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Quick answer
The Caran d'Ache Léman is a Swiss-made fountain pen with a lacquered brass body and an 18-carat gold nib. Caran d'Ache lists the Léman Bicolor Black at 141 mm capped, 125 mm uncapped and 161.3 mm posted, 13.7 mm across, with nibs in F, M, B or BB. It fills by converter or short cartridges.
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The Léman Bicolor Black capped, 141 mm (drawn at 1 mm = 5 px).
Brass body with black lacquer; silver-plated, rhodium-coated cap and clip; rhodium-plated 18-carat gold nib (per Caran d'Ache)
Released
1998*
Price range
$$$$over $75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Colors
Bicolor Blacksilver-plated, rhodium-coated cap
Special editions
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Notes on these facts
Made by Caran d'Ache SA, Thônex-Geneva, Switzerland. Made in Switzerland: Caran d'Ache's Swiss French product page lists "Swiss Made" under legal standards and says the Caran d'Ache logo and Swiss Made are engraved on the ring (read October 23, 2026). The Swiss Post shop listing also says Swiss made. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Inkstable says the line began in the early 1990s as the Genève collection and was renamed Léman in 1998; It also says the line got a facelift in 2018, its 20th year. The current Bicolor Black is a later design.
Colors: names per Caran d'Ache Switzerland, checked October 24, 2026. Full-size Léman fountain pens in Caran d'Ache's Swiss shop; Vert de Gris is a special edition per Caran d'Ache, and Alpine Blue comes as a gift box. The Léman Slim and the leather-case sets (Damier, Toile de Jouy) aren't listed. Tints were sampled from Caran d'Ache's product photos; Bicolor Black is two-tone (black barrel, silver cap). Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
Caran d'Ache's Swiss site lists the Léman Bicolor Black at 141 mm (5.6 in) capped, 125 mm uncapped and 161.3 mm posted, 13.7 mm across.
Its 18-carat gold nib is rhodium-plated and comes in 4 widths, F, M, B and BB (references 4799.279 to 4799.309).
It ships with a piston converter and also takes short Chromatics cartridges.
On October 23, 2026 Caran d'Ache's Swiss shop listed it at CHF 690 (about US$835).
Inkstable dates the Léman name to 1998 and a facelift to 2018, the line's 20th year.
What is the Caran d’Ache Léman?
It is Caran d’Ache’s main luxury fountain pen line: a round brass body finished in lacquer, with a rhodium-plated 18-carat gold nib, made in Switzerland. The Bicolor Black pairs a silky black lacquer barrel with a silver-plated, rhodium-coated cap and clip.
Léman is the French name for Lake Geneva. Inkstable, a Swiss pen shop’s blog, says the line began in the early 1990s as the Genève collection and was renamed Léman in 1998.
Caran d’Ache Léman specs
Spec
Value
Maker
Caran d’Ache SA, Thônex-Geneva, Switzerland
Model
Léman Bicolor Black; F 4799.279, M 4799.289, B 4799.299, BB 4799.309
Body
Round brass, black lacquer
Cap and clip
Silver-plated, rhodium-coated
Nib
18-carat gold, rhodium-plated
Filling
Piston converter or short Chromatics cartridges
Capped
141 mm (5.6 in)
Uncapped
125 mm (4.9 in)
Posted
161.3 mm (6.4 in)
Diameter
13.7 mm (0.54 in)
From Caran d’Ache’s Swiss French product page, read October 23, 2026. Caran d’Ache doesn’t list a pen weight for this version.
How long is the Léman capped, uncapped and posted?
141 mm capped, 125 mm with the cap off and 161.3 mm with the cap posted, per Caran d’Ache. That uncapped length is close to a full-size pen, so most hands can write without posting.
The Léman Bicolor Black three ways, to scale.
Which Léman versions are there?
The standard Léman, the thinner Léman Slim, and many lacquer colors and special editions. On October 23, 2026, Caran d’Ache’s Swiss shop listed Léman fountain pens from CHF 550 (about US$666) to CHF 790 (about US$956) for a set with a leather case.
Version
Size
Nibs
Swiss price
Léman Bicolor Black
141 × 13.7 mm
F, M, B, BB
CHF 690 (about US$835)
Léman Grand Bleu
141 × 14.8 mm
F, M, B, BB
CHF 770 (about US$932)
Léman Slim Grand Bleu
141 × 10.6 mm, 38 g
EF, F, M, B
CHF 750 (about US$908)
Sizes and prices from Caran d’Ache’s own pages. Inkstable says Caran d’Ache gave the Léman a facelift in 2018, the line’s 20th year, and retailers describe the Léman de Nuit as the 20th-anniversary edition.
How does it fill?
With the piston converter in the box, or with Caran d’Ache’s short Chromatics cartridges. The converter lets you use any bottled fountain pen ink.
The cap top carries Caran d’Ache’s hexagon in black lacquer. For an everyday Swiss pen at a fraction of the price, see the brand’s 849 ballpoint.
How does the Léman compare with the Pelikan M800?
They are the same 141 mm capped length, but they fill differently and come from different countries. The Pelikan Souverän M800 has a piston built into the barrel; the Léman uses a converter or cartridges.
Léman Bicolor Black
Pelikan M800
Body
Black lacquered brass
Striped cellulose acetate, resin
Nib
18-carat, rhodium-plated
18-carat (750), rhodium decoration
Widths
F, M, B, BB
EF, F, M, B
Filling
Converter or Chromatics cartridges
Differential piston
Capped length
141 mm
14.1 cm
Diameter
13.7 mm
13.1 mm (Pelikan Austria)
Made in
Switzerland
Germany
From each maker’s own pages. Choose the Léman for a metal and lacquer pen with a BB option; the M800 for piston filling straight from the bottle.
How popular is the Léman in the US?
It is a niche pen in the US. The top Amazon.com Léman fountain pen listing we found had 8 ratings on October 23, 2026.
It sits in our $$$$ band, over $75. Caran d’Ache’s US site listed the Bicolor Black at US$1,154 that day. Our best luxury pens roundup compares it with the Pelikan M800 and the Graf von Faber-Castell Classic.
Where is the Léman made?
In Switzerland. Caran d’Ache’s page lists the Léman as Swiss Made and says the Caran d’Ache logo and “Swiss Made” are engraved on the ring between barrel and cap.
Our Caran d’Ache history tells how the Geneva pencil maker moved into pens, from the Ecridor to the 849.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Caran d'Ache Léman made in Switzerland?
Yes. Caran d'Ache's product page lists it as Swiss Made, and the words are engraved on the ring between barrel and cap.
What is the difference between the Léman and the Léman Slim?
The Slim is the same length but thinner and lighter: Caran d'Ache lists the Léman Slim Grand Bleu at 141 mm, 10.6 mm across and 38 g, with nibs from EF to B.
What cartridges fit the Caran d'Ache Léman?
Caran d'Ache's short Chromatics cartridges, or bottled ink through the piston converter that comes with the pen.
Why is it called Léman?
Léman is the French name for Lake Geneva; Caran d'Ache is based in Thônex, near Geneva. The line was called Genève before 1998, per Inkstable.
Does the Léman fountain pen post?
Yes. Caran d'Ache gives a posted length of 161.3 mm with the cap on the back, 20 mm longer than capped.
How much is a Caran d'Ache Léman?
It is in our $$$$ band, over $75. In Switzerland, Caran d'Ache's shop lists Léman fountain pens from about CHF 550 (about US$666) for plainer finishes to CHF 770 (about US$932) for decorated ones.
