Few stationery objects have a more interesting story than the Blackwing pencil. Introduced in the 1930s and used by Truman Capote, John Steinbeck, Igor Stravinsky, Chuck Jones, and Quincy Jones, it was discontinued in 1998 when the machine making its distinctive ferrule broke down. Remaining stock sold for up to £30 per pencil on eBay. The brand was revived in California in 2010, and has since become the most talked-about pencil in the world.
If you're wondering whether the reputation is earned, or which Blackwing to buy first, this guide covers everything.
What makes a Blackwing different
Three things distinguish a Blackwing from ordinary pencils.
The first is the graphite formulation. Blackwing pencils use graphite cores made in Japan, formulated to be smoother and softer than most equivalents while still holding their points reasonably well. Writing with a Blackwing has a particular quality — a gliding, buttery smoothness — that's immediately noticeable if you've only used standard pencils.
The second is the wood. All Blackwing pencils are made from California incense cedar, which sharpens cleanly to a fine point and produces a mild, pleasant scent when sharpened. The same wood is used in premium pencils globally, but Blackwing's sourcing and manufacturing consistency is high.
The third is the ferrule design. The metal fitting at the end of a Blackwing is flat and elongated rather than the usual round crimp — a design that allows the rectangular eraser inside to be extended as it wears down, and replaced entirely when used up. Eraser refills are sold separately. It's a small piece of functional design that becomes genuinely useful over the life of the pencil.
Lead grades: the Blackwing system
Rather than using the standard European H/B grading system, Blackwing uses four proprietary descriptors that map approximately to equivalent conventional grades.
Soft — Blackwing Matte (≈ 3B)
The darkest, softest Blackwing. The Matte produces a deep, dark line with exceptional smoothness — almost brush-like in feel. It's the choice for artists who want the most expressive mark-making from a pencil, and for anyone who writes with a very light touch and wants to see it rewarded with a dark, visible line. The trade-off is point longevity: the Matte wears down fastest of the four. It also leaves the most visible smear under a careless hand.
Available in classic black lacquer with gold ferrule, and limited edition finishes. The black eraser is distinctive.
Best for: Sketching, drawing, shading, expressive writing, anyone who finds HB pencils too light.
Balanced — Blackwing Pearl (≈ 2B)
A step firmer than the Matte, the Pearl strikes the balance that many writers and everyday users prefer: smooth enough to feel pleasurable, firm enough to hold a point longer than the Matte and smear less readily. It's the most versatile of the four and the best starting point if you're not sure which Blackwing to try first.
The Pearl has a pearlescent white body with gold ferrule and white eraser. Also available in limited shimmery pink and blue barrels.
Best for: Everyday writing and drawing, those who want to use the same pencil for both purposes, first-time Blackwing buyers.
Firm — Blackwing 602 (≈ B)
Named after the original Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602, this is the pencil that started the legend and is probably the most famous Blackwing in the contemporary lineup. The slogan "Half the Pressure, Twice the Speed" appears on the barrel — a claim the 602's firmer, faster lead bears out. It stays sharp longer than the Matte or Pearl and is the most natural choice for writing rather than drawing.
Writers in particular often prefer the 602 for its responsiveness and the ease with which it moves across the page. It's the closest in character to a traditional quality writing pencil, but meaningfully smoother than any standard B grade.
Pearlescent grey body, gold ferrule, pink eraser. Available as standard full-length or as "short" half-length versions that fit in standard pencil cases without needing to sharpen them down first.
Best for: Writing, note-taking, anyone who wants to minimise sharpening, those transitioning from pens.
Extra Firm — Blackwing Natural (≈ HB)
The firmest Blackwing, comparable to a standard HB pencil in hardness but still noticeably smoother. The Natural is the choice for anyone who wants maximum point longevity and minimal smearing — students who rest their hand on what they've written, those who work in humid conditions, or writers who prefer a lighter mark that shows intentional pressure more clearly.
Unpainted with a clear matte finish, revealing the natural cedar grain. The result is a beautiful-looking pencil that improves with handling as the wood's texture becomes more apparent.
Best for: Long note-taking sessions, heavy-handed writers, anyone who found the other Blackwings too soft or too smear-prone.
The iconic ferrule and eraser system
The flat, clip-like ferrule is one of the most recognised pencil designs in the world. Functionally, it holds a rectangular eraser that can be pulled out from the clip, extended as it wears, and replaced when finished. The replacement erasers are available in several colours — black (for the Matte), white (for the Pearl), pink (for the 602), and grey (for the Natural) — but you can put any colour in any pencil. The erasers are effective for graphite, which is all they need to be.
One practical note: Blackwing pencils are slightly longer than standard pencils, which means they won't fit in most standard pencil cases. Cases sold specifically for Blackwings, or cases for oversized pencils and brush pens, are needed if you want to carry them without breaking the tips.
Blackwing Volumes — the limited editions
Blackwing releases quarterly limited edition "Volumes" pencils that celebrate cultural icons, artists, athletes, and ideas. Each Volumes release has a unique barrel design and a custom graphite formulation designed to reflect the subject being honoured. Past editions have celebrated Keith Haring, John Steinbeck, Bruce Lee, Ada Lovelace, John Muir, Jerry Garcia, and the Golden Gate Bridge, among many others.
Volumes pencils sell out and don't return, which gives them a collector appeal beyond their writing performance. They make excellent gifts for creatives who use pencils — the combination of unusual design, quality graphite, and limited availability is hard to beat as a present.
At The Journal Shop we stock current Volumes releases while available. They're announced with relatively short notice, so signing up to our mailing list is the best way to hear about new editions before they sell out.
Blackwing accessories
Blackwing makes a small, thoughtful range of accessories designed around their pencils.
The One-Step Long Point Sharpener produces a longer, more tapered point than most standard sharpeners — useful for sketching where the full length of the graphite cone matters. The Two-Step Long Point Sharpener removes wood and then graphite in separate passes for the longest available point. Both are made from aluminium and are genuinely excellent sharpeners.
The Slate Notebook pairs naturally with Blackwing pencils: hardcover, A5, with 100gsm ivory pages specifically chosen for pencil performance. It includes an elastic pen loop, ribbon bookmark, back pocket, and comes with an unsharpened pencil tucked inside. Available in dot grid, lined, or blank, with black or white cover.
The Pencil Extender allows you to use a pencil down to the final centimetres of graphite rather than discarding it when it becomes too short to hold comfortably.
Which Blackwing should you buy first?
The clearest recommendation: start with the Pearl. Its balanced feel suits both writing and drawing, it holds a point better than the Matte, and the white barrel is easy to love. If you consistently write more than you draw and want something firmer, try the 602. If you primarily sketch and want maximum expressiveness, the Matte.
The Essentials Set — four pencils, one of each grade plus a sharpener — is the most efficient way to try all four and decide which suits your hand. We stock it at The Journal Shop and it's a reliable gift for any writer or artist who hasn't yet encountered Blackwing.
One honest caution: Blackwing pencils are more expensive than standard pencils, and the difference over a graphite pencil from Staedtler or Uni is real but not transformative for most writing tasks. They're the best wooden writing pencils made today, but "best" means something specific and personal in the pencil world. If you've never used a quality graphite pencil and want to find out whether the premium is worth it to you, buy a box of six rather than twelve to start.
Where to start: browse our pencils and Blackwing pencils at The Journal Shop.
