Faber-Castell Castell 9000 vs Marco Raffine Graphite Pencil Review: The UK Artist's Guide to Premium Sketch Pencils 2026
Jun 26, 2026
Faber-Castell Castell 9000 vs Marco Raffine Graphite Pencil Review: The UK Artist's Guide to Premium Sketch Pencils 2026
A great graphite pencil is the foundation of every artist's toolkit. Whether you're sketching portraits, drawing landscapes, or practising technical illustration, the quality of your pencil determines the quality of your marks. In this review, we compare two of the most popular graphite pencil sets available in the UK: the Faber-Castell Castell 9000 HB, a legendary pencil with over a century of heritage, and the Marco Raffine 7001 Graphite Sketch Set, a comprehensive 12-grade set that offers exceptional value for students and professional artists alike. Both are available from TTPEN UK.
Faber-Castell Castell 9000 HB — The World's Most Trusted Graphite Pencil
The Faber-Castell Box of 12 Castell 9000 HB Graphite Pencils is not just a pencil — it is an institution. At £12.00 for a box of 12, it represents one of the finest HB pencils available anywhere in the world, backed by Faber-Castell's 260-year heritage of pencil manufacturing excellence.
Heritage and Reputation
The Castell 9000 has been in continuous production since 1905, making it one of the longest-running pencil designs in history. It has been used by architects, engineers, artists, and writers across the globe for over a century, and its reputation for consistency, quality, and reliability is unmatched. When you pick up a Castell 9000, you're holding a piece of stationery history.
Faber-Castell manufactures its own graphite and clay mixture in-house, using a proprietary formulation that has been refined over generations. The result is a graphite core that is extraordinarily consistent — the same hardness, the same darkness, and the same smoothness from the first mark to the last.
Design and Construction
The Castell 9000 has a distinctive dark green hexagonal barrel with gold lettering — a design that has remained essentially unchanged for decades. The hexagonal shape prevents the pencil from rolling off desks and provides a comfortable, secure grip. The cedar wood casing is smooth and fragrant, sharpening beautifully to a fine point without crumbling or splintering.
The HB grade is the most versatile in the graphite spectrum — dark enough for clear, legible writing and light enough for sketching and technical drawing. The box of 12 provides a full supply for extended use, making it excellent value for students, professionals, and anyone who uses pencils regularly.
Performance
The Castell 9000 HB writes with a smooth, consistent line that is a pleasure to use. The graphite is well-balanced — dark enough to be clearly legible without being so soft that it smudges easily. The point holds well under normal writing pressure, and the pencil sharpens to a fine, precise tip that is ideal for detailed work.
For artists, the HB is an excellent choice for preliminary sketches, underdrawings, and any work where a medium tone is required. For writers and students, it's the ideal everyday pencil — smooth, reliable, and consistent.
Who Is the Castell 9000 For?
The Castell 9000 is for anyone who wants the best HB pencil available. Students, architects, engineers, artists, and everyday writers will all find it to be an indispensable tool. It's also an excellent gift — the iconic green box is immediately recognisable and universally appreciated by anyone who appreciates quality stationery.
Price: £12.00 (box of 12) — Buy the Faber-Castell Castell 9000 at TTPEN UK
Marco Raffine 7001 Graphite Sketch Pencil Set — The Complete Artist's Companion
The Marco 7001 Raffine Graphite Sketch Pencil Set 12 Pack takes a different approach to the Castell 9000. Rather than offering 12 pencils of the same grade, the Raffine set provides a range of grades — from soft to hard — giving artists access to the full tonal spectrum in a single, affordable set. At just £9.00, it is one of the best-value sketch pencil sets available in the UK market.
The Complete Grade Range
The Raffine set includes pencils spanning from soft (B grades) to hard (H grades), covering the full range needed for professional sketching and drawing. This comprehensive selection allows artists to work across the complete tonal spectrum — from the deep, rich darks of the softer grades to the precise, light lines of the harder grades — without needing to purchase multiple sets.
Having a full range of grades is essential for serious drawing. Different grades serve different purposes: soft grades (2B, 4B, 6B) are ideal for shading, blending, and creating rich, dark tones; medium grades (HB, B) are versatile for general sketching; and hard grades (H, 2H, 3H) are perfect for precise lines, technical details, and light underdrawings.
Design and Construction
The Raffine pencils have a clean, professional design with a smooth lacquered barrel and clear grade markings. The cedar wood casing sharpens well, and the graphite core is consistent and smooth. The pencils are well-made for their price point, delivering performance that exceeds expectations for a budget sketch set.
The set comes in a convenient storage case that keeps the pencils organised and protected. This makes it ideal for artists who work in multiple locations — the case can be taken to life drawing classes, outdoor sketching sessions, or studio work without the pencils becoming damaged or disorganised.
Performance
The Raffine pencils perform admirably across the grade range. The softer grades lay down smooth, rich graphite that blends well and responds to pressure with sensitivity. The harder grades produce precise, consistent lines that are ideal for technical work and fine detail. The overall quality is impressive for the price, making the Raffine set an excellent choice for students and artists who want a complete sketching toolkit without a significant investment.
Who Is the Marco Raffine For?
The Raffine set is ideal for art students, hobbyist sketchers, and anyone who wants a complete range of graphite grades in a single, affordable set. It's also an excellent gift for aspiring artists — the comprehensive grade range means the recipient has everything they need to explore the full possibilities of graphite drawing.
Price: £9.00 (12-pack) — Buy the Marco Raffine Set at TTPEN UK
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Faber-Castell Castell 9000 HB | Marco Raffine 7001 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £12.00 (12 x HB) | £9.00 (12 mixed grades) |
| Grade Range | HB only | Full range (soft to hard) |
| Heritage | 260+ years, since 1905 | Modern, value-focused |
| Includes Case | Presentation box | Storage case |
| Best For | Everyday writing, professional use, gifting | Sketching, art students, full tonal range |
Which Pencil Set Should You Choose?
The choice between the Castell 9000 and the Marco Raffine depends on how you use pencils. If you primarily write, draw technical diagrams, or need a single reliable HB pencil in bulk, the Faber-Castell Castell 9000 is the gold standard — its consistency and heritage are unmatched at any price point.
If you're an artist or student who needs to work across the full tonal spectrum, the Marco Raffine set is the smarter choice. Its comprehensive grade range gives you everything you need for professional-quality sketching and drawing at a fraction of the cost of buying individual grades separately.
Many UK artists keep both — the Castell 9000 for everyday writing and the Raffine set for their sketchbook.
- Faber-Castell Castell 9000 HB Box of 12 — £12.00
- Marco Raffine 7001 Sketch Pencil Set 12-Pack — £9.00
Both are available from TTPEN UK with fast UK delivery. Visit us today and find the perfect pencil for your practice.
Final Verdict
The Faber-Castell Castell 9000 is the finest HB pencil in the world — its 120-year track record speaks for itself. The Marco Raffine set is the best-value complete sketch pencil set for UK artists who need a full grade range. Both earn our highest recommendation in their respective categories. Visit TTPEN UK today.
