LACONIC Solid Write: The Award-Winning Clipless Pencil
The LACONIC Solid Write (SW-01) is a clipless 0.5 mm mechanical pencil from the Japanese planner maker LACONIC: a 149 mm, 23 g metal body with a matte rubber coating and a hexagonal ring that stops it rolling. It won a Good Design Award in 2025 and the Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026 grand prize, and costs ¥3,960 (about US$25) in Japan.
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Product facts
- Product
- LACONIC Solid Write 0.5 mm mechanical pencil (SW-01)
- Brand
- LACONIC
- Brand origin
- Japan
- Made in
- Japan*
- Material
- Metal body with rubber coating; metal hexagonal ring
- Price range
- $$$$20–75 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by LACONIC Co., Ltd. (株式会社LACONIC), Japan. Made in Japan: LACONIC's own store lists 生産国 日本 (country of production: Japan), and its award notices say 製造：日本. Source. Price: example listing.
- 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
- LACONIC lists the Solid Write at 149 mm (5.9 in) long, 9 mm across and 23 g, in metal, made in Japan.
- It costs ¥3,960 (about US$25) in Japan, or ¥6,930 (about US$44) with a leather pen sheath.
- It won a 2025 Good Design Award (announced October 16, 2025) and the Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026 grand prize (February 2026).
- There is no clip: a hexagonal metal ring near the grip keeps it from rolling off a desk.
- On October 22, 2026, its Amazon.com import listing had 56 ratings and ranked No. 582 in Mechanical Pencils.
What is the LACONIC Solid Write?
It is a clipless 0.5 mm metal mechanical pencil from LACONIC, a Japanese planner and stationery brand, and the grand-prize winner of the Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026. LACONIC sells it at ¥3,960 (about US$25), or ¥6,930 (about US$44) with a cowhide pen sheath.
LACONIC says the name means what it was built for: “Solid” for a sure feel in the hand, “Write” for a design focused only on writing. The body is round, coated in matte rubber, with no clip.
LACONIC Solid Write specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | LACONIC, Japan |
| Model | SW-01 |
| Lead | 0.5 mm, HB included |
| Length × diameter | 149 mm × 9 mm (5.9 × 0.35 in) |
| Weight | 23 g |
| Material | Metal, rubber-coated |
| Made in | Japan |
| Japanese price | ¥3,960 (about US$25) |
All figures are from LACONIC’s store page and award notices. LACONIC doesn’t publish a release date; it won the 2025 Good Design Award announced on October 16, 2025.
Why did it win the Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026?
Shop staff from 13 Japanese retailers picked it as the best stationery of the year, praising its balance and grip. Fusosha announced the award on February 14, 2026, and Hands set up displays of the winners in its stores; see our Bungu-ya-san Taishō 2026 winners for the full list.
The Good Design Award jury in 2025 said it combined a drafting pencil’s function with “the beauty of subtraction,” and praised the matte finish, the hold and the stability. ZenPop’s review calls it refined and pleasant but restrained rather than revolutionary.
Who is LACONIC?
LACONIC is a Japanese stationery brand known mainly for planners and paper goods, not pens. Its news page is mostly diary launches, such as the 仕事計画 (work plan) diaries for 2026, and its LACONIC in Action series, which started with a diary in 2025.
That is why the award surprised shop staff: Fusosha’s head judge, Yoshinori Takagi, pointed out that LACONIC is not a pen maker. LACONIC’s In Action pen pouch also won the pouch category of the same awards.
LACONIC sells the pencil with an optional cowhide sheath and lists a repair service for it on its store.
How does it compare with drafting pencils?
It is about as heavy as an all-metal drafting pencil but longer and clipless, with a soft rubber coat instead of knurling.
| Solid Write | rOtring 600 | Pentel Graph 1000 for Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 149 mm | 142 mm | 145 mm |
| Weight | 23 g | 22 g | 11 g |
| Body | Rubber-coated metal, round | Metal, hexagonal | Plastic, metal tip |
| Clip | None | Yes | Yes |
Figures from LACONIC and our rOtring 600 and Graph 1000 for Pro guides. If you want a light, cheap pencil instead, the Pilot AIRSTEP won’t need many clicks; our best mechanical pencils compares more. The KAYOU+ AIMVISION PRO, the Bungu-ya-san 2026 mechanical-pencil winner, is a heavier brass drafting pencil at 26 g.
Can you buy the Solid Write in the US?
Only as an import: Amazon.com has Japan-based sellers, and LACONIC’s store ships abroad through ZenMarket. On October 22, 2026, the Amazon.com listing had 56 ratings and ranked No. 582 in Mechanical Pencils. Import prices put it in our $$$ band ($20–75).
LACONIC’s own store showed it as restocking in December when we checked, a sign of demand after the award.
Where is the Solid Write made?
In Japan, according to LACONIC’s store page (生産国 日本) and its award notices. LACONIC is a Japanese brand; the store doesn’t name the factory.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Solid Write have no clip?
LACONIC left it off so nothing distracts from writing, and added a hexagonal metal ring instead to stop the round barrel rolling. The Good Design Award judges singled out the clipless, minimal form.
How heavy is the LACONIC Solid Write?
23 g, per LACONIC, about the weight of an all-metal drafting pencil such as the rOtring 600 (22 g) and twice a plastic Graph 1000 for Pro (11 g).
What lead does the Solid Write take?
0.5 mm lead; it ships with HB lead inside. LACONIC's store lists only the 0.5 mm model.
Who makes the Solid Write?
LACONIC, a Japanese stationery brand that also makes the 仕事計画 (work-planning) diaries. Fusosha's head judge noted that LACONIC is not a pen maker.
Can I buy the LACONIC Solid Write in the US?
Yes, through Japan-import sellers on Amazon.com, and LACONIC's online store ships abroad via the ZenMarket proxy. It was marked as restocking in December on LACONIC's store when we checked.
Is the LACONIC Solid Write made in Japan?
Yes. LACONIC's store lists the country of production as Japan.
Sources
- LACONIC GENERAL STORE: Solid Write シャープペンシル 0.5mm SW-01 (¥3,960; 149 × 9 mm, 23 g, metal, made in Japan, HB lead; read October 22, 2026)
- LACONIC news: Solid Write（ソリッドライト）が「2025年度グッドデザイン賞」を受賞 (October 16, 2025)
- LACONIC news: Solid Writeが「文房具屋さん大賞2026」大賞を受賞 (February 20, 2026)
- Fusosha: 文房具屋さん大賞 公式サイト (2026 winners)
- Amazon.com: Laconic Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm Solid Write SW-01 (Japan import; 56 ratings, No. 582 in Mechanical Pencils; read October 22, 2026)
- ZenPop: LACONIC Solid Write Review