With a worldwide reputation for quality and beauty of its creations, Caran d'Ache applies its Swiss-made expertise to develop writing instruments and Fine Art products for the last 80 years.

Born of the passion of its founder for Colour, the Maison has remained loyal to its roots. The pencils, pastels and paints that are designed, developed and manufactured entirely in the Geneva workshops, keep alive the tradition it holds so dear. It has applied inherited expertise to creating outstanding products just like Prismalo, the world's first water soluble colour pencil launched in 1931, which revolutionised the world of design and colour.

Sustainable development also plays its part when being Maison de Haute Ecriture. Environmental quality and protection are an integral part of the manufacturing process with an ever increasing share of FSC-certified products.

The name Caran d'Ache is rooted in the annals of art history. When Arnold Schweitzer founded the company in 1924, he named it after a famous french caricaturist of the Belle Epoque, Emmanuel Poire (1859-1909), whose work he admired. he signed his works Caran d'Ache, a french transliteration of the Russian word for pencil "karandash".