Originally known as Fabrique Genevoise de Crayons in its founding in 1915, the brand was rechristened Caran d'Ache in 1924 at the suggestion of Arnold Schweitzer, the head of the company at the time. Caran d'Ache means pencil in Russian and has its roots in the Turkish word "kara-tash" which means black stone, in reference to graphite. A true icon of the Swiss Made label, Caran d'Ache remains a family company, currently headed up by Carole Hubscher who represents the fourth generation of the family involved in the company's management at the highest level since the 1930s.
