The main feature of the Perfect Pencil by Graf von Faber-Castell is a beautifully crafted point protector/extender with hinged pocket clip and built-in sharpener. This is paired with a luxurious fluted wooden pencil featuring a threaded ferrule that accepts an eraser cap matching the point protector.
The Perfect pencil is presented in a nice wooden box.
The Perfect Pencil comes in a number of options, including sterling silver, rose gold, black anthracite PVD titanium coating, platinum plated, and the Project Stellar special edition. The wooden pencil itself comes in several different colors and textures.
The one I selected was Platinum plated with the brown pencil, but I ordered refills in other colors as well.
From a legitimate authorized dealer, the Perfect Pencil retails for $255 – $605, depending on model and dealer. (The MSRP of the platinum plated model pictured here is $350, but it can be had for $255.). MSRP for the Project Stellar is $900. A set of five pencil refills retails for between $55 and $67, depending on color and texture. A set of five eraser refills retails for $17.60.
It goes without saying that the Perfect Pencil is a luxury product. The only reason to own the Perfect Pencil is appreciation for the aesthetic, which is quite nice. If you like using wood pencils and you want a very nice one to carry in your suit, shirt pocket, or briefcase, they don’t come any nicer than this. Faber-Castell is probably most renowned for its wood clad graphite pencils, and this one by Graf von is their magnum opus.
Graf von Faber-Castell is the luxury division of Faber-Castell, a highly regarded German manufacturer of stationery products including the Faber-Castell 9000, which is a plastic version of the product under review that works with standard pencils. Graf von Faber-Castell produces stunning mechanical pencils, pens, and accessories that are crafted to very high standards and are a pleasure to use, appreciate and fondle. I love the Perfect Pencil and I am quite happy with this extravagant purchase.
The workmanship on the metallic components is exquisite, with fine engraving, knurling and perfectly cut fine threads. The sharpener is quite pretty and clicks satisfyingly into the cap. If the blade becomes dull, the sharpener can be replaced for about $30. The wood pencil itself features beautiful fluting that delivers a very pleasing tactile experience. The whole thing is a wonderful luxury fidget, whether you are clicking the sharpener in and out of the cap, uncapping and posting the extender, or threading the eraser cap on and off.
The pencil itself is only remarkable for its aesthetic, threaded ferrule, fit, finish and tactile feel. Apart from these very pleasing features, it is nothing more than a wood pencil with B graphite. The barrel diameter is 7 mm, which is slightly larger than a standard No. 2 pencil.
Graf von Faber-Castell also makes a magnum version of the Perfect Pencil which features a 10 mm barrel with 4B graphite. Although the larger diameter was tempting, I would find the magnum’s large, soft graphite inferior for writing and sketching project designs because it would dull too quickly and be too bold.
For desk usage, a good sharpener will surely be available to the kind of connoisseur who would purchase the Perfect Pencil, and you will want to use it over the built-in sharpener in the cap. The built-in sharpener should be viewed as something to be used in the field. It gets the job done just fine, but much better sharpening options are available. I have many sharpeners, from electric, to hand crank, to manual. I find myself using the Afmat PSC5 automatic electric sharpener on the perfect pencil because it produces a consistently well-centered point with virtually no waste. The Uni (Mitsubishi) KH-20 also does a great job. I avoid sharpeners like the Caran d’Ache and Angel 5 on the Perfect Pencil because I don’t want to mar the pencil with the metal jaws that these sharpeners employ.
The writing experience with the Perfect Pencil is lovely overall. The pencil barrel has a nice feel. The graphite is smooth and well-suited for writing and sketching. However, the cap/extender is fairly heavy, while the rest of the pencil is a lightweight piece of wood. As a result the pencil does not have a balanced feel in the hand with the cap/extender posted, particularly with a brand new, full length pencil. I find it most comfortable to use the pencil un-posted while it is still long enough to use comfortably. This keeps the eraser handy and gives you a pleasant view of the cap on your desk.
As the pencil gets shorter it becomes quite comfortable to use it with the extender posted. Of course, this is the purpose of an extender: allowing expensive pencils to be used comfortably right down to a small nub. The Perfect Pencil extender serves this purpose very well. In fact, I find myself posting the extender before I need to sometimes as the mood suits.
The Graf von Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil is a thing of beauty that is a pleasure to use and behold. If you appreciate well-crafted luxury writing instruments, and have the money to spend on them, it will not disappoint.
Note: I have no affiliation with Graf von Faber-Castell. They don’t even know who I am. I have purchased these products with my own money from an authorized dealer at its normal asking price.