Staedtler Hexagonal Limited Version 1: A Matte Cool Grey Drafting Pencil Worth Hunting Down

Introduction

Staedtler has quietly released a new limited color in its Hexagonal drafting pencil line: Version 1, finished in a light cool grey with matte gold hardware. It follows last year’s Version 0 and revives the limited-color tradition that, for the 925 35 line, ended with the Charcoal edition in 2021. This review compares Version 1 against those earlier editions, looks at what has changed, and helps you decide whether this year’s model deserves a spot in your pencil case.

Unboxing and First Impressions

The basic package design carries over from last year’s Hexagonal, but the card is a proper limited-edition treatment this time. Note that Staedtler has not officially announced this as a quantity-limited product, so it is best understood as a 2023 limited color rather than a numbered release.

Out of the box, the barrel color is noticeably brighter than expected. The tax-included price is 3,850 yen, up from the 2,970 yen that Version 0 carried last year, so the line has taken a real price step upward.

Build and Design Details

The barrel is a hexagonal metal body coated with rubber, finished in a completely matte texture with no gloss. That finish does not scream luxury, but the tactile feel is genuinely excellent: there is no stickiness, and the slight grip it provides allows stable, slip-free writing.

Version 1 pairs the light cool grey barrel with matte gold fittings, a combination that reads as special rather than flashy. The lead guide pipe is 4mm, the chuck is metal, and the knock cap in cool grey with a matte gold top and a black interior behind the hardness indicator window is a particularly handsome combination. The cap rotates smoothly to adjust the lead grade display, and an O-ring inside keeps the knock cap from rattling or transmitting vibration while writing. That quiet, stable knock mechanism is one of the details that made this line memorable in the first place, and it matches what people like about the Graphgear Special.

The clip carries the Mars head logo and, unlike Version 0, now has “JAPAN” engraved on its underside. The Mars logo shape itself is also slightly different from last year’s model. The clip spring feels average in stiffness, and the top of the barrel is printed with “V1” lettering that Version 0 lacked. The eraser is the familiar orange type, but there is still no cleaning pin for clearing lead jams.

One long-term concern: rubber coatings on pens can suffer hydrolysis over the years, degrading into a sticky, half-melted surface. Version 0, released last year, has not developed any stickiness yet, and recent products like the Zoom L2 use coatings that resist this, so Staedtler may have adopted a treated coating here. Only time will tell.

How It Compares with Earlier Limited Editions

Staedtler 925 35 Charcoal (2021)

The 2021 Charcoal edition of the 925 35 is the closest color match, though its glossy metal barrel makes it feel more glamorous and premium overall. Because it was a strictly quantity-limited release, it now sells well above its original price on the secondhand market, which makes Version 1 the more practical way to get a similar look.

Staedtler Hexagonal Version 0 (2022)

Version 0 was limited to 10,000 units and made a very different visual impression. Its clip was glossy silver rather than matte gold, and it lacked the “JAPAN” engraving and the V1 marking. At 2,970 yen it was also friendlier on the wallet, so the step up to 3,850 yen is worth acknowledging.

Writing Performance

The writing feel is excellent. Unlike the sharper, crisper character of the 925 35, Version 1 feels closer to the Graphgear Special, with a smoothness that makes long sessions comfortable. The balance point sits low and near the center of the body, the clip never gets in the way of the hand, and the rubber coating prevents any slipping mid-stroke.

Dimensions check out at 146mm overall length, 17.7g in weight, and an 8.9mm barrel diameter, all figures that suit extended writing sessions.

Verdict: Should You Buy It?

The good: it looks sharp, writes smoothly, has well-judged weight balance, allows stable slip-free writing, and never lets the clip interfere with your grip. Nothing else in daily use raised concerns.

The main reservation is the rubber coating itself. Many readers have reported that the coating peels easily when stored in a pencil case, and it would be genuinely appealing to see a bare metal or special-edition version released without it.

Staedtler has not marketed this as quantity limited, but stock still appears scarce. If you are considering it, picking one up as soon as you find it is the sensible move. For this reviewer, Version 1 was another purchase with no regrets, and the pattern suggests future limited colors will continue arriving under the Hexagonal name rather than the 925 35.

Conclusion

Version 1 is a confident step forward for the Hexagonal limited line: better balance of looks and writing feel than the price suggests, with gold hardware that gives the cool grey body a genuinely special character. If you can live with the rubber-coated barrel, it is one of the more satisfying limited-edition drafting pencils available right now.