Caran d'Ache Turns 100 – and Celebrates with Paul Smith

Caran d’Ache is the nom de plume by which Emmanuel Poiré, a French draughtsman of Russian extraction, became known throughout the world in the 19^th century. His choice of name was fitting, for karandash is the Russian word for pencil. The Russian word derives from the Turkish kara tash, which means black stone. In 1915, the Caran d’Ache company opened Switzerland’s first pencil factory in Geneva. Since 1924, the firm has officially carried the telling name.  Along with other centennial editions, a collaborative project with London designer and colour expert Paul Smith has led to a limited edition of the squared-off 849 pen, which comes with its own case. The designer has developed ten new, exclusive colours for Caran d’Ache, a few of which recall Smith’s latest fashion collection.