Pentel Orenz Nero: The Auto-Feed Pencil That Won't Break
The Pentel Orenz Nero is Pentel's flagship mechanical pencil: a matte black, twelve-sided pencil that combines the Orenz sliding pipe, which keeps fine lead from breaking, with automatic lead feed, so one click writes until the lead runs short. It comes in 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 mm. Pentel launched it in February 2017.
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Product facts
- Product
- Pentel Orenz Nero mechanical pencil (0.5 mm, PP3005-A)
- Brand
- Pentel
- Brand origin
- Japan
- Made in
- Not stated*
- Material
- Body of a special resin mixed with metal (Pentel Japan); metal pipe and clip
- Released
- February 2017*
- Price range
- $$$$20–75 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand. Country of manufacture not stated: Pentel's Japanese product page and news release, Pentel of America's product page and the Amazon US listing don't state a country of manufacture. Pentel is a Japanese company and the pencil is sold in Japan first, but we found no maker statement, so check the pack. Price: example listing. Released: Pentel Japan's October 8, 2020 news release says the Orenz Nero launched in February 2017 (0.2 and 0.3 mm) and that the 0.5 mm shipped from October 9, 2020.
- 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
- Pentel Japan sells the Orenz Nero in three lead sizes: 0.2 mm (PP3002-A), 0.3 mm (PP3003-A) and 0.5 mm (PP3005-A), all preloaded with B lead.
- Pentel's Japanese site lists it at ¥3,850 (about US$24) including tax, about seven times the price of a standard Orenz.
- The Amazon US listing for the 0.5 mm gives 5.63 in (143 mm) long and 13 g; reviewer Unsharpen measured 14.0 cm and 16 g.
- Pentel launched the Orenz Nero in February 2017 and added the 0.5 mm on October 9, 2020.
- Pentel of America sells the 0.3 and 0.5 mm; the 0.5 mm had 5,384 Amazon US ratings on October 22, 2026.
What is the Pentel Orenz Nero?
The Orenz Nero is Pentel’s top mechanical pencil: it protects the lead like the Pentel Orenz and also feeds new lead by itself, so one click lasts for most of a lead. Pentel’s Japanese site calls it the peak of its mechanical pencils.
“Nero” is Italian for black, and Pentel makes it in black only. Pentel says the matte black follows its earlier drafting pencils, the Graph 1000 for Pro and Smash.
How does the automatic lead feed work?
Each time you lift the tip off the paper, the pencil pushes out a little more lead, while the metal pipe keeps covering it. Pentel calls the combination the Orenz system plus an automatic lead advance mechanism.
The pipe slides back into the pencil as the lead wears, so there is never bare lead to snap, even at 0.2 mm. Pentel’s 2020 release says the Nero was the first pencil to bring automatic feed to 0.2 mm lead.
Pentel Orenz Nero specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), Pentel brand |
| Models | PP3002-A (0.2 mm), PP3003-A (0.3 mm), PP3005-A (0.5 mm) |
| Preloaded lead | B, all sizes (Pentel Japan) |
| Length | 143 mm (5.63 in), Amazon US listing; 14.0 cm (5.5 in) measured by Unsharpen |
| Weight | 13 g (0.46 oz), Amazon US; 16 g measured by Unsharpen |
| Body | Twelve-sided; resin mixed with metal, low centre of gravity (Pentel) |
| Japan list price | ¥3,850 (about US$24) each, tax included |
| Eraser refills | PPE-2 for 0.2 mm (2 for ¥132 (about US$0.80)); Z2-1N for 0.3 and 0.5 mm |
| JAN (Japan) | 4902506335708 (0.2), 4902506335715 (0.3), 4902506380432 (0.5) |
| Released | February 2017; 0.5 mm from October 9, 2020 |
| Price band | $$$ ($20–75) |
Which lead size should you choose?
Choose 0.2 or 0.3 mm for tiny handwriting and fine detail, and 0.5 mm for everyday notes. The 0.2 mm is where the Nero’s lead protection matters most, since ordinary pencils break such thin lead easily.
Pentel’s release says the 0.5 mm writes longer and is tougher than the finer sizes, and it was added because 0.5 mm is the biggest-selling size. Pentel of America lists only the 0.3 and 0.5 mm, so the 0.2 mm is usually an import in the US.
Is the Orenz Nero worth the price?
It is if you want to click once and keep writing, especially with very fine lead; for ruler work or a lighter budget, other pencils fit better. It sits in our $$$ band, against $$ for the plain Orenz.
| Pencil | Mechanism | Lead sizes | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pentel Orenz Nero | Sliding pipe + auto feed | 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 mm | $$$ |
| Pentel Orenz | Sliding pipe, click per pipe length | 0.2–0.7 mm | $$ |
| uni Kuru Toga | Rotating lead | 0.3, 0.5 mm | $$ |
| Zebra DelGuard | Spring lead protection | 0.3–0.7 mm | $ |
Two things can annoy. Unsharpen notes that the pipe can touch the page as you write, and a pipe that moves is a poor guide along a ruler. Our Kuru Toga vs Orenz comparison covers the cheaper models.
Does the Orenz Nero sell in the US?
Yes: Pentel of America now lists the 0.3 and 0.5 mm, and the 0.5 mm is one of the most-rated premium pencils on Amazon US. On October 22, 2026 its listing had 5,384 ratings and ranked #78 in Mechanical Pencils.
For other picks at every price, see our best mechanical pencils.
Where is the Pentel Orenz Nero made?
Pentel doesn’t say. Pentel Japan’s product page and 2020 release, Pentel of America’s page and the Amazon US listing give no country of manufacture. The company behind the brand, ASTRUM Corporation (called Pentel until April 1, 2026), is based in Tokyo.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ever need to click the Orenz Nero while writing?
Only once per lead, according to Pentel. After the first click, the pencil feeds a little lead each time you lift it from the paper, so you can write until the lead is too short to grip.
Can the Orenz Nero use 0.2 mm lead?
Yes. The PP3002-A takes 0.2 mm lead, and Pentel says it was the first pencil to put automatic lead feed on a 0.2 mm mechanism. Buy matching 0.2 mm refills with it, since few shops stock them.
Is the Orenz Nero body metal?
No. Pentel describes the body as a special material that mixes resin and metal, used to give it weight and a low centre of gravity. Unsharpen notes that it feels like metal but isn't.
Orenz Nero or Kuru Toga Dive: which auto-feed pencil should I buy?
The Orenz Nero is a click pencil in 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 mm that hides the lead in a sliding pipe. The KURU TOGA DIVE is a 0.5 mm capped pencil that also turns the lead and lets you set the feed in five steps.
What lead comes in the Orenz Nero?
B grade, in all three sizes, according to Pentel Japan. Any lead of the matching diameter fits, such as Pentel's Ain Stein.
Is the Pentel Orenz Nero made in Japan?
Pentel doesn't say. Pentel is a Japanese company, but neither Pentel Japan, Pentel of America nor the Amazon US listing states a country of manufacture.
Why is the Orenz Nero so expensive?
It combines two mechanisms, the sliding Orenz pipe and automatic lead feed, in a weighted body. In Japan it lists at ¥3,850 (about US$24), against ¥550 (about US$3.50) for a standard 0.5 mm Orenz.
Sources
- オレンズネロ (Pentel Japan product page: PP3002-A, PP3003-A, PP3005-A, B lead, JAN codes, ¥3,850, PPE-2 and Z2-1N erasers; read October 22, 2026)
- ノック式シャープペンシルの最高峰オレンズネロに待望の芯径0.5が登場 (Pentel Japan news release, October 8, 2020: launched February 2017, 0.5 mm ships October 9, 2020, resin and metal body; read in full)
- Pentel of America: Orenz Nero Mechanical Drafting Pencil, Automatic Lead Advance (0.3 and 0.5 mm, UPCs)
- Amazon US: Pentel Orenz Nero 0.5 mm, PP3005-A (5.63 × 0.47 × 0.39 in, 13 g, ratings and rank; read October 22, 2026)
- Amazon US: Pentel Orenz Nero 0.3 mm, PP3003-A
- Unsharpen: Pentel Orenz Nero (14.0 cm, 16 g, 9.7 mm body, plastic-metal blend; measured by a reviewer)
- Pentel Japan: Orenz product page (standard Orenz prices, for comparison)