Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen "Madder Red" Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

The Rotring 600 is one of the most iconic mechanical pencil designs, and I'm sure a good number of people would recognize it even if they didn't know what it was called. It oozes great industrial design, looks like an instrument, and feels even better in the hand. Luckily, they also come in a ballpoint pen variety. But, the standard black and silver colorways had gotten a bit stale. I'm really excited that Rotring introduced some new colors for 2020, and I've really been enjoying the Madder Red ballpoint that I've been using lately.

The new red, blue, and green variety of Rotring 600 are just that — new color options. Nothing changes in terms of the design and functionality of the pens/pencils. I'm a huge fan of the colors and really pleased that Rotring decided to expand a bit into some more interesting options for their iconic pens and pencils. I'm equally pleased that they chose colors that still somehow match really well with their existing aesthetic and design language. The red and blue colors really pop, but they feel perfect alongside the red Rotring branding and famous red ring.

If you've never had the chance to use a Rotring 600, you should take the opportunity if one shows up. They're made of brass and expertly machined. The fine knurling on the grip section and top of the body feel great in the hand and offer a superb amount of grip. The pipe design of the lead holder or ballpoint refill holder allows ample viewing room around the lead or refill so that you can see what you're writing or drawing around when making precise motions. The nock mechanism has a satisfying click feel and subtle noise. The clip is strong and sleek against the hexagonal body.

My first Rotring was a 600 mechanical pencil. I love that pencil and enjoy using it even though I'm not an artist. It feels substantial but easy to control when writing. The extra bit of heft gives your fingers more confidence when making marks. The next Rotring I purchased was a Rapid Pro ballpoint. I also love this pen and have used it heavily for many years. It's a little longer than the 600 and features softer edges on the hexagonal body, but it's very similar in almost every other aspect. With this new 600 ballpoint, I'm not sure I'll be using the Rapid Pro very much any more. I'm currently smitten with the Pelikan Giant 337 refill, so I put that in the 600 as soon as I opened it. If there's one thing that Rotring don't do very well, it's refills. There are lots of great options for Parker-style ballpoint refills, but Rotring isn't among them. A better refill makes this pen undeniably good.

At $40, it's also a pretty good deal. It definitely looks like something that cost more than 40 bucks, and it's built to outlast most humans. They're still fairly new and difficult to find, but the more difficult part is probably deciding which color(s) to get. The possibility of mixing and matching the grip sections and bodies is just too good to pass up!

As of now, the Rotring 600 ballpoint pen and mechanical pencil come in Silver, Black, Madder Red, Iron Blue, and Camouflage Green.

(The Pen Addict purchased this pen at full retail from Yoseka Stationery.)

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Rotring 600 0.7 mm “Madder Red” Mechanical Pencil Giveaway

Rotring 600 0.7 mm “Madder Red,” via JetPens

I was excited when I saw pictures earlier this year of the new Rotring barrel colors. I love the classic Silver and Black, of course, but who could turn down the new Blue, Green, and Red barrel colors? Not me! This week, I am giving away one of the new ones in the 0.7 mm Rotring 600 Madder Red Mechanical Pencil. Read the rules below and enter away!

Rotring 600 0.7 mm “Madder Red” Mechanical Pencil Giveaway

Rotring 600 Series Black Rollerball Review

It wasn’t until I was deep into my pen addiction that I discover the wonders of NOS, or “New Old Stock”. I had seen the term before on places like eBay but never realized what great products could lie behind the designation.

In a nutshell, NOS designates products that are no longer being manufactured but are still in new and unused condition. The product could have been discontinued, or had a design tweak that was cause for a new version. Whatever the case, many NOS pens are highly sought after by collectors.

Rotring seems to be one of the most popular NOS brand names. Their industrial designs are timeless, and with all of the changes in the company over the years, many models are no longer being produced. While I haven’t gone on the hunt yet for some of the rarer pens like the Lava Series I was able to pick up the Rotring 600 Series Black Rollerball for a very reasonable $60 from a dealer at the Atlanta Pen Show back in April. It wasn’t on the shopping list that day, but how could I pass it up?

I was smitten with it immediately upon first use. The barrel is substantial in both size and weight but remains comfortable to write with as long as I leave the cap unposted. It is too long and the balance is off otherwise. The refill I believe is a Rotring branded Schmidt rollerball and is a standard size so many other refills should fit as well. This one works wonderfully.

It is rare that a pen makes you feel like a superhero. The Rotring 600 Rollerball has that special quality where when you use it you know it is different from most other pens. The only downside is it is going to cost me money as I search out more NOS goods.