9 replies to this topic

[pen piddler]

This is now listed on ebay. The pen barrel is clearly marked 52 1/2. Note the misalignment of the lever and the overlay. Is this a genuine 452 1/2 sterling over red ripple overlay?



http://www.ebay.com/...190856486041%26 The seller found himself a live one! The pen actually sold.

Edited by pen piddler, 21 June 2013 - 12:54 AM.

[Rocco P]

I'm curious to know what others, more knowledgeable than me, think.
The overlay seems to be a little on the loose side. It also seems to be way too clean, even on the edges. But maybe it's simply a good exemplar?

[Procyon]

It also doesn't have the metal that should be under the globe on the lever. So basically I would say that the overlay is authentic and the ripple pen is authentic, but they were not originally together. It does make an attractive pen, but it didn't come from the factory that way.

[pen piddler]

I'm curious to know what others, more knowledgeable than me, think.
The overlay seems to be a little on the loose side. It also seems to be way too clean, even on the edges. But maybe it's simply a good exemplar?

I may not be more knowledgable, but I' curious to know what makes you say the overlay is on the loose side. I don't know if it's authentic, but there's too many red flags for me to believe that it is. Thanks for your response!

[pen piddler]

It also doesn't have the metal that should be under the globe on the lever. So basically I would say that the overlay is authentic and the ripple pen is authentic, but they were not originally together. It does make an attractive pen, but it didn't come from the factory that way.

I have to agree with you on all counts. I believe that it's a post production fantasy piece.

[David Nishimura]

It's a fake, made by swapping the overlay from a BHR filigree onto a Ripple pen.
Waterman NEVER offered such a pen, and though it is possible that one could have been made as a special order, I have never seen nor heard of a single genuine example of a US-made filigree lever-filler over Ripple. This one is very obviously done, as the clip has been crudely reattached and the overlay fits much too loosely. The number at the end of the barrel has been left alone, and still reads 52 1/2. The absence of the metal cover under the end of the lever isn't a major tell, since that piece is often missing from genuine filigrees. Ditto for slight misalignment, as overlays often shift.

[David Nishimura]

dbl post

Edited by David Nishimura, 17 June 2013 - 01:16 PM.

[Rocco P]

I may not be more knowledgable, but I' curious to know what makes you say the overlay is on the loose side.

There are deep shadows under the overlay

[pen piddler]

I may not be more knowledgable, but I' curious to know what makes you say the overlay is on the loose side.

There are deep shadows under the overlay

Thanks for the tip.

[pen piddler]

It's a fake, made by swapping the overlay from a BHR filigree onto a Ripple pen.
Waterman NEVER offered such a pen, and though it is possible that one could have been made as a special order, I have never seen nor heard of a single genuine example of a US-made filigree lever-filler over Ripple. This one is very obviously done, as the clip has been crudely reattached and the overlay fits much too loosely. The number at the end of the barrel has been left alone, and still reads 52 1/2. The absence of the metal cover under the end of the lever isn't a major tell, since that piece is often missing from genuine filigrees. Ditto for slight misalignment, as overlays often shift.

Did Waterman overlays come from the factory without the metal piece under the lever? I've been under the impression that if that part was missing the overlay had been removed at some point, but I'm not sure because I don't have the expertise to remove or replace an overlay. I've also thought that if an overlay was misaligned that the pen had been tampered with. What causes an overlay to shift?