Pentel is giving the Orenz Metal Grip a frosted finish. The limited Designed for Modernity edition will begin arriving at stationery retailers across Japan on October 23, priced at ¥1,650 including Japanese tax, according to the brand’s October 14 announcement.
The change is easiest to appreciate up close. A matte, translucent outer barrel lets the inner color show through, softening it beneath a cloudy surface. The push button and clip also receive a matte finish. It is a restrained treatment of an already distinctive pencil: textured metal at the front, a glimpse of the construction behind it.
Three colors in both lead sizes
Black, Light Blue and White each come in 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm, making six versions at the same price. Both lead sizes ship with B-grade lead. The Black model’s inner barrel is gray; the name describes the finished pencil rather than a completely black outer shell.
Pentel’s regular Orenz Metal Grip is listed at ¥1,320 including tax. The limited version therefore carries a ¥330, or 25%, premium at Japanese list prices.
The Orenz details underneath
The protective sleeve and textured grip are established Metal Grip features. Starting with the tip retracted, one click readies the pencil for writing. The lead stays within its protective pipe, which slides back as the lead wears down.
Pentel counts 3,240 blocks in the grip’s knurling and says their edges are softened so the fingers rest on small faces rather than sharp points. The metal section also puts weight toward the writing end. Those details help explain the pencil beneath the new finish.
A matching Pentel Ain eraser launches alongside the pencils for ¥88 including tax, wearing a gray paperboard sleeve. It carries the same muted design onto a second everyday tool.
October 23 is the start of the Japanese rollout, so arrival dates may differ by retailer. The announcement does not specify a U.S. launch or U.S. pricing.
