Your drawings deserve high-quality, hard-wearing pencil leads. For almost 100 years, Caran d'Ache has manufactured top-quality graphite lead for mechanical pencils. Our Technograph and Graphite collections carry leads that are exceptionally intense and smooth, perfect for the precision involved in creative and technical work.
Meet your own high standards, and fill your pencils with Swiss Made quality.

Longevity, with Technograph lead

Need a lead that can stand the test of time? Technograph mechanical-pencil leads are unrivalled in their quality, strength and evenness.
Sold in sets of 12, Technograph leads have a 2-mm diameter and are available in grades 4H, 3H, 2H, H, F, HB, B, 2B and 3B. From hard leads that produce light lines, to soft leads that lend heavy emphasis, this range is versatile for a wide variety of projects.
Without a doubt, the Technograph graphite leads from Caran d'Ache will be optimum for your sketches and drawings.

Subtle finesse, with Graphite lead

For writing, sketching and shading, the Swiss Made [Graphite] (https://www.carandache.com/us/en/mines/boite-12-mines-graphite-0-5mm-0-7mm-p-10231.htm) leads are 100% graphite and crafted with the utmost care by our artisans in Geneva.
Like the Technograph range, Graphite mechanical-pencil lead is also packaged in tubes of 12. It comes in two diameters, 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm, and in two grades, HB and B, meaning you will find what you need for your creative work, whether technical or artistic.

How to choose the right grade

As an arts and stationery specialist, Caran d'Ache is aware of the huge diversity of techniques in drawing. Our company is committed to offering a wide selection of leads suited to your projects.
Each grade of lead has a hardness and density. For a deep-black, even coverage over large areas, the softest grades, 9B to 3B, are perfect. For hatching and overlay techniques, select a thin diameter from grades 2B to H. For technical drawings and scientific illustrations, we recommend grades 2H to 4H, which will produce fine and extra-fine lines that remain smooth and intense.