Caran d'Ache 849 Totally Swiss Paper Cutout Ballpoint Pen Review

I had high expectations when I reviewed my first Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint. This is a classic pen by a well respected company, and it wrote like I was using a piece of glass on sandpaper. I was hugely disappointed to say the least.

The chorus in the comments section of that post was unanimous: I had a dud refill. I accepted that, and put on my list to grab another refill when I got the chance. The barrel was far too nice to let it go that easily. And then I do what I do sometimes: I forgot to order the refill.

My memory was jarred when I saw the new Totally Swiss Collection on Goldspot and I asked if they would loan me one to test out. I just had to see the stunning Paper Cutout model in person and, or course, test out the refill.

When the box arrived and I saw the packaging for this pen I was immediately impressed. I’m not a packaging guy normally, but the Han Solo in Carbonite tin case is well done. It is held closed by magnets, giving it a streamlined look that opens easily and snaps shut. The black velvet lining keeps it protected in transit, with a few words on the Goliath refill found inside the case.

The hexagonal barrel of the 849 is a Caran d’Ache calling card. When you see that shape along with the angular clip, you know immediately it is a Caran d’Ache. It is comfortable to hold, and the aluminum barrel material keeps it lightweight for any length writing session.

And the refill? This one is excellent thankfully. This is the experience I was missing out on the first time. The acclaimed Goliath ink cartridge is said to deliver 600 A4 pages worth of writing, and it should, because replacement refills cost almost $10.

That is the one hangup with Caran d’Ache. They make luxury pens and pencils, and they are priced accordingly. $40 isn’t necessarily outrageous for a pen, but coming from a great writing pen like the Uni-ball Jetstream at $3, it is a jump. You can pick up an 849 in other colors and styles in the mid-$20’s, which may better fit your budget.

I’ve been finding uses for ballpoints more and more recently and enjoy the experience they offer when I need them. The Caran d’Ache 849 is right up there with any of the premium ballpoint pens I have used.

(Goldspot loaned this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

---

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, which I am very grateful for.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Caran d'Ache Chromatics Ink Cartridge Idyllic Blue Review

Fountain pen ink cartridges are an economic and environmentally bad choice. Compared to bottled ink, the price per milliliter is far greater, and you are tossing empty plastic tubes into the trash can on a regular basis. Now that I have gotten that out of the way, let me tell you why I love these Caran d'Ache Chromatics ink cartridges.

Color name imprinted on the cartridge. Thank you!

I’m a huge fan of Kaweco pens, especially the pocket varieties like the AL Sport and Liliput. There have been attempts at making converters for these pens (I’ll be testing the newest one soon) but so far nothing beats a standard short international ink cartridge. The issue for addicts like me is that color choices are limited, unless you want to syringe fill empty cartridges. I’ve done that plenty, but let’s face it: Cartridges are far easier to use, and more portable.

Kaweco offers 8 colors to satiate people like me, but getting a high end ink like Caran d’Ache in this format is great news. Granted, only Cosmic Black and Idyllic Blue are available right now, but I would be over the moon if they continued down the Chromatics color lineup. (Edit: I'm happy to note I am wrong. All colors ARE available.)

Idyllic Blue is one of the best standard blues I recall using. I’m not usually a blue user, I go for blue black or turquoise shades before reaching for stock blues, but this one is fantastic.

The color has a depth and richness than normal blues can’t achieve. Many are light and watery looking, but not Idyllic Blue. There is minimal shading, with slight variation from light to dark in the lines, but the lubrication is off the charts. I used a crisp fine cursive italic for this review, and the nib was noticeably smoother than with other, less lubricated inks. The dry time was impressive as well, even at the five second mark.

In barrel double stack approved.

This is a premium ink, and it comes at a premium price. $5.50 for for six ink cartridges doesn’t sound expensive in a vacuum, but that is nearly a 100% increase over the aforementioned Kaweco cartridges. There are also only two color choices for now, unlike the 25 Diamine currently has available in the short international size.

Still, I’ll be enjoying these Idyllic Blue ink cartridges for a while and crossing my fingers for more colors to join the lineup soon.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Caran d'Ache Chromatics Magnetic Blue Ink Review

Being a fan of blue black inks, there is a lot to like about Caran d'Ache Chromatics Magnetic Blue. But regardless of if I like the color or not, there is one big, BIG hangup with this ink.

The Chromatics line was created to mimic the color spectrum found in a prism, and the 12 colors represent a very nice range. The Magnetic Blue I chose is a nice cloudy blue with hints of grey and a hint of purple. The shading is average, with a narrow range of color found in my lines. You can see it, but the shading is not necessarily a standout. The smoothness and lubrication of the ink is a highlight, flowing true and easily form the nib. It is a long-drying ink though, one of the longest I recall testing. When using it in my Midori Travelers notebook I actually had it transfer to the previous page when shutting the book.

Ranking it against only the other blue black inks I use frequently, it's not top 5 material on color alone. It's just not special enough to stand out from the crowd, and therein lies the major problem. It will cost you $38 dollars to try out an average ink.

This is easily the most expensive bottle of ink on my shelf and it will be rarely used. Looking at the swatches on JetPens I think I would have been happier with one of the brighter colors like Electric Orange or Hypnotic Turquoise. I use so many blue black inks I am very sure of where this ranks, so picking a different color may have left me more impressed. Still, for a premium ink it doesn't do enough for me to justify the price. Pilot Iroshizuku has nothing to worry about.

Have you used any of the Caran d'Ache Chromatics inks? I've love to get some feedback and comments if you have. Let me know what I am missing!

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)