Expert Fountain Pen, Black with Gold Trim, Fine Nib

Why it works as a gift

The Expert looks the way most people picture a good pen: deep black lacquer over a brass body, with the clip and trim finished in 23K gold, per Waterman. That traditional look is its strength as a professional gift. It looks professional without being flashy, it suits a law office as well as a home desk, and the only branding is Waterman's own. Waterman sells it in a gift box, so it is ready to hand over as it comes.

It is also an easy fountain pen to live with. Retailer Goldspot lists a cartridge or converter filling system, so the recipient can start with a cartridge rather than learning to fill from a bottle. The nib is stainless steel with a gold finish and Waterman's W mark, in Fine on this listing, which suits everyday handwriting, signatures and margin notes. The Amazon listing gives a two-year international warranty, extendable to four years with registration.

Against Shnoop's Lamy 2000 pick, the two pens suit different people. The Lamy is the design object: a minimalist 1966 classic with a 14-carat gold nib that fills from a bottle with a built-in piston. The Waterman is the more traditional, lower-maintenance choice with cartridges and a lacquer finish, and usually the easier gift for someone new to fountain pens or for a client whose taste you know less well.

Who it’s for

• A lawyer, adviser or agent who signs documents and annotates contracts by hand, as a thank-you at the close of a project
• A graduate starting a first office job, as a pen worth carrying to meetings
• A colleague marking a promotion or retirement, when a personal gift would be too much
• A parent who still writes cards and letters by hand and has never owned a good fountain pen

Skip it if

• They type everything and rarely write by hand; a fountain pen that sits in a drawer is a wasted gift
• They already own a fountain pen they love, or prefer the minimalist look of a Lamy
• They want a gold nib; the Expert's nib is stainless steel with a gold finish
• They lose pens or carry one loose in a bag; a lacquered fountain pen needs a little care

Giving it

• Add a pack of Waterman ink cartridges in a classic blue or black, since the listing does not say how much ink is in the box
• Write the card with a fountain pen yourself if you can; it shows what the gift is for
• If a client's employer limits gift value, check their policy before sending; Shnoop's guide to thank-you gifts for clients covers the common rules
• Register the pen with Waterman after purchase to extend the warranty, as the listing describes, and check Amazon's return window on the order page

The facts

Body

Lacquer cap and body over a brass base; gloss black

Trim and clip

Finished in 23K gold

Nib

Stainless steel with 23K gold finish and W mark; Fine (Medium also sold)

Filling

Cartridge or converter

Origin

Made in France

Packaging

Waterman gift box

Warranty

Two-year international warranty, extendable to four years with registration

Consider instead

• Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen, Matte Black — A minimalist design classic with a gold nib, for someone who enjoys bottled ink
• Graphic Image Small Leather-Bound Journal — A natural pairing: something to write in with the pen