Sir Paul Smith brings his inimitable sense of colour to one of the prime progenitors of colour, Swiss manufacturer Caran d'Ache. This is the fourth collaboration between the British designer and the 100-year-old maker of fine art materials and writing instruments, and this time the focus is on the 849 ballpoint pen.
Paul Smith Caran d’Ache 849 duotone ballpoint pen
The collection consists of six examples of the 849, each finished in a new duotone colour combination, drawn from the seemingly bottomless well of Smith’s palette. The 849 series is an acknowledged design classic, a hexagonal barrelled pen with separate clip, available as pencil, fountain pen, rollerball and ballpoint.
It’s the latter that has been given the Paul Smith treatment, with each of the new duotone designs referencing the designer’s famous stripes, stitching and other strongly contrasting colourways. It moves the collaboration on from the original set of ten 849 pens in a hitherto unseen colour palette.
The new colourways are carried over to the metal cases, which also bear the gold-plated signature of ‘Caran d’Ache+Paul Smith’, while the Swiss-made pens have lacquered bodies and a chromed pusher and clip.
Sir Paul Smith’s passion for colour and contrast informs everything that comes out of his atelier, as well as his diverse collaborations, ranging from a classic Mini to a conceptual Mini, to work for Boffi, Braun and Porter.
The designer is a longstanding fan of Caran d’Ache and has used the company’s products for many years. The latest collection showcases the Swiss company’s admirable ability to express its colour capabilities in a variety of ways.
The fourth edition of Caran d’Ache + Paul Smith is available now from Caran d’Ache and Paul Smith points of sale and stores as well as at carandache.com
-
Misfires and Monstrosities: three vehicular design disasters that show taste is in retreatFrom a multi-million dollar piece merchandise to a wretched Rolls-Royce, these are the low points of the year in transportation design
-
Thirty years after Dog Man Star, Brett Anderson looks back on Suede's album coversBrett Anderson talks cover art, photography and iconic imagery
-
A brutalist garden revived: the case of the Mountbatten House grounds by Studio Knight StokoeTour a brutalist garden redesign by Studio Knight Stokoe at Mountbatten House, a revived classic in Basingstoke, UK
-
A first look at Paul Smith and Artek’s furniture collaboration delivering iconic design with a subdued 70s finishPaul Smith and Artek reveal the bold new versions of three of the Finnish furniture maker’s notable pieces: Stool 60, Screen 100, and Coat Rack 109
-
Paul Smith and Maharam document 20 years of collaboration in a new bookPaul Smith and Maharam have created more than 40 textile, wall covering and accessory designs over the last two decades
-
The latest Gufram Cactus by Paul Smith is painted like a sunrise to celebrate new beginningsThe new sunrise-inspired Gufram Cactus by Paul Smith marks the reopening of the designer's Melrose boutique in Los Angeles
-
De Padova and Paul Smith bring colour and character to the homeDe Padova and Paul Smith announce the ‘Everyday Life’ collection of furnishings and home accessories
-
Show your stripes: Paul Smith customises Caran d'Ache's seminal 849 penTo celebrate Swiss pen makers Caran d'Ache's 100th birthday, king of colour Paul Smith customises the brand's iconic 849 design with ten limited edition colours
