Lamy was founded in 1930 by Josef Lamy, and is German producer of high quality writing instruments. In this review, we take an in-depth look at the Lamy 2000 Mechanical – or should we say ‘propelling pencil’.
The Lamy 2000 mechanical pencil is part of the Lamy 2000 series . Of course, the most famous of the series being the very popular Lamy 2000 fountain pen designed by Gerd A. Müller and released in 1966. The mechanical pencil joined the Lamy 2000 collection in 1970.
Look and feel
We really love the minimalistic Bauhaus design. The colours (black and silver) work really well together. The version we’re reviewing today is made from a combination of Makrolon (black fibreglass) and brushed stainless steel, but there’s also a stainless steel version.
The attention to detail is amazing and the pencil is a fabulous writing tool. It comes in 5mm and .7mm lead sizes and the click mechanism is intensely satisfying. Removing the cap provides access to the integrated rubber, beneath which you’ll find storage for spare leads as well as a little jam cleaner.
Size
The Lamy 2000 mechanical pencil is slightly smaller than it’s fountain pen brother. It weights under 19g and the length is just under 14cm.
It’s an incredibly comfortable mechanical pencil to use and is weighted particularly well. The balance point and weight simply feels as a pencil should when resting between your fingers; writing is effortless, smooth and you’ll have no problem using this elegant pencil for extended periods of time.
The cap deserves special mention, because it has either the number 5 or 7 etched onto it in order to tell the user the size of the lead contained within. The accompanying clip is also fantastically designed, and feels capable of gripping onto virtually anything without any fear of coming loose.
Writing experience
Beyond being a great pencil to look at and one that will impress anyone who comes into contact with it, the Lamy 2000 mechanical pencil is also a great, smooth writer, especially with a softer B lead.
The wonderful balance, weight and grip contouring ensure a writing experience that never gets tiring. In fact, during this review, we found that the Lamy 2000 tempted us to continue writing for much longer than we would otherwise, such is the elegance with which it glides across paper.
The eraser, while more functional than a defining feature, is great for rectifying minor mistakes.
Price
The Makrolon version of the Lamy 2000 mechanical pencil is just under £50 and the stainless steel version is £130.50.
Taking into account the German build quality and timeless yet simple design, the Lamy’s price reflects a mechanical pencil that will last for a considerable amount of time but doesn’t suggest you need to keep it locked safely away to avoid damaging any resell value.
We think the Lamy 2000 sits appropriately within a market of similar pencils that simply don’t combine the same level of elegancy and durability.
Conclusion
The Lamy 2000 mechanical pencil is a quality writing instrument that is sure to be noticed by onlookers when in use. And, if you’re lucky enough to be the person writing with it, you’ll benefit from an incredibly smooth, comfortable pencil that proves you take your craft seriously.
Ergonomically, the Lamy 2000 mechanical pencil is near perfect, and the tiny details added by the German maker genuinely make a difference to the writing experience whenever you pick it up.
We fell in love with this mechanical pencil during this pencil review, and we think you will, too.