Pen Rodeo Waterman Exception vs Carene

[@MissMarilynDarling]

the bit at the front of the boat is called the bow and the end is called the stern and the side to the left is called the port and the other side is called the starboard side :)

[@WaskiSquirrel]

Thank you! My father was in the navy, so I should know these terms.

[@MissMarilynDarling]

The point of the Pier Gustafson test my understanding is for traction of the ink when doing flourishing ... in other words when doing a big flourish will the nib/feed keep up with the ink flow to the tip of the nib and make a consistent line on the page even with the lightest touch ... I often flourish letters and sometimes the pens I use do not keep up with the ink flow and that is frustrating cause you go to make this beautiful flourish and there's a huge ski..... p in the line its frustrating and its super annoying cause you have to go back and fill it in and its not as beautiful as if it were done with slightly more pressure the first time. :)

[@WaskiSquirrel]

That's a good point. His argument was that modern feeds couldn't keep up. But it's worth noting that modern pens don't have the flex that requires that either. And, of course, he tells me I have a heavy hand.

[@MissMarilynDarling]

@@WaskiSquirrel unless it is a flex nib like the fountain pen revolution ultra flex nib or a jowo flex nib or a kanwrite flex nib

[@davidverney6834]

The Carene really is a lovely pen, hats off to Waterman for continuing to make such a unique product. I've have owned a few, and they write beautifully, with the smoothness typical of the Waterman 18k nibs. However, for me, I couldn't adjust my grip to avoid getting inky fingers from the inlaid nib! It's a very different pen in many ways, but the Parker 65 reminds me of the Carene, with its own inlaid nib and a similar rounded cover for the feed under the nib.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

It is indeed. Waterman has a beautiful pen here, and it really deserves more attention than it gets. I've inked myself a few times on this pen, but mostly I have good luck. And, yes, the Parker 65 is a beauty!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Not having written with either pen I'm still drawn more to the Carene! This was fun! I remember this pen being on my wishlist early on before I started gravitating toward easily swappable nibs. I don’t like the looks of the Exception.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

The Exception is a unique pen. I like it, but I struggled to talk myself into it.

[@archimark5060]

Thanks for the comparison of two great pens! Haven't had the Carene, but have the Exception, a great writer. I think your Exception is the Slim version.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I think you're right about the Exception. Someday I may have to get the full sized version!

[@redsmoker37]

Great comparison video. I have both of these pens, too. While the Carene is probably the more attractive pen, and definitely the favorite of the collectors, the Exception is probably the nicer writer just for the wetter nib and more bounce. The Exception has quietly become one of my fav pens.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I like the broad nib on my Carène. But you're right about the bounce!

[@redsmoker37]

@@WaskiSquirrel Since I favor Fs and EFs, a broad just isn't my thing (I have one only).

[@alanpareis734]

Getting to this one late. Thanks for this pair up. See my comment on the Nakaya vs Platinum 3776 Rodeo post

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I'm glad you liked it! It's fun to come up with pens to compare, especially if they don't seem to have much in common.

[@ibpopp]

Coming from a position of complete ignorance (having used neither pen) my vote goes to........both. Thanks for a most interesting show. Cheers from Dingoe Dave.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

Both are good pens. I prefer the design aesthetic of the Carène, but I wouldn't push either one out of my hand...

[@alexharris8500]

Very stylish pens. I like the look of that nib too.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I agree. Waterman did very well with these!

[@allenl391]

Does the Exception have a gold nib. I have a Carene with a broad nib and it is a lovely writer!

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I forgot to mention that! Yes, both pens have gold nibs.

[@tancreddehauteville764]

I'm really pissed that Waterman stopped producing the large sized Exception - it was a great pen and a worthy heir to the Man 100. Their current range is very limited.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I'm not too familiar with their line up. I was impressed with both of these, though.

[@Rgc571]

Really like my Medium Carene. When using it I think this is the one if I could only have one. However I have similar feeling when using several other pens. Haven’t tried the Exception, the square looks weird. Thanks for the video.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

The square is strange, but it's actually comfortable!

[@Lowkster]

Why dont you do the split screen anymore?

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I would have, but this has been a very busy week, so I just didn't take the time.

[@archivist17]

Both excellent pens! My partner has a Carène and another modern Waterman (not an Exception), and I am quite envious. Strangely, she rarely uses them! 😮

[@sajjadhusain4146]

I own and like several modern Waterman pens : Hemisphere, Perspective, Embleme, Charleston, Carene, Expert, Exception, and one my long-desired grail pens, the vintage and long discontinued Edson. If only Parker, Sheaffer and Cross could emulate, in their own ways, the quality and elegance of modern Waterman pens.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

Waterman is really making some quality pens even now. They just don't seem to get the attention of other brands.

[@ichirofakename]

Two nice-looking, unique pens.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I agree. I'm enjoying them!

[@theProf_01]

Definitely the Carene. 👍👍

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I agree!

[@pamelaboxall7015]

I have the Exception (slim, blue, medium nib) but not the Carene. I love the looks of the Exception and the feel in the hand. Would have preferred a fine nib but got the medium at a keen price so went with it - may get it ground at some point. There are many pens out there with gimmicky designs and I wouldn’t say that is true of the Exception. The design speaks more of quiet quirkiness. When I see someone else using one I have that feeling of kindred spirits - someone else there who “gets it”. Whereas the design of the Carene just doesn’t quite speak to me.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

You said it very well about the Exception. There is such a defiant distinctiveness to the pen’s design and overall vibe that instantly hooked me and would never let go. You have the slim model, as does Jason. I have the large model. But both are equally desirable.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

The Exception does feel good in the hand! And I think it's classy. I just prefer the Carène.

[@davidanderson3425]

Thank you for making this comparison. I don't own the Exception but I do have a Carene which I like. I was tempted by the same colour as your Carene but in the end I opted for the plain glossy black finish. It looks really nice. The only problem is my fingers have a tendency to slide too far down the section and end up getting a bit inky! Other than that the Carene is a lovely pen. Would I buy an Exception? Probably not. The square cross section barrel and grip section doesn't appeal much. Maybe if a retailer dropped the price I'd be tempted but the unusual shape does concern me.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

The Exception, owing to its very unconventional and distinctive square design is certainly a pen I’d highly recommend for a proper hands-on trial at a store before committing to buy. It’s an expensive pen. If interested, patiently waiting for a decent discount is quite the prudent thing to do.

[@davidanderson3425]

@@sajjadhusain4146 Hi Sajjad. Nice to hear from you. Pen buying would be so much easier if, as you say, we had proper pen shops on the high street. Here in the UK such places are very rare indeed. KZbin reviews can be helpful when "try before you buy" stores are unavailable. However, the reviewer does have to be in alignment with your own tastes in fountain pens for such appraisals to be of any worth. At the lower price scale my main concern is that the pen actually writes to a satisfactory standard. At higher prices I expect a certain "wow factor" both in the design, decorative appeal and in the way it writes. In the case of the Waterman Exception I would say the main distinguishing feature is the square cross section barrel and section. If they don't appeal there is very little else left in its favour. For me the Carene, whilst being less expensive, it has a number of interesting features to the design. On price and design I feel the scales are tipped towards the Carene. I admit I haven't tried the Exception but I wonder if the square shape is an unnecessary gimmick.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

@@davidanderson3425 …Always happy to find you in the comment section and see what you have to say, David. I lament the lack of more physical stores selling fountain pens, in our towns and cities, even in America. So, despite preferring to see, touch and test pens, in person, before buying, I have, like almost everybody else, had to settle for buying pens mostly online. Thankfully, I’ve been very lucky in that an overwhelming majority of my pen purchases have turned out great. I can also testify to the fact that quite often pens look larger, much nicer, more desirable in flattering glamor photos online - and in YT pen reviews - than they do once out of the box and really in your hand. I’ve actually quite tired of most pen ‘reviews’. They are hardly useful to me anymore, and can be rather boring and tedious to watch. I reckon I know exactly what I like and want and make a careful decision whether to buy said pen or not. I totally get what you’re saying about the Waterman Exception. That instant lack of appeal in design and appearance to anybody is really enough to not dwell on the pen for long. I just like the way my larger model looks and feels in hand. And the nib’s writing is quite a sweet thrill, still. Both pens are expensive. And you must have seen that I voted for the Carene, all things considered. Btw, I guess a lot of pens imported into the UK are priced rather unfairly high. Is there not an official Waterman pen retailer in Britain? I bought one of my Carenes from Amazon UK for £235, back in 2019.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

The Carène is a great pen, no matter what finish. I agree, I've gotten inky on this pen. The Exception is a surprisingly comfortable pen, but I felt the same as you for a long time. I finally bought it on the recommendation of several commenters here.

[@EnCwoisant]

Is the broad on your carene slightly stubbish?

[@sajjadhusain4146]

In my experience, Waterman’s broads are quite stubbish. Even the medium on my Expert III feels slightly stub-like to me. I just want a straight up stub nib on a Waterman pen someday.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I feel like it is. It certainly looks that way.

[@greyareaRK1]

La Carène est vraiment élégante.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

C'est vrai! Le design du voilier est un motif merveilleux!

[@sajjadhusain4146]

Thanks for kindly obliging my idea for a face-off between these two fantastic modern Waterman pens. I think there was somebody else who also may have hinted at this rodeo. Anyway, good on you for doing it for us. The Carene and the Exception (I own the very expensive oversized model) are among my Top 3 favorite modern Watermans. The lovely Charleston is the third. I’m absolutely torn between these two pens. Both are uniquely designed and each has different and very appealing attributes. The nibs on both pens are certainly very stiff, but always write reliably and truly wonderfully. The Carene’s beauty and elegance make it a bit of a supermodel in Waterman’s very attractive line-up of modern pens. Except, actual supermodels grow old, looks fade and they retire. The Carene never will. The pen’s aesthetics, silhouette and that beautiful 18k inlaid nib make it a thing of enduring beauty and desire. I once owned two Carenes. I now have only the stellar ‘essential silver’ model with a fine nib. I really wish I had a Carene with Waterman’s stub nib. The Exception (mine has the broad nib) also exudes a very chic, distinctive design that I love a lot. The stout, square section took awhile getting used to, but I haven’t looked back since. Both these pens feel very comfortable in hand and just feel very worth their high price tags. Can I decide which one wins? It’s awfully hard. If pressed, I’d pick the Carene. It only just edges out the Exception, for its all round more elegant, stylish design. Lastly, I think a Pilot Justus 95 vs Pilot Custom 912 (FA nib) would be an interesting contest.

[@WaskiSquirrel]

I'm glad you and the other gave me the idea. I had never even thought of this comparison, but it made sense once I got the suggestion! And, true, these pens get old. Some of the pens in my collection are older than anyone I know, yet they still look beautiful. I don't have a Pilot Custom 912, but I do have a 743 with an FA nib, so that might be fun!

[@sajjadhusain4146]

@@WaskiSquirrel ..Yes, even the 743 (FA) vs the Justus 95 would be a sweet contest to watch.

[@tsherbs1309]

That broad is too much for my handwriting. I own a Carene, but lately it has not felt great in my hand (an issue of my jumpy nerve endings). I'm holding off selling it....for now....

[@WaskiSquirrel]

The broad is too much for a lot of writing. I enjoy a broad nib when I'm showing off an ink. For my daily writing, it's no good.