Graph Gear 1000 Pen, 0.5mm (PG1015)

In short: Fulfils all criteria to guarantee an excellent product experience. Looks: I have lost track of how many years I have had mine (best part of a decade now). They still look the business and are often asked about by my clients whilst I am using them. One was even stolen, so I suppose that makes them quite desirable. Construction: The retractable tip is just perfect. It has a slight springiness to it that not only cushions the writing/drawing experience, but also helps avoid lead breakages, although the modern hi-poly' refills are pretty good in their own right. Made principally of plastic and aluminium, it is light yet very robust. The combination of a knurled section and rubber grip is perfect - no readjustment or sweaty finger problems. There are no fancy gears that turn the lead around (as advertised by other products) neither have I ever thought to myself that I need one of those - one less unnecessary mechanism that can go wrong = minimalism = long-lasting = happy owner. Use: Always works well, very easy to carry around (very light). Solid enough construction to withstand severe punishment - mine has been submerged in water for ~3 days (flood while I was away) & dropped from a height of over 10m (~30ft) - accidentally dropped in the space between staircase - which obliterated the lead refills inside but the pen works just fine. If it was the cheaper plastics varieties of mechanical pencils then they would not have survived. I'm also sure that some of the more expensive varieties will not be able to boast this. Even if it did stop working, replacing them is not going to be too painful. As testament to how well these have worked, I now have 3 varieties of these that take different refill sizes, as well as a spare 0.5mm as my all-rounder when I have to jot down or explain anything on the go. The oldest one is pushing a decade in age and looks/works like new. [For the astute fans out there: yes, they did make minor changes in their construction over the years, but not to any detriment] Conclusion: I have never been let down, only pleasantly surprised. I would highly recommend this over any other product I have tried (including comparisons against other brands that are >4x more expensive). A fantastic product that offers excellent value and many years of great service. This product has never disappointed me and I'm certain that most will agree once they have had the pleasure of using it.

I have bought several 0.5mm pencils. Overall, it is a very good drafting mechanical pencil and I would highly recommend it. I have personally used it for writing notes, sketching and drawing for about a year, so far. Some pencils were gifts to friends and their feedback is very positive. Package and contents: 1x Pentel Graphgear 1000 drafting pencil - 0.5 mm with 3x pencil leads inside: one is fitted into the tip's chuck and two spare leads are stored in the inner tube-container; you have to remove the cap and the eraser to access the latter. Pros: (+) The retractable tip is one of the main advantages of this pencil. When you do not use the pencil, you can press the clip and the tip will retract completely in the body, leaving the bottom end of the pencil dull and safe. While retracted, the tip can not punch a hole in your pocket or become damaged. Accordingly, while the pencil is in working (extended) mode, the tip is firmly locked into place, there is no wobbling or unwanted sliding back to the body, so you get perfect writing or drawing experience. (+) Suitable as a small gift, of token value, for business. Some companies have strict ethics' policies, and their employees may not accept gifts with a value above certain limit, which can be as low as EUR10, for example. This pencil, when imported from Japan, is reasonably priced, so you can often get it for less than EUR10. (My thanks to Japanese sellers with free delivery to Ireland.) (+) Overall excellent build quality and metal body. You could have a look at the disassembled pencil in the attached pictures, and perhaps judge for yourself. (+) It has excellent gripping area, which is a combination of nicely machined metal and soft rubbery-feeling pads. (+) Long and heavy body. It feels heavier than a comparable size plastic-bodied mechanical pencil. I personally find this Graphgear 1000 very comfortable and of great balance, but please, keep in mind that for some hands it could be too big or too heavy. (If you have small children, for example, it might be better waiting them to grow up a bit, first, before you give them this pencil.) (+) I also like the shape of the cap. See why in the tip below. Cons: (-) The delivery from Japan may take very long time - 2 to 4 weeks, but that is somewhat expected trade off with the overall low price, including zero or very low delivery fee. (Well done, Japan Post!) Tip: With two or more pencils of same appearance laying around, I wanted to distinguish them at a glance, without necessarily looking for the integrated hardness indicator. So I have colour-coded a pencil with a small plastic ring fitted onto its cap: you can see a cap with a narrow red stripe on the pictures. In my case, I have cut off that coloured ring from a red plastic, drinking straw, but you could possibly try with a small coloured rubber band. Just pay attention, please, whatever you choose, it has to take less than 2 millimetres of cap length. Anything bigger will obstruct the cap movement and the normal operation of the pencil. Notes: You might also consider some Pentel refill leads for this pencil, like Pentel 0.5mm Ain Stein 4B Refill Lead and Pentel 0.5mm Ain Stein 2B Refill Lead .

It's incredibly hard to find good mechanical pencils these days. The market seems to be dominated by cheap ones that break quickly and need immediate replacing or expensive ones that look pretty but aren't designed for convenient use. This one is different. It has a metallic covering which prevents it from being damaged and gives it the appearance of much more fancy pencils yet is as functional as cheaper ones. The main advantage of this pencil is that it will not tear a hole in your pocket like most others do. The point retracts into the bottom when you close it making the end blunt and dull. When extended the tip is locked in place by the clip, which here goes down lower when the button is depressed. This allows it to retract without suffering from the problem of other retractable pencils where they are easily pushed back leaving nothing to protect the lead from breaking. It's really the best of both worlds. The only problem with this is that when the tip is retracted the clip sticks out quite a lot which can over time cause it to get bent out of position. The rest of the pencil is fairly standard. The eraser is small and gets used up quickly so you probably want to use a separate eraser whenever possible. The grip is unusual in that it is mainly metal with only thin rubber bits sticking through to provide a grip. This is almost as good as a fully rubber grip and is quite a bit more durable. The body of the pencil is light and thin. It can take a significant amount of damage but it's really best not to push it. The only reason I replaced this pencil (with another of the same make) is because I lost it. It lasted almost two years without substantial damage, which is a rarity for my pencils. I don't know if all copies of this pencil are shipped from Japan but both of mine certainly have been. Delivery takes about 3-4 weeks but is cheap and affordable. If you need a new pencil immediately this probably isn't the product for you, but if you want a mechanical pencil that will last without breaking itself or your pockets then this is the one for you.

Really nice drawing pencil. Would recommend

I bought this pencil as the leads kept breaking all the time (about 1cm pieces breaking of the tip repeatedly, which creates a massive waste) in Faber Castell's TK-Fine 9715 as well as two other pencils I own (Idena, 0.5 and 0.7mm). I chose this product because of it's excellent reviews and must say I can only agree. The tip where the leads come out is much more precise than in my other pencils so the lead doesn't have freedom to move around and as a result no tension builds up and they doesn't snap all the time. In fact, not a single lead has broken yet. I am also convinced by the design, especially the way how one can draw in in the tip with a mechanism separate from the lead dispensing mechanism. In short, the best pencil I had so far, and not too expensive. I hope I can use this products for many years to come, which is kind of the expectation I have at a quality pencil. Delivery was earlier than expected but since it came from Japan still took a while.

This is a superb product, very robust for a 0.5mm propelling pencil and especially so if you need to carry it around a lot. The ability to retract the tip when the pencil isn't in use will save a lot of broken leads, especially as the pocket clip is the chosen method of retraction. You can't clip this over a pocket edge without retracting the tip, which is a fantastic feature. The Graph Gear 1000 also has exceptional quality, with a clean design and very precise manufacturing with no rough edges or poorly finished surfaces. I am slightly surprised that something so well made can be sold at a profit for so little. A lot of people rave about these pencils and especially about the handling. There I am less enthusiastic. This thing is good and comfortable to use, but I am spoiled as I have a Pentel 0.5mm pencil I was given in the mid 1970s and it has better handling. The difference isn't great, but the older model is definitely more comfortable to use. However for use when out and about the older model is not so good as the lead needs to be manually retracted by releasing it and pushing it back. So certainly for somebody on the go the Graph Gear 1000 is the better choice, and in any case the older design isn't available now. I do recommend this product, especially if you need a 0.5mm pencil to use when out and about. For the price the quality is really astonishing.

The pencil feels very good quality and was as expected. However, it arrived with no packaging in an enormous envelope with another, very heavy item. I have returned as was bought as a gift and it looks like it's secondhand. Will purchase elsewhere with packaging.

This is easily one of the best mechanical pencils I’ve ever used. The Pentel Graph Gear 1000 feels premium from the moment you pick it up, with a solid metal build that gives it excellent balance and durability. The 0.9mm lead size is perfect for bold, clean lines and is especially great for drafting, sketching, or everyday writing without constant breakage. The grip is comfortable and well-designed, making it easy to use for long periods without hand fatigue. One of the standout features is the retractable tip, which protects the lead and makes it ideal for carrying in a pocket or pencil case without worrying about damage. The mechanism is smooth and reliable, and the pencil consistently delivers precise, clean lines. It’s clear that this pencil is built with attention to detail and functionality, making it suitable for both professionals and students. Pros: Premium, durable metal construction Comfortable and ergonomic grip Smooth, precise writing performance Retractable tip for added protection Ideal for drafting and everyday use Overall, this is an outstanding mechanical pencil that combines quality, reliability, and smart design. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a high-performance writing or drafting tool.

✅ Pros: ➔ Peso adecuado. ➔ Cómodo. ➔ Puedes indicar la dureza de la mina (H, HB, B, 2B). ➔ Punta retráctil. ➔ Resistente. ❌ Contras: ➔ Ninguno. ⭐ Mi experiencia con el producto: He estado probando este portaminas para dibujar o escribir, y puedo decir que es un buen portaminas. Que la punta sea retráctil me quita el miedo a llevármelo a cualquier lado. Me gusta que pueda indicar el tipo de dureza para no olvidar qué mina tengo puesta. He probado otros portaminas y este tiene un peso adecuado que lo hace cómodo al usarlo. ✦ Conclusión: Si me hace falta otro portaminas, lo volveré a comprar de nuevo. Totalmente recomendado.👍

Je l adore . Ce crayon est parfait , il est robuste et tient bien en main . Je l utilise tous les jours pour mes croquis et dessins . J en ai plusieurs de la marque et je ne suis jamais déçue . Le prix qui peut paraître excessif pour certain est totalement justifié en regard de la qualité

Lapiseira muito bonita, toda externamente de metal e pesada, aparenta ser muito resistente e acredito se for bem cuidada durará a vida inteira, vale cada centavo pra quem gosta de lapiseira pesada.

I ordered 0.5 mm graphite pencil but it came 0.3 mm . Pencil is good quality but I was not satisfied because of wrong item.

Le Pentel Graphgear 1000 hanno quel tipico modo costruttivo giapponese che unisce la praticità ad una qualità estrema e una usability sicuramente intuitiva e adattabile. Sono portamine più leggeri rispetto ad una rOtring 600/800 e più "facili" da usare. La punta retrattile li rende più resistenti ad una caduta accidentale (meglio comunque sempre stare attenti a non farle cadere). Il selettore (da H a 2B) è molto utile se si hanno più matite con diverse durezze di mina. Il bilanciamento è più centrale e meno pesante sulla punta. Il prezzo è assolutamente più conveniente rispetto a marchi come rOtring o Tombow: con 14/15€ al massimo si può comprare una serie 500 in plastica, mentre queste sono totalmente in metallo (corpo in alluminio, parti in acciaio). Riguardo al solo fattore estetico/design magari sono meno appariscenti rispetto alle rOtring 600-800 che sono sicuramente più iconiche, o alle Tombow Zoom 707 che sono bellissime e uniche nel panorama. Alla fine un portamine è uno strumento tecnico che deve offrire una ottima presa, non affaticare, essere ben bilanciato e avere una buona resistenza all'uso, e in tutto questo queste Graphgear 1000 non sono seconde a nessuno. Consigliatissime.