Are you unsure which refill you need for your Caran d’Ache pen or pencil?
This ultimate Caran d’Ache refill guide shows you every refill that Caran d’Ache makes for their pens and pencils, which pens they fit and alternatives from other brands where available.
The guide includes ballpoint pen refills, rollerball pen refills, fountain pen ink cartridges, bottled ink, ink converters, and pencil lead refills.
Table of Contents
1. About Caran d’Ache
Caran d’Ache is a Swiss manufacturer of luxurious goods, superior color, and writing products. They have been making them in their Geneva workshops since 1915.
2. Caran d’Ache Ballpoint Pen Refills
Most modern Caran d’Ache ballpoint pens use a Goliath refill, but some of their ballpoints use different refills.
In the following sections, we list all the ballpoint pen refills that Caran d’Ache make and which pens they are compatible with.
They all have in common that they are a propriety size, and you cannot use them in other brands of ballpoint pens.
2.1. Caran d’Ache Eco Line Ballpoint Pen Refills
The Caran d’Ache Eco line ballpoint pen refill measures 105mm in length and 3.1mm in diameter. It has a medium tip and is available in four colors which are black, blue, green, and red.
The Eco Line ballpoint pen refill is used to refill Caran d’Ache Eco 826 retractable ballpoint pens.
If you cannot find this refill, you may be able to use the Caran d’Ache Swissride refill, as it has the same profile and dimensions.
2.2. Caran d’Ache Ecridor XS Ballpoint Pen Refills
The Caran d’Ache Ecridor XS Ballpoint pen refill has a medium tip with black or blue ink. The refill is a propriety size and is only suitable for use with the Caran d’Ache Ecridor XS ballpoint pen.
There are no alternative refills available from other manufacturers.
2.3. Caran d’Ache D1 Ballpoint Pen Refills
The Caran d’Ache multifunction pen refill is a standard D1 refill and will fit any multifunction or compact ballpoint pen that takes D1 refills.
The refills are in a pack of five containing two black, two blue, and one red with a medium tip.
Caran d’Ache Multifunction D1 Ballpoint Pen Refills fit the following pens:
Caran d’Ache RNX 316 Multifunction Ballpoint Pen
Check out our Ultimate Guide to D1 Pen Refills for more information.
2.4. Caran d’Ache Goliath Ballpoint Pen Refills – 849
The Caran d’Ache Goliath ballpoint pen refill has a metal barrel and a choice of fine, medium, and broad tip sizes.
It gets its name Goliath from its large ink capacity and the number of pages it can write compared to other ballpoint pens. For example, a typical ballpoint pen will write 900m, and the Caran d Ache Goliath refill can write up to 800m.
Check out How Far Will a Ballpoint Pen Write for more information.
Caran d’Ache Goliath Refills Ink Colors and Tip Sizes
The Caran d’Ache Goliath refill is available in the following ink colors and tip sizes:
- Fine – Black, Blue, Green. Red. Turquoise & Violet
- Medium – Black, Blue, Green. Red. Turquoise & Violet
- Broad – Black, Blue, Green. Red. Turquoise & Violet
Caran d’Ache Goliath Ballpoint Pen Refill Alternatives
The Caran d’Ache Goliath refill is a propriety size and only fits certain Caran d’Ache ballpoint pens. Other manufacturers make no alternative refills you can use instead of a Goliath refill.
Caran d’Ache Goliath Refill Pen Compatibility
The Caran d’Ache Goliath refill fits most but not all of their ballpoint pens, so you will need to have a quick look and compare the refill in your pen to the ones on here to be 100% sure.
The Goliath refill does fit the following ballpoint pens.
- Caran d’Ache 849 Metal Ballpoint Pens
- Caran d’Ache Dunas Ballpoint Pens
- Caran d’Ache Ecridor Ballpoint Pens
- Caran d’Ache Hexagonal Ballpoint Pens
- Caran d’Ache Leman Ballpoint Pens
- Caran d’Ache Madison Ballpoint Pens
- Caran d’Ache Varius Ballpoint Pens
2.5. Caran d’Ache Swissride Ballpoint Pen Refills
Made from metal, the Caran d’Ache Swissride refill has a medium tip and either black or blue ink. It measures 106mm in length and 3.1mm in diameter.
The Swissride ballpoint pen is a hybrid ink refill that writes smoother than a traditional ballpoint pen.
It has a specially formulated ink that is quick-drying like a ballpoint refill but has smoother writing and more vibrant colors similar to gel refills.
Check out our guide Ballpoint Rollerball or Gel Pen for more information about the different ink types.
Caran d’Ache Swissride Ballpoint Pen Refills Fit the Following Pens
- Caran d’Ache 888 Infinite Ballpoint Pens
- Caran d’Ache Frosty Ballpoint Pens
3. Caran d’Ache Fountain Pen Refills
Caran d’Ache supplies ink cartridges, bottled ink, and an ink converter for their fountain pens. We go into detail about these in the following sections.
3.1. Caran d’Ache Chromatics Ink Cartridges
Caran d’Ache fountain pen ink cartridges are the short international standard size, and you can use them in any fountain pen that takes this type of ink cartridge.
Or you can use any other brand of short international cartridges in your Caran d’Ache fountain pen if you want to try something different.
There are 12 vibrant ink shades, and the Caran d’Ache chromatics ink cartridges come in packs of 6.
Caran d’Ache fountain pen ink cartridges are available in the following colors:
- Cosmic Black
- Delicate Green
- Divine Pink
- Hyptonic Turquoise
- Idyllic Blue
- Infinite Grey
- Infra Red
- Magnetic Blue
- Organic Brown
- Ultra Violet
- Vibrant Green
3.2. Caran d’Ache Chromatics 50ml Bottled Ink
There are 50 ml of ink in Caran D’Ache bottled ink, available in the same 12 vibrant ink shades as their ink cartridges.
The bottle has some interesting features that are both stylish and practical. It is a hexagonal shape, and its base is angled so that it does not align vertically with the desk.
This eye-catching, clever design allows you to use all the ink in the bottle when placed back in its box as the ink sits in the angled corner.
The neck is wide enough to refill fountain pens with wider barrels.
Caran d’Ache chromatics 50ml bottled ink is available in the following colors:
- Cosmic Black
- Delicate Green
- Divine Pink
- Hyptonic Turquoise
- Idyllic Blue
- Infinite Grey
- Infra Red
- Magnetic Blue
- Organic Brown
- Ultra Violet
- Vibrant Green
3.3. Caran d’Ache Ink Converter
The Caran d’Ache ink converter is a twist-action converter that allows you to use bottled ink instead of ink cartridges with your fountain pen.
The ink converter is made for Caran d’Ache by Schmidt technologies, a specialist German refill manufacturer.
If you can’t find a genuine Caran d’Ache ink converter, you can use a Schmidt K2 converter, as it is the same but without Caran d’Ache branding.
The Caran d’Ache ink converter fits the following fountain pens:
- Caran d’Ache 849 Metal Fountain Pens
- Caran d’Ache Ecridor Fountain Pens
- Caran d’Ache Leman Fountain Pens
- Caran d’Ache Madison Fountain Pens
- Caran d’Ache Varius Fountain Pens
4. Caran d’Ache Rollerball Pen Refills
Caran d’Ache makes two different rollerball pen refills. One has a steel tip and the other a fiber Fineliner tip.
They are the same size and interchangeable between Caran d’Ache refillable rollerball pens.
We go into detail about these in the following sections.
4.1. Caran d’Ache Roller Fineliner Fibre Point Refill
The Caran d’Ache Roller Fineliner Fibre Point Refill is a standard-size Euro Format refill with a spring-loaded plastic nib.
The refill is made from metal and is available with a fine or medium tip and black or blue ink.
Caran d’Ache Roller Fineliner Fibre Point Refills are made for them by Schmidt technologies, a specialist German refill manufacturer.
Check out our Ultimate Guide to Schmidt Refills for more information.
Caran d’Ache Roller Fineliner Fibre Point Refill Alternatives
If you would like a greater choice of colors, then you can use a Schmidt Fineliner 6040 refill as it is the same but without the Caran d’Ache branding.
Schmidt Fineliner 6040 refills are available in the following tip sizes and ink colors:
- Fine Tip 0.8mm – black, blue, red, green, magenta, turquoise, violet, light green, pink, and orange ink.
- Medium Tip 1.0mm – black, blue, red, green, magenta, turquoise, violet, light green, pink, and orange ink.
Caran d’Ache Roller Fineliner Fibre Point Refill Pen Compatibility
The Caran d’Ache Roller Fineliner Fibre Point Refill will fit all Caran d’Ache rollerball pens. This gives greater flexibility as you can easily swap your liquid ink roller refill with the Fineliner Fibre Point Refill converting your rollerball pen into a Fineliner pen for the price of a refill.
4.2. Caran d’Ache Rollerball Pen Refill
The Caran d’Ache Rollerball Pen Refill is a standard-size Euro Format smooth writing liquid ink refill with a fine tip and black or blue ink.
Check out our Ultimate Guide to Euro Format Refills for more information about this type of refill.
The Caran d’Ache Rollerball Pen Refill is made for Caran d’Ache by Schmidt technologies, a specialist German refill manufacturer.
Caran d’Ache Rollerball Pen Refill Alternatives
If you would like a greater choice of colors, you can use a Schmidt Safety Ceramic Roller Refill 5888, as it is the same but without the Caran d’Ache branding.
Schmidt Safety Ceramic 5888 Roller Refills are available in the following tip sizes and ink colors:
- Fine – black, blue, red, or green ink.
- Medium – black, blue, red, green, magenta, turquoise, violet, light-green, pink, and orange ink.
- Broad – black or blue ink.
Caran d’Ache Rollerball Refill Pen Compatibility
The Caran d’Ache Rollerball pen refill will fit the following rollerball pens:
- Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Pens
- Caran d’Ache Ecridor Rollerball Pens
- Caran d’Ache Leman Rollerball Pens
- Caran d’Ache Varius Rollerball Pens
5. Caran d’Ache Pencil Refills
Caran d’Ache pencil lead refills are premium quality polymer leads manufactured from fine graphite.
The four diameters of Caran d’Ache pencil lead are 0.5mm, 0.7mm, 2.0mm, and 3.0mm.
Check out our Ultimate Guide to Mechanical Pencil Lead Sizes for more information about the different lead sizes.
Check out our Ultimate Guide to the Best Mechanical Pencil Lead if you are interested in trying a different lead in your Caran d’Ache Mechanical Pencil.
5.1. Caran d’Ache 0.5mm Lead – 6705
Caran d’Ache 0.5mm lead is a high-quality polymer lead. You can use it in Caran d’Ache 0.5mm mechanical pencils or any other 0.5mm mechanical pencils.
Caran d’Ache 0.5mm lead is available in B and HB lead grades.
12 leads per pack.
5.2. Caran d’Ache 0.7mm Lead – 6707
Caran d’Ache 0.7mm lead is a high-quality polymer lead. You can use it in Caran d’Ache 0.7mm mechanical pencils or any other 0.7mm mechanical pencils.
Caran d’Ache 0.7mm lead is available in B and HB lead grades
12 leads per pack.
5.3. Caran d’Ache 2.0mm Lead – 6077
Caran d’Ache 2.0mm lead is a high-quality polymer lead. You can use it in Caran d’Ache 2.0mm mechanical pencils or any other 2.0mm mechanical pencils.
Caran d’Ache 2.0mm lead is available in 4H, 3H,2H,H,F,HB,B,2B and 3B lead grades.
6 leads per pack.
5.4. Caran d’Ache 3.0mm Lead – 66377
Caran d’Ache 3.0mm lead is a high-quality polymer lead. You can use it in Caran d’Ache 3.0mm mechanical pencils or any other 3.0mm mechanical pencils.
Caran d’Ache 2.0mm lead is available in HB, 3B and 6B lead grades.
6 leads per pack.
6. Where Can I Buy Cheap Caran d’Ache Pen Refills?
Buy Caran d’Ache Refills on Amazon
If you want to save money and buy cheap Caran d’Ache refills, then Amazon is probably as good as anywhere. Many other online stores will sell them, but they struggle to compete with Amazon on prices and postal costs.
Don’t forget you can save money on buying Caran d’Ache refills by searching Amazon for one of the alternative refills listed in this guide.
Hi,
as for the comparison ordinary ballpointrefill vs Goliath – you did forget a zero for the Goliath. It writes 8000 meters, not 800. 🙂
If you were right, I woulden’t buy the Goliath at the price it sells for.
A part from that, the precision in the ballfront of the Goliath is unbeatble. We can have any opinions on the ink compared to the most modern hybridink, we can have our personal taste…. of course……..but the precision in the ball is something to write home about. If it gets noticed. The way this ball is steering on track at the paper and without any build up of debrise around the front is remarkble. So many “reviewers” don’t realize that because of their nonliking of the traditional oilbased inkformula in the Goliath.
Hopefully, the Goliath will get some kind of hybrid mix involved to make it even smoother, still keeping the buttery feeling of an oilbased ink.
What is that feeling actually, by the way? Anyone who had grabbed an ordinary everyday ballpoint like the Pilot Supergrip with an original refill knows what this is. Smooth and dense flow, with a feeling butter mixed into the ink formula. Why are there so few of the expensive penmanufactures that can create this in a G2 refill or equal? They work themeselves to death with watery roller and gel formulas instead. And call it Hybrid inks.
If we want that feel so badly, buy a fountain pen. Or get a traditional Rollerball, they have been with us for many decades. Jetstream was the pioneer in the late 1970’ths.
It’s the segment inbtween these that would be interesting to see more of. The so called Hybridinks. But it is hard to get that right and in balance, isn’t it? At the moment it is a trend of having the inks very thin again.
It also goes for the latest Parker Quinkflow. 12 years ago or so, when the new Quinkflow ballpointrefills came, they were very dense and buttery in the inkformula. Much better and different from the awful oilbased refills they made through the years (how they did become a standard is out of my understanding). The problem was that the new hybrid ink gave way to much resistance and created fatique. Despite the very smooth and dense line. The same refill today is holding a relatively thin ink which is closer to a rollerball than an oilbased ballpoint. Could I suggest something in between?
This is the recent trend allover the place regardless of brand. MontVerde on the other hand had a very good inkfeel in their ballpointrefills – but they lacked the mechanical quality of the refill or at least they were less trustable. How about the latest version, I have no idea. But they are a good example of that it is possible to have both worlds in the same inkformula.
The question is, what is smoothness in a ballpoint pen? Especially when writing on rougher everyday papers and not sitting home at the chamber nerding around jotting at a perfect Rhodia paper surface. Just for fun. A smooth ride on a rougher paper most often needs anything else than a thin inkformula.
Caran d’Ache is an expert on very finepointed ROLLER balls since a very long time back, perhaps not so known to everyone. No smear, no debrisbuildup, very exakt steering on paper without sliding around like a Jetstream. They know how to build a refill mechanically it seems. That can handle a thin ink. The Goliath on the other hand has all the potential for carrying and distribute the HYBRID inks perfectly like their rollers. It’s a few years since I bought my latest Goliath Finepoint. Perhaps a hybrid inkformula allready is in use in the production now. Any inknerd out there has noticed any changes? Probably not, the Goliaths are mostly rejected by the nerds by tradition.
M