Waterman Carène Marine Amber Fountain pen

Author: Peter Collins

Review Title: Carene Serein

• Review Add on: 31-03-2026
• Average Rating: (4)

Decent quality, oodles of style, but note:
1. The 18K nib and feed are fixed in place. This nib is a full western Fine - smooth, wet, but with some hard starts and 'creep'; the feed takes a while to prime and retains lots of ink. An initial flush is essential (mine was full of blue ink), and regular flushings thereafter are recommended. Best to avoid inks that are prone to residue deposition
2. The push-on ISC converter is a bit shorter and narrower than a Schmidt K5; the action is very stiff and benefits from lubing. Don't brim it as this can lead to 'burping'
3. The mottled lacquer is lovely but is layered over brass. It can be cold to the touch, when temperatures fall
Verdict: Form slighlty compromises function, here, but the pen's timeless elegance is the compensator!

Author: Daphne Ignatius

Review Title: Carene Stub

• Review Add on: 20-02-2026
• Average Rating: (4)

I purchased the Carene in Amber Shimmer and it is both a unique and beautiful design. However, I struggled with the Stub nib, finding it hard to find its sweet spot. Perhaps it was the inset nib that threw me off, as I have other Stubs that I enjoy. Appelboom's service was as great as ever, but I just didn't fall in love with this pen.

Author: Louis Lepage

Review Title: Great fountain pen

• Review Add on: 09-11-2024
• Average Rating: (5)

I bought the Waterman Carène marine amber fountain pen a few weeks ago and have been using it ever since. I love writing with this pen. I usually prefer bigger fountain pens, but the quality of its construction and its weight make the pen very pleasant and very comfortable to use. And I chose a stub nib. I am not the biggest fan of stub nibs, but the Waterman Carène is perfect; it glides well on the paper, and the line variation is well marked, significant enough. I use the pen with Diamine Ancient Cooper ink. Also, Appelboom's service has been excellent; it’s one of the few places where they offer the stub nib.

Author: Eileen Dallwitz

Review Title: My new favourite pen

• Review Add on: 09-10-2024
• Average Rating: (5)

I have six fountain pens, and this is my new favourite. I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I do love this pen. I have a Waterman Charleston Ebony EF which I bought in 2009. I loved that pen, but I wanted to see what else was out there. I gradually tried Parker, Pelikan, Sailor, Pilot, and a couple of others, but my Waterman always came out on top. My new Carene is perfect. It is beautiful to look at and to hold, there is very little feedback, and my writing (which is small) is clear. Also, Appelboom was great to deal with. My delivery was delayed, and they didn't wait for me to contact them to ask what was going on - they emailed me before I started worrying to say it would be another week. It arrived on time, very well packaged, and I couldn't be happier.

Author: Steve Fuller

• Review Add on: 04-10-2023
• Average Rating: (5)

This is such a fantastic pen. It's slender but pretty hefty for it's size, feels very solid in the hand. I got the stub nib and it's wet and smooth and writes perfectly. The pictures of the amber color don't do it justice. In person it's a very deep rich color that changes depending on the light. Elegant, understated, perfect for a workplace but with that unique inlaid nib that gives it extra flair to set it apart from other pens. Just take note of where you hold it, since it's easy to accidentally get ink on your fingers from near the filling hole without a separate section between your fingers and the nib.

Author: Christel

Review Title: Beautiful and smooth

• Review Add on: 17-01-2020
• Average Rating: (4)

I love this pen! It has a very unique design and it writes like a dream. Before purchasing this I mainly used F and EF nibs. After acquiring this juicy and has a stub like medium nib I realised how much I enjoyed broader nibs. I think its a bit pricey though, even so, I would not hesitate on purchasing g another one if another design caught my eye.