Apsara | Absolute | Extra Dark

The Apsara Absolute (Absolute Extra Dark) is a wood-cased writing pencil made in India by Hindustan Pencils under the Apsara brand, sold in a single "Extra Dark" designation rather than a standard graded scale. Its graphite is harder than a typical HB yet lays down a smooth, dark line comparable to a 2B, and is marketed with "extra strong" lead said to resist breakage when writing and sharpening. The hexagonal, soft-wood pencil has a grey barrel with a blue dipped end and no eraser ferrule, and is aimed at everyday handwriting and note-taking.

This specimen: Absolute in grade Extra Dark.