Customer Reviews

The Rotring 600, although narrower and slightly less comfortable than the Staedtler 925-25, is my favorite due to its solid construction. The Rotring 600 can feel unbalanced if I grab it too close to the tip. Nevertheless, its absolute precision elegantly accompanies its distinctive, clinical appearance. If I could only choose one pencil, it would be this one.

This is pencil is BEAST. This silver finished Rotring is much smoother than it's matte black counterpart. The pencil is heavy yet balanced, and the grip gives maximum control (although it is a bit smaller than I can stand to use for more than a couple hours). Otherwise, this is a beautiful pencil that looks like a dentist tool.

Having a almost perfect RR500 in my arsenal, I wanted to check out how well the legendary RR600 fares.
They always say, 'Don't write your heroes, you will be disappointed'. This is NOT the case with the RR600. It's even better than I have ever dreamed. A very smooth silver finish. And holding it really is like holding a solid black of hexagonal metal. It is beautiful to behold and the minimalism of the design (the word 'Rotring' only appearing on the removable clip) really does appeal to me.
The writing experience is smooth, very smooth. There really are too much 'just rights' on this product that one cannot hate the RR600. It is indeed very precise and solidly built.
The knurled grip is just right. Not too smooth, not too rough. The only problem is that this HAS to stay home. I've heard too many stories about people who ruined their 600 by dropping it. But as long as one takes care of it, the quality of this gem will outlive me.

A very good pencil, excellent build, nice design. However I still like my rapid pro a little better for both the weight and the grip.

Just got a new Rotring 600 for Father's Day! I'm so excited to finally have one, but so scared to use it at the same time! Everything about the pencil is awesome; it's just that sleeve that is oh so fragile that has me watching every move with this pencil.

The weight is a little more than I'm used to with my other plastic barreled pencils, but I'm getting used to it. I absolutely love the metal knurled grip. The pencil is a little thinner than I thought it would be which is a bonus, because I love thin barreled pencils!

All in all this pencil takes the cake. Precision engineering and design, with a quality name.

It's a shame that all the good quality pencils are made and sold in other countries; and all the sloppy plastic crap is sold here in the U.S. I'm so glad Jetpens is there to bridge that gap for us American pen/pencil fanatics.

Keep up the good work JetPens!

Creates instant jealousy from coworkers and fellow students. Holds lead firmly, and feels like it was made with the same precision and attention given to a rifle. Lead extension is solid and consistent, and makes me actually want to do my homework because I get to use it!

Only complaint is the eraser size, but i just carry around a Pentel click erase, and that takes care of that.

Also, i thought is pencil was bigger than it actually is. it's pretty small.

all that said i would buy it again in a heartbeat

Summary:
Overall, I'm extremely satisfied with the Rotring 600. For my preferences, it hits all the right notes. If you're interested enough in your writing supplies to go a specialty website, then the extra bit of money is worth it for a practically heirloom quality pencil. Great construction, weight, and feel.

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I've been using Pentel GraphGear 500 for the last three years at university, since the coating was starting to deteriorate, I upgraded to the GraphGear 1000 (GG1000). The GG1000 is a solid pencil, and I'm sure some people would prefer it, but I was somewhat dissatisfied. Aside from an old Staedtler Micro, these are the only drafting pencils I have for comparison.

The reasons that I bought the Rotring 600 and enjoy using it boil down to:
- Construction: The pencil is all metal and has a solid construction. If you want a pencil that you can give to your children, then the R600 will fulfill that role.
- Weight: The R600 is a comparatively heavy pencil, but since it's balanced, the weighty nature gives it a precise feel. It is meant to be a drafting pencil, not something that you would free-hand a 100 page monograph in. After using it for a while on physics notes and homework, the weight has become one of my favorite aspects of the pencil.
- Size: Since the R600 is all metal, the balance is very near the center. This feels just right to me, and despite it's weight, and makes it comfortable to hold. I like that the 600 is shorter (about a centimeter shorter than the GG 1000), but I have smaller hands.
- Grip Area: What I especially disliked the GG1000 for was the rubber pads inlaid in the grip, they felt cheap and out of place; I just wanted a pure metal grip area. The grip on the R600 is about a centimeter closer to the lead sleeve than the GG's, and feels more comfortable if you grip the pencil closer in. The grip area doesn't feel sharp or slippery -- about as comfortable metal can be.
- Aesthetic: Come on, the things the Excalibur of pencils. Sometimes I just look at it and think, "Damn."

The lead advance is the one thing that bothers me about the R600. Maybe it gets smoother in time, Maybe mines missed quality control, but it binds somewhat and is noticeably un-smooth. The length of the lead advance is about a millimeter I wish that it was like the GG1000 where it was the same as the lead diameter (0.5 mm).

I just received my black 600 today. I ordered it as soon as I noticed they were back in stock a few days ago. Just got it yesterday! Super fast shipping (I used the free standard).

As for the pencil itself, it's lovely. I disagree with those that said it was too heavy for extended writing and work. I just worked 5 hours of differential equations homework and it was a joy to use. Don't get me wrong, it's not a lightweight pencil, but it sits very comfortably in my hand. It's very solid, and I can just tell it's going to last me years.

I like the finish of the black. It's not smooth metal, it has almost a powdercoat feeling, a slightly rough matte feel. The grip is not overly-rough in my opinion. The points of the knurling are flat, and it feels solidly planted in my hand.

I use Pentel Ain High-Polymer lead in it (HB) and it performs flawlessly. Nice and dark and no breakage. It feeds nice, with a satisfying "snick" as the lead advances. The mechanism feels very solid, and advances consistently.

A quality pencil well worth the money. The only down side I can see would be the guide pipe possibly breaking (as others have said.) I am careful with my things, however, and this shouldn't be a problem.

Oh my, this is an absolutely lovely pencil. Writing with it is pure joy. Really. It's weighted beautifully, it works like a dream. It feels amazing in the hand. It looks sharp. The only problem with the pen is that I'm paranoid about the tip. I leave it in my office and don't carry it with me very often because I would hate (HATE!) to have this tip damaged. I haven't been able to justify the expense of the 800 with a retractable tip yet, but I love this pencil so much that I suspect that at some point I will. Really, if you don't plan on carrying this around in your pocket all the time, you can't do better. This makes every other drafting pencil I have ever used seem like a toy in comparison.

I just received it today and its awesome. I LOVE how solid this pencil is. I don't need to press down to write because it weighs enough that I can just guide it.

This precision-constructed pencil has amazing balance, a solid mechanism with no play, and is altogether a pleasure to use for work and hobbies. The grip is perfect for me, with the knurling not too rough and a comfortable diameter, but -- judging from other reviews -- it clearly does not work for everyone. I think it might be cooler if it were made out of titanium, and if the entire mechanism were stainless, and if the tip were retractable, but at this price it's great! I machined a cap for it out of polycarbonate, just to make it pocket-friendly!

I don't really have much else to say about this pencil besides the recurring flattery: solid metal construction, nicely distributed weighty feel, comfortable knurled grip and simple & clean design. I have to admit, I bought this pencil for its looks but it performs just as beautifully. I smile inside every time I pick it up. :-)

I've been using the Rotring Rapid Pro for about a year and it is a great pencil. Thought i lost it so i ordered the Rotring 600 in black. I can't put it down and the Rapid Pro is now in my bag. Ya, it's newer so maybe that is a part of it, but the weight and balance feel great. My favorite aspect is the Knurled Grip, it stays in the fingers much better than the knurl of the rapid pro. Only downfall is the lead sleeve doesn't retract. I took some PFA 3/8" tubing and cut a piece and flared it so it fits over the pencil tip nicely and protects it.

purchased this pencil to use at my drawing table and love it. As I do not walk around with pencils in my pocket, I have no fear of “dropping it” and bending the tip. The heavy weight offer more control and consistence pressure onto the paper.

I got this pencil a few weeks ago, and I absolutely fell in love with it. The pencil feels perfectly balanced and it's an absolute joy to write with. The Rotring 600's design and construction is minimalism at its finest. The pencil is very slim, and very comfortable. The metal clip is very unlikely to break off unlike on so many cheaper pencils. The lead indicator is smooth to rotate, and the metal sleeve enclosing the eraser has zero play. I chose the black model in 0.7 as the somewhat shiny silver model wasn't quite to my taste. Over time, I anticipate the coating wearing in some places- but that's hardly an issue. My only "complaint" is the fact that the metal nib does not retract. As someone mentioned earlier; if you drop it the nib may bend, rendering the pencil useless (I have not had experience with this). The 800 series, as far as I can tell is EXACTLY the same thing with a retractable front section; a feature that I would quite enjoy. The only "problem" with the 800 is that it uses more pressure-fit plastic parts, and costs $50 more. The nib on the 800 is also likely to have slight play, which I would find more than slightly annoying. Between the 500, 600, 800, and Rapid Pro I would suggest either the 600, or Rapid Pro. The RP is slightly longer (about 1/4 of an inch), and has a retractable nib. Overall I'm going to give this product a 4.6/5 for the non-retractable tip. On the plus side, that's one less moving part you have to worry about, and eliminates any chance of it having any play. I would highly recommend this product- it's a little pricey, but it's worth every cent. :)

I really wanted to like this pencil but just could not stand the grip area which I found to be slippery even though it had not so abrasive grip area. I held it in hand for less than a minute and I knew I would not be able to use it due to the grip area. It has a nice heft and feels nice in hand with perfect length but the grip area is just not for me. If the pencil had same shape (octagonal) from top to all the way where the tip is, then it would be superb as I prefer pencils that are octagonal which itself makes them good grippers. But, there are few mechanical pencils at decent quality in that shape.

So, this pencil may be a 5 star if you do not mind the grip area, but that is not me (even though I tried) thus a 3 star from me, pure subjective.

In ending, I much more prefer the Platinum Pro-Use II 05 Drafting Pencil - 0.5 mm pencil found here on Jetpens. It has incredible groove grip area, all metal and is non-slippery. I had to get me another one and will get one more in the future for backup.

A precisely engineered tool. Superlatives are required in any description. Pick this pencil up and you will understand. The heft, balance and appearance immediately convey the quality of design and materials needed to craft such an instrument. Too heavy for me to want to use all day every day but I really like having the right tool for the job. If you appreciate quality you will be extremely satisfied with this purchase.

If you do not want attention from the peasants using cheap mechanical pencils, do not buy this. In my engineering classes and in the library, SOO many comments. The simplistic design and solid construction are next to none. Unreal little peice of engineering in my hand. I could think of way worse ways to spend $30. My pencil before this was an alvin draft-matic. Huge difference in quality. When I would spin the draftmatic with one hand on the tip, and the other on the eraser, I could definitly tell it was not spinning true. The rotring 600 is perfect in all aspects. It takes a little getting used to the weight distribution as the rotrings full body is metal, but its well worth it.

The only draw back is that jet pens does not stock .7mm. That is definitly my lead size of choice, but I can deal with .5 i suppose.

I have both the matte black and silver versions of the 0.5 mm Rotring 600 drafting pencil. I use them for technical drawing, mostly. Writing with these pencils is a pleasure, also. Some reviewers have posted some slight negatives about the weight / balance of this pencil. They might have a point, but I write with my silver model regularly, and I love the way it feels and handles. I use 2b lead when I am writing. In my opinion, hard lead with a heavy pencil is cumbersome for writing. So, the softer lead does the trick. But my primary use for these pencils is technical drawing, with drafting implements. In this application, the Rotring 600 is my favorite pencil, without a doubt. The balance is perfect for hand positions and pencil angles related to accurate drawing. Like another reviewer said, these pencils just might be the best model jetpens carries.

Rotring 600 drafting pencils make great gifts, even if the one receiving it doesn't own a drafting table.

Please restock. Thanks for the fair price, Jetpens. Others seem to gouge on the price for this pencil.

This is a great pencil. I have it in .35mm (like public, mine is old). Will be getting the silver body.

Oh wow, I have one of these that's about 20 years old, I didn't know they were still made. Superb pencil. I still use mine. It attracts attention, at least from engineers -- a coworker even offered to buy it from me. Then he threatened to steal it. ;)

Weight is good, durability (and lifetime) is mostly excellent. Keep in mind the tip at the end is exposed so, while 95% of the pencil is absolutely bomb-proof, that last 5% is vulnerable to bending. For this reason my pencil sees more use at home than on the road.

Lots of people use qualifiers in their reviews for this pencil such as "yeah, it's heavy, but it's not meant to be used for writing. It's a drafting pencil." It's definitely well-built, and some areas are solid brass. But it's prohibitively heavy. If the body and grip were a bit larger in diameter (like the Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic) the weight would be more managable. It's just too thin and heavy to be usable, in my opinion.

It's a beautiful pencil and extremely well made, but it's too unwieldy to be used as a daily writing or drawing instrument. After using this pencil for 15 mins and then picking up another drafting pencil, you'll notice the difference in weight immediately. It's substantial.

The lead sleeve is also the weakest area of this pencil, being bested by the Pentel Graphgear series in quality. I really want to like the 600 series, but the weight keeps it off my list.

Excellent in all ways. I'll list my shortcomings:

1. Thin lead like this breaks easily and wears quickly, so I switched from Rotring HB lead, to Ain Stein 2B. While it is softer and still wears quickly, the darker line means I don't have to apply as much pressure, and so the lead doesn't break nearly as often. I'd recommend a 2B lead for this thickness.

2. As with the other Rotring 600's, the weight balance is neutral, and I prefer more weight near the tip. But this is a matter of preference.

3. I'm always afraid I'll damage the tip.

This pencil is excellent in every respect, so perhaps it's best to only list two hesitations:

1. The weight balance is evenly distributed across the nice solid, heavy, brass body. I personally would prefer a more forward balance with more weight closer to the tip. That being said, writing with a fountain pen has allowed me to adapt to letting the back end rest in my thumb/index hand groove instead of trying to suspend it with my fingers.

2. I'm afraid that I'll drop the tip, or knock it around in my bag, or something that might damage it. Yes, there are replacement tips, but they are expensive. I always carefully pack the pencil back in its box, wrapped with bubble wrap, for fear that I'll damage it.

Best pencil I have owned. Well balanced, nice weight, fully functional. Beautifully engineered. Highly recommend.