If you really want to try the Cadillac of pencils, check out the Palomino Blackwing 602.
https://www.amazon.com/Palomino-Bla...UTF8&qid=1466031665&sr=8-3&keywords=blackwing
Claimed by many to be the best pencils in the world. They have a nice, soft graphite, a unique square ferule that allows you to adjust the eraser, a smooth, gunmetal grey, lacquered finish, and gold writing feature the slogan "half the pressure, twice the speed."
They have quite a history and actually have a bit of a cult following these days. The original company, Eberhard Faber, ceased production in the late 90s because, of all things, the machine that shaped the unique eraser ferule broke, and the owner didn't feel like fixing it. But California Cedar Products acquired the brand in 2008 and, by all accounts, are making a pencil equally as good, if not better, than the original.. Here's an excerpt from the wiki page:
...It was a very soft pencil with wax added to the lead, and has been advertised as requiring only half of the usual physical effort to produce the marking.
The wood was made from incense-cedar. The pencil was used mainly by artists, writers, and musicians, including Oscar-winning animation director Chuck Jones, author John Steinbeck, and record producer Quincy Jones...
Now, buckle up when you check out the link. They aren't giving them away. BUT, when I first heard of these pencils a few years ago, my curiosity got the best of me and I ordered a dozen. I can say that this is the best pencil I've ever used and I will not hesitate to repeat the purchase when the time comes.
That said...they're not made in the States like the originals, they're made in Japan.