"The dependable craftsmanship of Ballograf, one of Sweden’s most established writing instrument makers. Founded in Gothenburg in 1945, Ballograf is renowned for combining Scandinavian functional design with durable engineering, creating pens that embody reliability, simplicity and long-lasting performance. Ballograf developed their specially formulated blue ballpoint ink in the 1960s to meet strict durability and lightfastness standards required for official documents in Sweden. This ink became closely associated with use by the Swedish postal system (Posten Sverige) and other public authorities. The blue ink refills are permanent, fade-resistant, water-resistant and suitable for archival purposes."
The Waterman Exception delivers a pleasant writing experience. The construction is precise, the design exhibits understated elegance. The 18k gold nib out of the box is buttery smooth with minimal feedback.
The pen itself is excellent—especially the Kraken system and the nib. However, I really miss having a clip, mainly for its roll-stopper function on an everyday carry pen. Additionally, I would love to see optional semiflex nibs and more organic materials, such as ebonite or carbon fiber. Maybe in the next iteration… version 3?
I got it because I was impressed by the way it looked and worked, but was amazed when I inked it up (as fun to do as I hoped) and wrote. The nib is smooth as silk. It’s even better pen than I had hoped for.
First off, the service from Pen Venture was amazing. This is the second pen I have purchased and was completely satisfied with both experiences. I very much appreciated the handwritten note from the man himself...that really meant a lot to me. Now to the pen: It has a very satisfying weight and overall feel. It is a very comfortable writer and the nib just attacks the paper. Very responsive with nice feedback and consistent flow. I've paired it with Birmingham Pen Company's Iron Ore ink and it is a wicked combo. This pen is unbeatable at its price point. Couple that with the aforementioned outstanding customer service and you will have treated yourself to a way cool writing experience.
