PentelArts GraphGear 1000 Mechanical Pencil Premium Gift Set with Refill Leads & Erasers (PG1000BXSET)

The pentel graph-gear 1000 is such amazing pencils to write with and to sketch great idea with the mechanical pencil is made with great quality that is so smooth to the hand once you grip it you get a nice smooth finish touch and the weight on it feels just perfect its design really appealing I always get a lot of comments in school about this mechanical pencil it's such a attraction to the eye the writing speed helps do quick notes and the durability on the pencil is just amazing I dropped it a couple of times and it still functions like a champ this is a great mechanical pencil to buy pentel is amazing brand and they make well build and well quality designs products. They also come with spare refilled led for all the types of led I personally enjoyed writing with a 0.7 it's just about right writing with it and also comes with extra eraser's.

Great gift for artists needing more pencils or starting with mechanical pencils vs. wooden pencils. Or anyone who likes different size lead options. Pentel got this one right!!1. They color code some of their styles including this one... brown .3mm, black/gray .5mm, blue .7mm, and yellow .9mm. This style also available in a .4mm in green (not included in the set). This helps visually for those who use multiple pencils at a time.2. These offer a retractable lead sleeve at the tip activated by the clip. Prevents this sleeve from bending or breaking in a pocket, art box/case, etc. A bent or broken sleeve is no good! Also prevents the sleeve from poking holes in shirt pockets or stabbing if clipped onto a paper pad, etc. (They are small, metal, and a bit "pokey"... can't be helped, but they are. )3. Artists often hold pencils in other ways than the writing position....clips can get in the way and pinch/poke. Pentel made the clip so the clip is flush with the barrel when the tip sleeve is extended. Brilliant!!The clip looks bulky at first glance. But the design allows for the tip to be flush as mentioned above while also opening wide enough to actually "clip" (not just slide) into a shirt pocket, art case pocket, or on an art pad or board with some thickness.4. The grip isn't too grippy (like some silicone or rubber grips) allowing artists to rotate the pencil in hand, but isn't all knurled metal like some that can make fingers sore if too rough. This one is perfect... with a smooth transition from grip to barrel (when not smooth, not comfy in hand.)5. The lead size (.5, .7mm, etc) is printed on the barrel and on the end...if you keep your pencil set in a cup-style holder you can see the size. The end is color coded also for easy ID. The band above the grip is also color coded.6. These feature a lead hardness indicator (whoever came up with this idea deserves a medal!) These are a little more involved in changing the indicator as lead is changed than some other styles, but not difficult. The tip of the pen needs to be loosened/removed to rotate the grip so the window reveals the hardness of the lead in the pencil....vs. simply rotating a band. The hardnesses offered in the indicator are: H, HB, B, 2B (not enough for artists). However, a fine point Gelly Roll pen in white can be used to add other hardnesses if needed <wink> There is enough room to add 7 more between the preprinted options and show thru the window.7. Comes with a set of 4 lead sizes in HB (#2). The caps for the lead cases are also color coded to size. Plus replacement erasers.Con: Only one I find, which isn't necessarily bad, is the threads for the tip (which you have to remove to change the lead hardness indicator) are plastic. If these were machined metal, these pencils would be unbeatable...albeit more expensive. If this style featured auto-reeling like the Pentel Orenz pencil, it would be the bomb-diggity! (That's right...Bomb. Diggity.)Pentel should color code ALL their styles... but they didn't ask me. (Adding in case Pentel is watching.)If you are looking for a nice, mechanical pencil set with some really nice features... this is it! Slap a bow on that gift box and make an artist (or non-artist) happy!They are also sold individually by the way. I didn't price shop, so I don't know if this set can be found cheaper elsewhere, but I did notice it was more expensive at one online art store.

SUMMARY: All in all, I find this gift set a wonderful combination of great pencils, spare leads and erasers presented in a very classy box.CONTEXT: The P-200 series of Pentel pencils have been favorites of mine for over 40 years, introduced to me by my engineer father, I used them from college (80's) on through my business career for drawing, note taking and sketching, and I still have the .3, .5, .7 and .9mm sizes on my desk today.REVIEWS: When I saw this Pentel GraphGear1000 Premium Gift Set, I immediately went to YouTube and started watching video reviews. Most were favorable, so I decided to treat myself to an early Christmas gift. I'm VERY happy I did.FEATURES: If the P200 series are light, nimble, no frills, highly effective pencil companions, the GG1000 series are their full-featured, sophisticated siblings. GRIP: Even more comfortable in my hands than the P200 series (though the weightier feel might not be for everyone), the combination of knurled metal sleeve and rubber ellipses make a firm grip comfortable. CLIP: The clip is a combination of a) very well-designed way to clip the pencil to pocket or note-pad, and also b) when the back of the clip is pressed, it serves to retract the lead-sleeve back into the tip ... this is not a trivial point. RETRACTABLE LEAD SLEEVE: One of the few disappointing experiences I've ever had with a P-203 (.3mm) was when the slender lead sleeve became bent ... a small bit of damage that rendered it useless. Retracting the lead sleeve back into the point not only protects the sleeve from damage, but also protects the pockets into which we thrust our pencils. A great idea. PUSH BUTTON TOP/ERASER/SLEEVE CLEANER/LEAD MAGAZINE: The push button cap at the top of the pencil a) extends and allows the retraction of the lead into the lead sleeve, b) hides the combination eraser and sleeve cleaning needle (stuck into the bottom of eraser), and c) covers the lead magazine (under the eraser). LEAD TYPE WINDOW: Above the knurled grip is a rotatable window that allows the user to display the lead type they're currently using.FINER POINTS:> I've heard that setting the lead-grade window requires a slight loosening of the grip, but I haven't tried that yet. The video I watched made perfect sense of this, so if/when it comes up, I'll update the review here.> Those who prefer a very light weight pencil might find these too heavy. I like the weight feel.> The Gift Box is done well enough I've been using consistently, replacing each pencil in the box after every use.

I spent a long time searching for the top recommended mechanical pencils for drawing and many, many reddit posts lauded these as the winner. I got this set for myself as a bonus for acing finals.I was more than happy with this set. It comes in a lovely box that would make a perfect gift for anyone who likes to write or draw with plenty of extra erasers and lead for each pencil. The body is solid and has a nice heft to it. The grip is comfortable and the lead is even and smooth. I have dropped it a few times with no breaks. Definitely recommend!I also love the way the lead retracts when you use the clip to attach it to something. That was a genius addition to a mechanical pencil.

This set is a wonderful gift for an artist or collector. The pencils have a comfortable grip and good balance.