Faber Castell The Perfect Pencil

[Bisquitlips]

I did a quick search for a review, but didn't find anything.

 

I have been intrigued by this set (the 5 pencil desk set, not the small 3 pencil set) for going on 3 years. The thing that has stopped me is the price. The smaller set goes for about 130.00 - 150.00. The larger set runs about 300.00. Faber also makes much less expensive version (UFO) that I am not drawn to.

 

My question is does anyone own this larger set?

 

http://www.redfingerprint.com/image/watches/P_GV00/Grafvon118556_big.jpg

 

http://www.redfingerprint.com/Graf_Von_Fab...t_Pencil/118556

 

What is your review of the pencil?

 

Do you use it regularly?

 

Do you get strange looks from people in a meeting as you break out your $300.00 silver plated pencil and begin to write?

 

I just keep thinking that for $300.00 I could be a long way toward that Waterman Edson Sapphire FP or that Yard O Led Viceroy Victorian. So, there is an internal dilemma going on between myself and me. Do I buy something I really want or something I think I really want?

 

Oh, and I forgot to mention that 5 threaded Faber replacement pencils for this set cost $50.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[andyk]

My brother in law has one of these, not sure which set, whilst I don't really like the cap (even on the pens) it did look different in a 'I've got lots of nice pens now what to I buy' type of way.

 

Must admit if I want to impress I tend to use something like my Pelikan D600 or D 800 pencil or maybe the Duofold marbled blue one that matches my FP/BP and cost me less than the replacement pencils do. I can only speak for myself, but unless I used pencils alot and wasn't self conscious about using this, I would put the money towards one of the pens you obviously really want or you wouldn't be asking the question.

 

In some ways reminds me of the trolls etc we use to put on our pencils at school (only rather more classy) can't say I use pencils often enough to want to spend this sort of money on them. But there is obviously a market oherwise they wouldn't make them.

 

Andy

Edited September 23, 2007 by andyk

[OboeJuan]

I don't own, but I covet it hourly. I am a pencil lover and I just really want that one.

 

Kath

[oberon]

I have never used the pencil set you talk of , but have the Faber -Castell E-Motion self propelling in pear wood 1.4 mm lead and I absolutely love it for a great deal of my sketching. The lead is thick enough not to break easily yet thin enough for all but a very small percentage of my pencil work. Also have a Mt. Blanc sketch pencil with a lead that is almost 1/4" thick for laying down a good heavy line. I use a pencil for the basic sketch then if I deem needful I will ink over the pencil sketch to refine the lines and erase the excess pencil work leaving a nice pen sketch.

Respectfully,

Oberon

[BillTheEditor]

I bought the $10 green plastic version, and use green Mongol pencils in it. Can't see $10 pencils -- they are the same as the two that came with the cheap Perfect Pencil, and they are no better than Palominos. I'd use the Palominos in the PP, but don't care for an orange or blue pencil in that green extender. For $10, it was a practical solution. Bought another one for my brother-in-law in the UK, since he keeps the minutes for a number of volunteer organizations he belongs to and always takes his notes in pencil. He used to carry a handful of pencils to every meeting. Now he only needs to take the Perfect Pencil.

 

Bottom line, I think the $300 set is what we'd have called "wretched excess" long ago.

[Bisquitlips]

Thanks all.

 

The practicality of it does completely elude me. Like for example, where is the flippin' eraser?? (There isn't one!)

 

But...

 

There is always a "but" somewhere in my self control struggles. :embarrassed_smile:

 

 

 

 

[Bisquitlips]

I don't own, but I covet it hourly. I am a pencil lover and I just really want that one.

 

Kath

 

 

I thought I was the only one!!

[BillTheEditor]

Thanks all.

 

The practicality of it does completely elude me. Like for example, where is the flippin' eraser?? (There isn't one!)

 

But...

 

There is always a "but" somewhere in my self control struggles. :embarrassed_smile:

Actually, there is an eraser. It's under the little silver cap. Look closely at the photo of the set.

 

Of course, if you can afford that set, you can afford to hire someone to carry an eraser for you.

Edited September 23, 2007 by BillTheEditor

[Samovar]

I got the 6 euros plastic version on sale. I would not buy it at 300$ I've seen it, it's really nice, but I'm not a crazy pencil fan.

 

 

[Bisquitlips]

Thanks all.

 

The practicality of it does completely elude me. Like for example, where is the flippin' eraser?? (There isn't one!)

 

But...

 

There is always a "but" somewhere in my self control struggles. :embarrassed_smile:

Actually, there is an eraser. It's under the little silver cap. Look closely at the photo of the set.

 

Of course, if you can afford that set, you can afford to hire someone to carry an eraser for you.

 

WHAT!!!! You are right!!!

 

Ya know. I was in Bag and Baggage just yesterday looking at the three pencil version (the only one I have ever personally fondled) and I didn't see any erasers and was quite frustrated by that. What good is a pencil without an eraser??!! Even the sales person couldn't find any.

 

I have to admit the set was at least 3 years old and well tarnished. The sales person wanted me to just make an offer as they had had it so long, but I wouldn't because we couldn't find the built in pencil sharpener either. On the newer ones the top comes right off to reveal the sharpener but both of us tried everything we could do to get the top off of this particular one and neither of us could budge it. We even shined a light up inside of the cap and didn't see it.

 

I guess that set must have been a very early model and it was in a paper grooved box also. Not the nice wooden one. It definitely didn't have the erasers or sharpener. I just made a correlation that the 5 piece didn't have them either.

 

I stand corrected on the new 5 piece and 3 piece models. Next time I will look at the photos closer!

 

Yea!!!! 300 dollar pencils WITH erasers. Now I may really need to buy this! Its a far, far better deal now!

 

BTW. Carrying erasers. Isn't that what wives are for? When I married my wife I told here I was also getting "purse rights". She said, "that's fine as long as I get wallet rights!". We have an agreement! She reserves me a small pocket in each one of her purses so that I can carry whatever I like in her purse. One (I wouldn't be able to fit more than 1) of those erasers will fit tightly into my purse space! :clap1:

 

 

 

[Shelley]

I too, am maly in love and along with several other items its on my "one day" list.

This list gets revised from time to time, I reccomend it, you put down the things you really want-pens, cars, knives, inks, whatever-but can't at the moment justify.

then you leave it, revisit several months later, and deit, see if the things that taook your fancy still do.

If not excise, if so carry on.

Eventually one of thesee items will push itself to the top and I will get it.

Its a good system, lets you lust after something without wasting money-in case its only temporary lust.

By going with this method you tend (IMO) to get less stuff but better stuff.

 

I would go for the smaller set-and I think its platinum coated, or at least there is a platinum version...

[smoky]

I did a quick search for a review, but didn't find anything.

 

I have been intrigued by this set (the 5 pencil desk set, not the small 3 pencil set) for going on 3 years. The thing that has stopped me is the price. The smaller set goes for about 130.00 - 150.00. The larger set runs about 300.00. Faber also makes much less expensive version (UFO) that I am not drawn to.

 

My question is does anyone own this larger set?

 

http://www.redfingerprint.com/image/watches/P_GV00/Grafvon118556_big.jpg

 

http://www.redfingerprint.com/Graf_Von_Fab...t_Pencil/118556

 

What is your review of the pencil?

 

Do you use it regularly?

 

Do you get strange looks from people in a meeting as you break out your $300.00 silver plated pencil and begin to write?

 

I own this set. This is the platinum plate version in the photo. I also own the green plastic, aluminum, and silver plate variants. There are also sterling silver, stainless steel, and white gold versions. The latter two have diamonds in the cap. Not all versions are the same mechanism-wise. There are at least three different extender mechanisms I know of, and the earliest versions didn't have a built-in sharpener. The platinum version grips the pencil with a tapered fit, rather than a clamp or screw-on mechanism. It is very elegant. The three-pencil set is silver-plate, and the extender screws together via a mid-length joint (still very nice).

 

From the perspective of someone who loves woodcase pencils, I think they are great. They've just got that sizzle factor. I also understand that most people won't necessarily be drawn to such an expensive expression of a quotidian item.

 

http://www.penciltalk.org/2006/07/graf-von...castell-pencils (My blog) has some information about Graf pencils, although I haven't yet reviewed the perfect pencil.

 

Basically, it is a beautiful and practical item. I do regularly use it. Now some are probably doubting the "practical" part. Let me explain - the pencil protector preserves the pencil's point. The first-rate clasp supports portability. And the cap's built-in and replaceable sharpener is ingenious, solving the sharpening issue. The eraser completes the picture. What's not to like?

 

The pencils have elegant ribbing, and are available in a natural or black finish. The black version also has the wood dyed black. The theme is also carried on in accessories such as sharpeners and erasers.

 

Strange looks? Nothing too strange. Most people can't conceive of a $3 pencil, let alone a $300 pencil, and I doubt they're too aware of what pencil I'm using.

 

 

[Bisquitlips]

I did a quick search for a review, but didn't find anything.

 

I have been intrigued by this set (the 5 pencil desk set, not the small 3 pencil set) for going on 3 years. The thing that has stopped me is the price. The smaller set goes for about 130.00 - 150.00. The larger set runs about 300.00. Faber also makes much less expensive version (UFO) that I am not drawn to.

 

My question is does anyone own this larger set?

 

http://www.redfingerprint.com/image/watches/P_GV00/Grafvon118556_big.jpg

 

http://www.redfingerprint.com/Graf_Von_Fab...t_Pencil/118556

 

What is your review of the pencil?

 

Do you use it regularly?

 

Do you get strange looks from people in a meeting as you break out your $300.00 silver plated pencil and begin to write?

 

I own this set. This is the platinum plate version in the photo. I also own the green plastic, aluminum, and silver plate variants. There are also sterling silver, stainless steel, and white gold versions. The latter two have diamonds in the cap. Not all versions are the same mechanism-wise. There are at least three different extender mechanisms I know of, and the earliest versions didn't have a built-in sharpener. The platinum version grips the pencil with a tapered fit, rather than a clamp or screw-on mechanism. It is very elegant. The three-pencil set is silver-plate, and the extender screws together via a mid-length joint (still very nice).

 

From the perspective of someone who loves woodcase pencils, I think they are great. They've just got that sizzle factor. I also understand that most people won't necessarily be drawn to such an expensive expression of a quotidian item.

 

http://www.penciltalk.org/2006/07/graf-von...castell-pencils (My blog) has some information about Graf pencils, although I haven't yet reviewed the perfect pencil.

 

Basically, it is a beautiful and practical item. I do regularly use it. Now some are probably doubting the "practical" part. Let me explain - the pencil protector preserves the pencil's point. The first-rate clasp supports portability. And the cap's built-in and replaceable sharpener is ingenious, solving the sharpening issue. The eraser completes the picture. What's not to like?

 

The pencils have elegant ribbing, and are available in a natural or black finish. The black version also has the wood dyed black. The theme is also carried on in accessories such as sharpeners and erasers.

 

Strange looks? Nothing too strange. Most people can't conceive of a $3 pencil, let alone a $300 pencil, and I doubt they're too aware of what pencil I'm using.

 

 

Excellent response. Thanks for taking the time to state it so well.

[adair]

I saw this in Berlin recently at the magical KaDeWe department store. I was quite tempted, but I just couldn't justify the cost, especially of the replacement pencils. At the Dussmanns bookshop, on the Friedrichstrasse, they were offering an older version at a huge discount, but that version only held these expensive pencils and could not be adapted to the girth of mainstream pencils---that was quite disappointing, so I didn't buy it. I did buy the green plastic version---I like the classic dark green better than the silvery UFO version---with some nice half-length wood-grained "perfect pencils." It is a very handy way to carry a pencil. I don't mind what pencil I use with it, whether a Palomino or a Faber-Castell 9000. I use it with my pencil of the day. However, forget the sharpener inside the holder---it is just awful!

[smoky]

However, forget the sharpener inside the holder---it is just awful!

 

The sharpener seems to vary in quality. What I can mention is that there are two variants - plastic and metal. The platinum pencil comes with the metal variant, which you can order as a spare separately to "upgrade" the plastic sharpener in the plastic and aluminum perfect pencils, if sharpening is a major issue.

[MarcShiman]

Of course, if you can afford that set, you can afford to hire someone to carry an eraser for you.

 

Correction: People that have that much money don't make mistakes