Review | The Rotring 600: The Best of All Time?
The legacy and reputation of the Rotring 600 is nearly untouchable. However, why is it worshipped so universally?
Overview
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $25 - $30 (Amazon) |
| Weight | 22g |
| Body Material | Brass |
| Clip Material | Brass |
| Removable Clip | Yes |
| Grip Material | Brass |
| Knurled Grip | Yes |
| Tip Material | Brass |
| Retractable Tip | No |
| Lead Jam Rod | No |
| Removable Eraser | Yes |
| Lead Advancement | Top Button |
| Lead Indicator | HB,B,2B,4H,2H,H,F |
| Lead Sizes | 0.9,0.7,0.5,0.3 |
| Grip - Pipe Distance | 1.2 cm |
| Body Length | 13.8 cm |
Design
Grip
The Rotring 600 has a hexagonal design, with rather long fine, knurled, grip towards the front. This pencil is most certainly not made for long, intense, writing sessions, but the grip is incredibly comfortable to use when drafting or sketching. The newer models have a finer knurl, which allegedly was to cater to the Japanese market (???). It does pick up graphite rather easily, so if you want a perfect and prestine shine on your Rotring you need to be extra careful.
The hexagonal shape of the pencil is rather controversial, as for some the edges will dig into some people's hands as they write, and the transition from the grip to the rest of the pencil does create a few sharp corners. However, the model I currently own seems to have flattened out these corners; The early model I used to own from the pencil's first release in the 90s did not have this change. For me, the hexagonal shape made the pencil rotate less, and was actually rather comfortable. Your mileage may vary.
Additionally, the hexagonal shape prevents the pencil from rolling around–handy for artists working in messy areas where they wouldn't want to lose or drop the pencil (the second one is a pretty big issue actually).
It's unclear if it's just the new model I now own or this is a common problem from the beginning, but the metal at the corners where the grip meets the rest of the pencil chips away very easily, so you will see some of the metal underneath whatever color you choose to buy. I personally don't mind as it adds to the natural wear and tear of a tool you're meant to use everyday, but if you care definitely keep the pencil in it's own non-metal case.
From left to right, Pentel Graphgear 1000, Rotring 600, Kaweco Special, Pilot S20, Pentel Orenz Nero
The tip is just over a centimeter away from the grip, incredibly low for most pencils, especially compared to its modern rival the Pentel Graphgear 1000, whose tip is over 2cm from the grip! As somebody who has a bad habit of choking up on my pencils, the Rotring makes it much less painful.
Lead Pipe
As was just mentioned, the tip is very close to the grip, which I personally prefer. However, despite this fact, the lead pipe still extends rather far, and provides an excellent view of your work surface. The second barrel just above the lead pipe is actually thinner than the Graphgear's, but I don't notice this difference in my own daily use. Keep this in mind if you sketch intriciate detail often though.
The biggest downside with the Rotring 600, especially compared to the Graphgear (I know I'm comparing the two a lot), is the inability to retract the lead pipe. While I've never bent it, it's pretty common given the weight of the pencil that upon dropping it tip first, the lead pipe can easily bend and render the pencil unusable. Rotring does sell replacement grips however, which the lead pipe is directly attached to.
Clip
The clip is rather tight, and you will likely have trouble clipping it inside your jacket pocket if that's your type of style, but it is removable if you prefer it that way. The all metal build makes it incredibly solid, so I doubt it will snap without a deliberate attempt.
Lead Indicator
A common sight on drafting pencils is the lead indicator, and the Rotring 600's is no doubt the gold standard. Without any need to adjust any part of the pencil or remove the cap (I'm looking at you guys @Graphgear and @S20), you can simply turn the indicator to your desired lead. While it will loosen with time, even the nearly 30 year old model I owned (long story) gave me no issues.
The indicator has HB, B, 2B, 4H, 2H, H, and F.
There's also the iconic red ring located at the top of the lead indicator, reminding you that Rotring (German for red ring) are the one's that made this pencil.
Cap and Eraser
The newer Rotring 600 comes with a cap that has a hole in the top so you can see the eraser (not sure why). The eraser is as usual, nothing to write home about, but I have noticed the relatively cheap plastic that the eraser holder is made of. Luckily, you'll only ever need to remove it when adding lead, so I doubt you will be stressing it enough to break it.
The old model I owned also had an incredibly loose eraser cap, but considering it was nearly 30 years old this probably is not a realistic issue. The Rotring's cap is looser than most pencils in general, so this does seem like the first part of the pencil that will "fail" to work over time.
Build Quality and Feel
This is the Rotring 600's strongest point. Even with the newer models clearly cheaping out on the plastic used on the internals, the all brass build still feels as high quality as ever. There are very very few pencils that can compete with this build quality, and considering my family had given me one that has been used for 30 years in the art industry, this pencil is going to last you a long, long time.
While it is on the heavier side, the Rotring 600 still feels incredibly easy to use, and for me the weight makes it easier to control when drawing.
The Rotring 600 is the ultimate embodiment of the German approach to product design: Simple and reliable.
The Rotring 600 lacks the features that most other manufacturers like Pentel and Uni have been using for over a decade, yet it still stands among them as an equal due to its unparralled build quality.
Price
For those in the U.S., the Rotring 600 can be had for around the $25 ~ $30 range on Amazon, and $31.50 on Jetpens as of writing.
For those in Japan, the Rotring 600 goes for between ¥2500 and ¥3000 on Amazon (no tax I believe), with most stores selling it for ¥3630 including tax (¥3300 without ) as of writing.
This is a rather expensive pencil, but considering the build quality, its 100% worth it if you are an artist, architect, designer, etc. Even in the event of the pencil breaking, its popularity means individual parts are likely to be resold, and tutorials on repair are easily found online.
Fun!
The whole point of this page is to find the fun in stationery, yet to kick it all off I chose one of the most boring pencils out there.
As I mentioned previously, I used to own an original Rotring 600 from it's initial release in the 90s, and it was passed down to me by my mother who had saved up all her money to buy it. Unfortunately, I either lost it or had it stolen (this is actually believable considering how much the damn thing costs these days), so it's always held great sentimental value to me.
I think the most interesting part about the Rotring 600 is the history. Aside from my own personal 'history' with it, this line of pencil is one of the oldest on the market, and its timeless design has no doubt had a tremendous influence on mechanical pencil design since its release.
Conclusion
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unbeatable Build Quality | Expensive |
| Best Lead Indicator | Easily Breakable Tip |
| Replacable Tip | Loose Eraser Cap |
| Removable Clip | Coating Scratches Easily |
| Balanced Weight |
Verdict
The hype around the Rotring 600 is maybe... 75% warranted. While I can't recommend it to just anybody, this would be quite the introduction to the world of high quality mechanical pencils.
From a practical perspective, only people like architects should be spending this much money on a pencil.
But hey, that's boring. And it's too late for me if that's the case.
If you already have an interest in stationery, specifically mechanical pencils, the Rotring 600 is a must-have. If you like sketching in your free time, this will definitely be a worthwhile investment. If you've never touched something other than a Papermate Clearpoint (the colorful ones with the side button)... you might need to be eased into the world of stationery first.
Either way, the Rotring 600 has, and will continue to stand as one of the best pencils to both stationery enthusiasts and artists alike, and even though its 'boring' it may just be the all metal mechanical pencil.