Handcrafted pencils and crayons have long been cult objects.

Traditional know-how to make pens and high-precision, computer-assisted machine tools to produce pencils of graphite and Californian cedar: that’s the Caran d'Ache factory in Thônex, near Geneva. A careful look reveals different engravings and adornments. "We pay a lot of attention to detail," says spokeswoman Renate Stern. Photos by Luca Zanetti.