What makes the Dive so special that there was a mad rush to buy them, and a continued 4-5x markup of them on the secondary market? The Standard model is the most basic of the Kuru Toga line. It features a clear grip section where you can clearly see the mechanism at work while you write. The grip also has shallow grooves that allow you to hold the pencil firmly. The Standard pencil comes in three tip sizes and is also available in a variety of colors.

And it continues to do so to this day. I think it has made writing with mechanical pencils better, and sent the competition scrambling for something new they could compete with. Alvin – Draft-Matic: The Alvin, another “luxury” pencil at over ten dollars for one, disappointed us. It’s sleek and cool looking, but it’s uncomfortable to hold, it’s too hard to change the lead and it made our writing uneven and scratchy. The bottom line

With its modern, refined appearance, the High Grade model is ideal for professional settings. Its matte aluminum grip section has ridges that support your fingers as you write. You can still see the Kuru Toga rotation mechanism hard at work through a discreet circular window located in the grip of the pencil. Uni-ball was founded in Tokyo, so it’s no wonder that its name is Japanese. The Kuru Toga was named with a Japanese portmanteau of “rotating” and “to become sharp.” This aptly describes the pencil’s rotating lead mechanism which keeps lead, you guessed it, consistently sharp. For this reason, we think it’s one of the best mechanical pencils for writing longform.

Dust can also cause pencil jams over time, as it can accumulate in and around the clutch and prevent the proper movement of the internal components. Push the clearing rod into the hole where the lead comes out of. Push it all the way in but don’t be too forceful. (If you encounter any real resistance you have a badly jammed pencil and should read below.)The Rubber Grip version stands out from the other models with its rubber grip. Instead of a clip, this pencil has a circular knob which acts as a roll stop and adds to the sleek look. The knob is decorated with the Kuru Toga logo and is attached to the eraser cap; you can press down on either to extend the lead. The rubber grip isn’t squishy, but it offers a more tactile feel that is suited to writers with sweaty hands. Some variants of the Kuru Toga have a lead grade indicator that makes it easy to know what lead is being used. This small transparent window on the barrel allows you to see inside and is another one of the features distinguishing these pencils from the competition. Pentel – GraphGear 500: We loved the GraphGear 1000, but its little brother didn’t make the same impression. We found the 500 to be dull and fragile, with lead that breaks too easily and a lead changing process that’s too time-consuming. This one isn’t worth paying over five dollars for.