Price was roughly equivalent to $28 USD
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Price was roughly equivalent to $28 USD
Well, that's the kicker. It seems *so* easy to make things out of 'pretty' plastics and patterns that it is unfortunate these seem to be mono-color pens. That said, $28 is an awfully good price point for a pen that works as well as a Phileas. I'm guessing there is no brass insert in the pen, which will make it feel lighter (and cheaper) and truly put it in the Kultur category, but at least they didn't totally overprice it.
OTOH, I just took posession of a fairly minty original Phil with box and convertor for $45. I think that's fair.
Of course this much like a Kulture & makes me wonder if New Phileas is really a culture called something different for the local market. But I have not seen either pen in these colors before.
I would love to get an original Phileas but have never seen one at an agreeable price.
I am ready to admit that I was 100% and misled on this. The "New Phileas" sticker on my box must just be a idiosyncrasy of the Korean market. These are just Kulture and they are simply new to me and looks like I was too excited for something that truly was too good to be true. I think these are Safari killers. Great pens but sadly I seen no other signs that these have been re-issued.
I would still really like to find an original to add to this Kulture/New Phileas.
Sorry if this thread leads anyone astray or gives false hope,
For all we know, Waterman might very well being still producing and selling the Phileas (called Translucent) and the Graduate both chromed and painted (simply called Allure and Chromé) along with Parker Vector and the excellent Bic Easy Clic: attached picture is from a French supermarket, taken October 2018.
http://piastrinemilitari.altervista....014_110315.jpg
Maybe it's for domestic market only?
Photo by Iorek of fountainpen.it
I always thought that difference was the Kultur was chrome plated and came with a monochrome chrome plated nib, whereas the Phileas was gold plated and had a two-tone nib. Although it's always possible there is a gold plated Kultur or a chrome plated Phileas that I haven't seen. :)
Waterman could use a revitalization.
Another very important difference (IMO) is that the Phileas had a brass liner in the barrel, which adds some heft to an otherwise very light pen. I do not have a Kultur pen to weigh, but if anyone can weight the barrel/nib/section alone (no cart/conv attached), I can do the same with an original Phileas and we'll see if it is an important difference or all in my head! (IMH)
L'Etalon nib is a slightly larger version than the Preface nib. It's the only Waterman gold nib that will fit the Phileas.
Waterman produced Phileas pens in the 1990's. Not particularly "vintage" to many. :)
My new Watermans. Phileas Red marbled and Blue. Medium Nibs they are too medium fo me as I am a fine Man..:)
They are fantastic writers.
In the event that you might want a Phileas F nibs instead of the M, that might be something I could help you with. I've removed several of my Phileas nibs and replaced them with Etalon nibs so there may be at least one F nib in that bunch.
It looks like you may have already fitted your gold Etalon nib into one of your Phileas pens. :)