and have tried out other styles. The nibs are not as flexible as say the Italian pens.
I particularly like the square body. It sits well in my hand, and I have no nervous concerns of the pen rolling off the desk. (Lived that experience too often!)