A nice quality and very unusual retractable ballpoint pen from Staedtler.

But let's deal with the elephant in the room first. Well, it's grey, but it actually isn't an elephant. It's concrete. Yes, this pen is made from concrete, which is hardly the first material that comes to mind when you think of pens. Brass, yes. Aluminium, definitely. Steel, of course. Wood, yes, it's lovely and natural. Plastics and resins, obviously; they're light weight and durable, and can have almost any colour or finish. But concrete?

But here's the thing. It works. It really does. This isn't concrete like you get on a driveway. It's high quality, and it's surprisingly smooth. It's still quite a matt finish, but it feels nice to hold. It does give the pen a bit of weight, but it isn't actually heavy, especially for a fairly chunky pen like this.

It's uneven, in more ways than one. The concrete itself is a slightly warm grey colour (and it feels warm to the touch, too), but with different shades throughout. The body shape is hexagonal, but each side is a slightly different length, giving it a more interesting and asymmetrical look. The end button is also made of concrete, just to finish the look.

It's quite a thick pen, making it great for those who prefer a chunky grip, but it won't suit those who like slim grip sections. The refill is a standard black 'Parker-style' G2 refill, which gives you lots of options.

149mm long, 12-14mm wide, weighs 34g. Supplied in a gift box.