A non-consumable writing implement, such as a mechanical pencil, with a consumable tip has a body with an outer housing. (See definitions in the “Summary” section). An inner retainer with a gripping mechanism is adapted to grip a consumable product held therein. That is, in one embodiment, a piece of graphite is gripped inside a mechanical pencil. The inner retainer, held within the outer housing, and a ballast attached to the inner retainer, are rotatable with respect to the outer housing. The ballast rotates the gripping mechanism and the consumable product. In this manner, a user desiring to have the tip of the consumable product always in the same orientation as he writes, may use this device to do so. A damper and detent mechanism may be employed to prevent harmonic movement or turning of the consumable product during writing.