Count Charles von Faber-Castell, Head of Premium at Graf von Faber-Castell, Faber-Castell’s premium brand, visited Hong Kong recently to launch the new Samurai-themed Pen of The Year. We sat down with him to talk about what makes Faber-Castell – the oldest family-run writing tool manufacturer in the world – so fabulous.
What was like growing up in family with a rich legacy of 250 years?
While growing up, of course, you don’t think about it daily. As a teenager, you have other things on your mind. But when I do reflect on it, I think it’s both a privilege and a burden. While it’s a privilege to be part of such a rich heritage, at the same time there’s the responsibility to continue certain traditions and to carry things forward in a way that matches our brand’s venerable legacy. Having said that, my father never forced me to join the family business. In fact, I joined it rather late, just five years ago.
Being a brand with such a rich legacy, how does Faber-Castell marry innovation with tradition?
It all depends on how you define innovation. For a company like ours, innovation may mean very different things, compared to, say, an electronics company. Innovation, for us, has been about paying attention to the little details, the so-called ‘small things’, that when implemented take the writing experience to the next level. For instance, in 2001, we introduced a range of pencils and colour pencils with grips. They are quite well-known now as the Grip Range. Although it’s a fairly simple innovation, it enhanced the writing tool and was quite well-received by consumers.
How did the idea of the premium range of writing instruments, Graf von Faber-Castell, germinate?
Our line of line of fine writing instruments, Graf von Faber-Castell came into existence as a strategic realignment in the early ’90s. My father came up with the idea to take a premium approach in all our writing tool categories. Firstly, we wanted to create the best luxury pencils in the world. While there were luxury fountain pens, you didn’t really have luxury pencils. So we created this premium Graf von Faber-Castell pencil, made out of the highest-quality California cedarwood, with an lid and a clip – so that you can carry it elegantly in your pocket. It also had a built-in sharpener and eraser. That was the birth of Graf von Faber-Castell, which was an immediate success and led to a demand for additional products, like fountain pens, roller balls, and also even mechanical pencils.
Why did you choose the motif of the Samurai as the Pen of the Year?
The Samurai Pen of the Year features captivating elements reminiscent of the appearance of Japanese warriors. The barrel of the pen is made of dark-stained magnolia wood which imitates the samurai’s long sword, embellished with an engraving in 24-carat gold varnish that says in Japanese characters, “Today I win against myself of yesterday” quoted by great samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi. The end-cap is engraved with the symbol tsuba (hand guard) created by Musashi which represents loyal soldiers who offer protection. Both the cap and hand-forged grip is coated with ruthenium and delicately decorated with artistic inlays inspired by Japanese sword covers.
Do you think that in the digital age, a luxury line like Graf von Faber-Castell can be perceived more as a status symbol than a practical writing tool?
I think the idea of luxury has shifted from owning statement accessories as status symbol to indulging in unique, exclusive experiences. In the digital world, a handwritten note means something special, both to the person writing it and to the person receiving it. That ‘something special’ is a luxury. Then handwriting, too, is such a personal, exclusive experience. More and more people are seeking that individuality and we, as a brand, stand for that very principle.