When you think about pencils, you probably don’t think of crazy-high price tags. And you’d be pretty spot-on — most pencils are very cheap. The writing tool has been around since the 1700s (long before modern wood carving machines came onto the scene to make pencil production easier), and they’ve never been that pricey.
After a French scientist named Nicholas-Jacques Conte created the pencil in 1795, several small manufacturers popped up in the U.S., making pencils easier to buy and cheaper. Mass-produced pencils showed up a few decades later thanks to advancements in factory machines, laying the groundwork for the modern pencils we know today.
With such a long history, pencil makers have developed a lot of techniques to drive down production costs. However, some pencils still earn steep price tags. These unique writing tools often feature the basic principles of the everyday pencil, but the makers spruce things up with high-end details such as gold plating and other expensive materials.
These are the top eight most expensive pencils in the world.
- Uni Mitsubishi Hi-Uni Pencil – HB
- The Magnum Perfect Pencil
- The Metallic Pencil by Smythson
- Aurora Ottantotto Demonstrator Sketch Pencil – Limited Edition
- Montblanc Amadeus Mozart Mechanical Pencil
- Montblanc Writer’s Series Oscar Wilde Limited Edition Mechanical Pencil
- The Montblanc 14K Gold Pencil
- The Perfect Pencil by Faber-Castell
Brand: Mitsubishi
Origin: Japan
Unique Feature: Hexagonal design
photo source: jetpens.com
Kicking things off is the modest Uni Mitsubishi Hi-Uni Pencil – HB. With a price tag of $2.75, this pencil is pretty affordable — but it’s still way more expensive than pencils from standard brands which sell for just a few cents apiece.
The brand behind this pencil got its start in 1887 when Masaki Pencil Manufacturing Company was established in Tokyo. The company transformed over the years, but it eventually became the high-end pencil-maker that it is today.
When it comes to this particular pencil, the brand says it’s very similar to standard #2 pencils you’d find in American schools.
“A greater percentage of clay results in a harder pencil lead, and lead is graded by hardness. Pencils graded H, F, HB and B are of average hardness…A common American #2 pencil is equivalent to an HB pencil.” The brand also says its best-selling HB pencil offers “rich, dark, and even lines,” making it a great addition to any collection of art supplies.
Did you know?
This pencil comes unsharpened, but buyers can get a sharpener from the same brand for about $20.
Brand: Garf von Faber-Castell
Origin: Germany
Unique Feature: Built-in sharpener
photo source: endlesspens.com
Garf von Faber-Castell takes pencils very seriously. “Simple luxury,” the brand says, “nothing embodies it more than writing with a beautiful pencil.”
The Faber-Castell brand has always been serious about luxury writing utensils. After it was established in 1761, the company went on to create a lot of high-end tools, including this graphite pencil that goes for an estimated $5.
But of all the brand’s expensive products, few compare to the $300 Magnum Perfect. That’s right, this is a $300 pencil. The incredibly expensive design features a wood and metal body alongside a heavyweight metal lid. Everything is tied together with Faber-Castell’s signature craftsmanship and stamped with the brand’s logo.
Would you pay $300 for a pencil?
Did you know?
This unique pencil has a built-in sharpener and eraser.
Brand: Smythson
Origin: England
Unique Feature: Made from solid silver
photo source: smythson.com
With the Metallic Pencil, Smythson offers a solid silver writing tool that’s as expensive as it is beautiful. The incredible design is crafted in England and offers buyers the quality craftsmanship you’d expect from such an iconic brand.
Be ready to drop some serious cash if you’re interested in this pencil — a single order goes for more than $500 before tax. Yes, seriously.
Did you know?
Smythson was founded in 1887. The brand has produced a lot of unique products over the years, including custom diaries and logbooks for Charles R. Burton, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and Oliver Shepard (three world explorers).
Brand: Aurora
Origin: Italy
Unique Feature: Plexiglass body
photo source: penboutique.com
Some artists use whatever pencils they can find while others rely on high-end designs. This pencil is for anyone in the second group — if they can afford it.
The design was created by Aurora and is produced in Italy. Buyers enjoy a durable plexiglass body and the excitement of a limited edition product, but that’s basically where the luxury stops. Despite its $600 price tag, the pencil offers standard measurements and basic materials. Users do get a two-year warranty though, so maybe it’s worth the price.
Did you know?
The Aurora brand was established in Italy in 1919, making it the first Italian fountain pen manufacturer.
Brand: Montblanc
Origin: Germany and France
Unique Feature: Sterling silver body
photo source: blodwulf.ecrater.com
Coming in at number four is an ultra-expensive pencil from Montblanc. The brand is behind several expensive products, including a unique series of pencils paying homage to Mozart.
Although prices vary, many buyers spend close to $1,000 to get their hands on one of these pencils.
Beyond a decorative box with a picture of Mozart, Montblanc’s pencil features a sterling silver body and gold plating. Getting down the specifics, the tool’s lead measures 0.7mm and the whole thing measures just over 4.3 inches long.
Did you know?
This pencil was made in Germany and France, but many Montblanc pencils are just made in Germany.
Brand: Montblanc
Origin: Hamburg, Germany
Unique Feature: Gold plating
photo source: sothebys.com
Up next is another pricey pencil from Montblanc. The iconic brand is known for going the extra mile and turning basic pencils into works of art, but this limited edition writing utensil really pushes the envelope. As one report puts it, “[pencils are a] tool for storytelling over the ages, it’s the very basis of advanced societies. It’s fitting, then, that the making of writing instruments is an art itself. And Montblanc has mastered it.”
That may sound like a bold claim, but it’s not hard to see why Montblanc fans are so enamored by the brand’s pencils. Take this example from the company’s limited Writer’s Series. The unique creation features gold plating, a marbled resin body, and the word Montblanc stamped on the clip. All that comes with a price tag of $1,000 — but it might just be worth it for fans of the brand.
Did you know?
Despite selling these pencils for $1,000, Sotheby’s auction house says nobody tests Montblanc’s limited edition writing utensils before they go up for sale — so there’s no guarantee your pricey toy will work.
Brand: Montblanc
Origin: Hamburg, Germany
Unique Feature: Octagonal design
photo source: bonhams.com
Looking for an expensive gift? Maybe a pricey pencil? Montblanc has you covered. The iconic luxury goods brand has served rich and famous clients such as Ernest Hemingway and Barack Obama, so it’s a great pick for impressing that special someone.
When it comes to writing tools, Montblanc has a few options. The brand started making its best-known pen, the Meisterstück, in 1924 — but one of its most valuable writing utensils is a 14K gold pencil with an octagonal design. The rare pencil was made in 1926 in Hamburg, Germany — just two years after the Meisterstück started production.
In 2015, Bonhams auction house offered the collectible to wealthy buyers. The final price? $4,375.
Did you know?
This pencil was discovered in an old cigar box.
Brand: Garf von Faber-Castell
Origin: Germany
Unique Feature: Gold details
photo source: graf-von-faber-castell.us
The Perfect Pencil by Faber-Castell is the most expensive pencil in the world.
No one makes a pencil quite like Garf von Faber-Castell. The luxury brand is known for producing a lot of high-end art supplies, but its biggest claim to fame is being the oldest pencil manufacturer on the planet. After its founding in 1761, the company quickly became a staple among artists of all kinds, offering everything from artist pens to calligraphy tools.
Faber-Castell already has a lot to be proud of, but the brand really pushed its high-end image with the release of The Perfect Pencil. The boldly named product features the careful craftsmanship you’d expect from Faber-Castell, but that price tag might be a little off-putting. One Perfect Pencil will cost you $12,000 — and that’s before tax.
Would you buy this pencil?
Did you know?
So why does this thing cost so much? It really comes down to two things: materials and brand recognition. Faber-Castell is an iconic name among professional artists, so owning the brand’s ultra-expensive pencil is just another way to show your love for the company. Plus, the pencil itself is built with costly materials like real gold 240-year-old olive wood. Some versions even have diamonds.
