CARE ADVICE: HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR LUXURY WRITING INSTRUMENT ?

Your luxury writing instrument is precious. Whether it's a high-end fountain pen, ballpoint pen, roller pen or mechanical pencil, your instrument is much more than a mere way to write. It is a work of art, an expression of grace and elegance, perhaps even a unique gift for a special occasion, imbued with memories that need to be handled with the utmost care. Keep your luxury Caran d'Ache writing instrument in full working order with regular, meticulous care.

Cleaning your fountain pen or ballpoint pen. Protecting your writing instrument from knocks and scratches. Caran d'Ache, the experts in high-end writing instruments since 1915, share their most important advice and reveal how to look after your luxury pen day after day.

 

Care and cleaning guidelines vary for different models of Caran d'Ache writing instruments. A care guide is supplied with your purchase.

For your fountain pen, gently unscrew the nib from the body of the pen. If you're using a ballpoint pen, roller pen or mechanical pencil, carefully remove the cartridge or lead before cleaning.

 

Caran d'Ache luxury writing instruments are made from premium materials such as palladium, gold, precious wood and Chinese lacquer. Only clean with cold or slightly lukewarm water and make sure you use gentle, non-corrosive products that will not damage these delicate materials and will protect the age-old Caran d'Ache craftsmanship.

 

To effectively remove dried ink residue and any dirt that may have built up on your pen, we advise you to:

● Soak the nib of your fountain pen (or the tip of your ballpoint or roller pen) in cold or lukewarm water for a few minutes to soften the dried ink.

● Use a small, soft brush, such as a soft-bristled toothbrush, to gently scrub the easily accessible parts of the instrument and remove any residue.

● For fountain pens, you can also use a syringe of water to rinse the inside of the feed system and remove any dried ink residue in the mechanism and cap of the pen.

● For ballpoint pens or mechanical pencils, gently clean the refill or lead area with a soft cloth to remove any dust.

● Lastly, use a slightly damp or dry soft cloth to clean the outside of your writing instrument.

 

Once you've finished cleaning your instrument, wipe each part of your pen gently with a soft cloth and allow to air dry. Make sure that each part is completely dry before carefully reassembling the instrument, and check that all the individual parts are correctly fitted together.

Wait until your writing instrument is completely dry before refilling it. Whether you're using an ink cartridge, a ballpoint or roller refill or an ink bottle, always handle your instrument with care. Choosing your ink and refilling your fountain pen.

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To maintain the elegance of your luxury writing instrument, protect it by storing it in a pen case after each use.

Choose a leather pen case or holder specially designed for your type of writing instrument. These accessories protect against scratches, bumps and scrapes that could damage the delicate surface of your luxury pen, especially when you carry your writing instrument in your bag.

You should also avoid exposing your pen to humidity, heat or direct sunlight. This could dry out the ink in your pen, damage it or spoil its appearance.

Discover our collection of Haute Écriture instruments.

● Choose the right nib for your writing style. Caran d'Ache offers up to 6 different nib sizes (extra-fine, fine, medium, medium oblique, broad and broad oblique). Write using light, even pressure to avoid damaging the tip of your nib.

● Choose high quality ink. The ink cartridges in the Chromatics range are guaranteed Swiss Made and are designed in an international format to fit all your fountain pens. If you prefer your fountain pen to have a more retro feel, you can opt for a glass ink bottle available in 12 ink colours.

● Clean your fountain pen regularly. You should ideally clean the nib of your fountain pen every time you change the ink cartridge or refill it with a piston pump.

● Store your writing instrument carefully. When not in use, store your fountain pen with the cap securely in place to stop the nib from drying out or being damaged.

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