Côté Droit is French for the straight-sided ribbing that runs the length of this overlay, parallel ridges you feel every time you pick the pen up. The ribs still stand with limited wear, which matters because plate wears through on the crests of the overlay first.

The overlay work is French over an American pen. The gold plate carries ORIX marks, and hallmark stamps run across the barrel, the cap, and the accommodation clip, put there so the buyer knew plainly this is 9k gold plate, not solid gold; the clip itself is the French add-on style fitted locally to US pens. Underneath sits a 0552½, the full-length slender: standard length, about half the barrel width of a regular pen, with a US-stamped Ideal 2.

It writes smooth and wet with a great smooth snapback and full wide flex, 4.5x from the unflexed line to a 5B swell.

Graded D over one dent on the back of the cap, named here because a D means every flaw gets listed. Everything else about the overlay is in incredible condition. Service fit with a silicone sac.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm White with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

**Technical Specifications:**

Brand: Waterman's

Model: 0552.5

Production Year: 1920

Material: Gold Metal Overlay

Trim Color: Gold

Nib Size: 2

Nib Material: 14k gold

Nib Grind: FM

Nib Flexibility: 360g

Line Variation: 0.40 - 1.80 (4.5x)

Pen Length: 132.93

Pen Grip Section: 6.51

Restorer: Heron's Mooncake

Restoration Grade: C