It's an incredible pencil.
I think it’s the best pencil.
(And I should know, I’ve used a lot of pencils).
But, if I am being honest, it's no better than many other pencils.
The Koh-I-Noor 1500⬎
The Mitsubishi 8950⬎
The NOS Rotring 600 Mechanical⬎
_to name but a few.
So, if it’s not the pencil itself, is it the obscure references, celebrity endorsement and odd-looking design that make the difference?
Geeky? Yes.
Interesting? To the right person.
The reason I won't use any other pencils? No.
First, these titbits are reverse-engineered.
I owned and loved the pencil long before I knew the trivia.
And second, none of this matters in a pencil.
None of this is going to make me write any better. I could just use a classic yellow No.2⬎,
_of which I can source 22 for the cost of a single Blackwing 602.
The specs don’t matter.
The pencil doesn’t matter.
The gear doesn't matter.
But_
Everything above talks about the quantitative features of a 602. The solid and tangible specs. None of what I've written about so far takes into account the intangible aspects of using this pencil.
A 602 is not just a pencil.
It's an experience.
Picking one up makes you feel something.
The Blackwing I drafted this with (what's left of it at least) sparks joy, pleasure and professionalism.
It screams capability, creativity & confidence.
It speaks of all the story, lore, love, skill, time, passion, attention to detail and enduring quality that have gone into such a simple object.
Their work sets a benchmark_
_that manifests in my world.
In me.
My work.
My mood.
My best mood.
My best work.
The best version of myself.
With a 602 in my hand,
working on something,
for someone,
I feel unstoppable.
There are other pencils out there that perform as well as the Blackwing, but they don't entice me to pick them up and use them the way a Blackwing does (I know this because I own most of them too).
GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTERs // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER // GEAR DOESN'T MATTER //
It matters because it inspires me.
It inspires me
to do more,
more often,
at a higher quality.
And this⬏ makes me better.
I wouldn’t write without one.
And this⬏ makes it worth the ridiculous price tag.
But, here's where this way of thinking gets dangerous.
