Waterman - Carene Standard | Black Sea - Gold Trim |

I had my doubts about the classic "Black & Gold" color scheme, but this pen's design hits different once you actually hold it, and especially once you write with it.
Due to its construction, the Carene is slightly heavier than one would expect for such a slender-looking piece, but it's that heft that gives it a reassuring, premium presence in-hand. And the black lacquer finish makes the pen body feel smooth in a pampering, luxurious way.
The nib is a true masterpiece, in looks and in actual use. The Medium variant lies firmly within the Western / European range of the size, the ink flow (using Waterman Serenity Blue ink) is generous without being excessive, and the writing feel is buttery smooth. Tested on a Rhodia DotPad notepad, the Carene glides effortlessly while laying ink down evenly and consistently.
Writing with the nib held upside-down, while possible (and resulting in thinner lines), isn't something I'd recommend for long stretches of words, as the tipping is left sharper on the top end, translating into a distractingly scratchy experience.
Also, while the 18K nib does have some measure of bounce, it's far from a flex-nib, so calligraphy enthusiasts looking for line thickness variation higher than 2:1 won't find it here.
Overall this Waterman Carene fountain pen, while not as head-turning looks-wise in the Black Sea GT finish (compared to other editions of the same model), still manages to amaze with its in-hand feel, enabling an exquisite writing experience that few other pens can match, and is in my opinion a worthwhile purchase for writing, jotting and journaling addicts looking for the next level of writing pleasure.