Fast cars, shiny shoes, monster flat screen TVs ... all these things play a role as status symbols in our adult lives, but cast yourself back to your early school days when nothing said cool as much ...

“Even today in the digital age, the No. 2 pencil remains the required writing implement for students taking standardized tests in the U.S.,” said Ryan Raffaelli, professor at Harvard Business School.

Pen and pencil maker Faber-Castell’s earliest roots date to 1761, making it one of the oldest brand names associated with writing implements. But its now-famous hyphenated moniker came about over ...