Every brand has a distinctive design language, yet some manage to make it a signature, think of the Japanese and maki-e, or Montblanc and its solid gold, intricate skeletons. For Caran d’Ache, that signature has long been guilloché. Over the years, the Geneva-based Maison has turned this centuries-old decorative technique into one of its most recognisable hallmarks, using it to add depth, texture, and character to everything from the Écridor collection to some of its most ambitious Haute Écriture creations – making it an integral part of the brand’s identity.
Five years after introducing the Léman Slim Lights, Caran d’Ache revisits the concept with the new Varius Lights, a limited edition that once again demonstrates just how sophisticated engraved metal can be in the right hands.
If you liked the guilloché on the first Lights model, you’ll love it even more on the Varius. That’s because, unlike the softer curves of the Léman, the hexagonal profile of the Varius model offers an ideal surface for the baguette diamond guilloché to shine.
How it’s Made
To craft each of the 100 pieces per writing instrument, skilled craftsmen start from a plain piece of brass. Once everything is precisely set, the master guillocheur oversees the entire engraving process, making sure the machines are running at exactly the right parameters and that the resulting guilloché is symmetrical and flawless. What looks simple to the untrained eye is, in fact, remarkably difficult, which is why only a handful of artisans still practise the technique today. Perhaps that’s why pens like these remain so underrated – and why they deserve far more attention than they currently get.
As light hits the surface, the engraved pattern comes alive, producing a lively interplay of reflections that shifts with every angle. The jewel-like presence of the edition is complemented by a button with a crown guilloché pattern, reminiscent of luxury watch crowns. Adorning the cap, a marbled onyx cabochon further enhances the splendour of this remarkable edition.
The collection consists of three writing instruments – a ballpoint, a rollerball, and a fountain pen – in a palladium-plated silver finish, each limited to 100 pieces worldwide. As with any Varius model, the fountain pen is equipped with a rhodium-coated 18k gold nib, available in EF, F, M, and B, prized for its Swiss precision on paper.
Each writing instrument is presented in a wooden box, with prices starting at 1,700 euros for the ballpoint and going up to 2,200 euros for the fountain pen.
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