Castell 9000 pencils have superior leads made of finely ground graphite and clay. These smooth, pure graphite pencils are never scratchy and are great for drawing and sketching. The full length of the lead is glued to the wood casing of the pencil to strengthen the lead and prevent breakage, which allows for better sharpening and produces a fine point. 

The 5.3mm lead is specially formulated for a metallic lustre in a variety of gray tones and high break-resistance. 

The 12-Pencil Art Set includes grades 8B through 2H.