Caran d'Ache — Swiss-Made Pencils and Pastels Since 1915

Caran d'Ache is Switzerland's only pencil manufacturer, and one of the most respected names in fine art materials worldwide. Every pencil in their professional range is made in Geneva using FSC-certified cedar wood, finely-ground pigments, and over a century of accumulated craft knowledge.

For artists, the Caran d'Ache professional range isn't a luxury — it's a practical choice. The pigment quality, lightfastness, and consistency of their leads means less time fighting your materials and more time painting. Whether you work in dry colour, watercolour, oil pastel, or mixed media, there is a Caran d'Ache range built precisely for that technique.

At Craft and Canvas in Hebden Bridge, we stock individual Caran d'Ache pencils as well as sets — so you can build your palette colour by colour, or replace a single pencil without buying a whole set again. If you're unsure which range is right for your practice, our team can help you choose.

The Caran d'Ache Professional Ranges at a Glance:

Luminance 6901 — Permanent, wax-based coloured pencils with exceptional lightfastness. The go-to choice for portraiture, botanical illustration, and any work intended to last. 100 colours, including 8 exclusive to Caran d'Ache.

Museum Aquarelle — Watercolour in pencil form. Developed in collaboration with professional watercolourists in Geneva, these are among the finest watercolour pencils available anywhere. 76 colours.

Neocolor II Aquarelle — Water-soluble wax pastels that have been an artist's kit staple for over 50 years — used by Picasso, Miró, and Karl Lagerfeld among others. Apply dry for bold, opaque colour with excellent coverage, then activate with water to create rich washes, glazes, and blends. One of the most versatile products in the Caran d'Ache range, and a firm favourite for mixed media, journalling, and expressive work. 84 colours, available in sets of 10 to 84.

Neopastel — Oil pastels with rich, blendable pigment and exceptional covering power. Available in 96 colours, suited to both fine detail and broad expressive work.

Pastel Pencils — Dry pastel in pencil form, made with ultra-fine pigments and a 4.7mm lead. 84 colours, ideal for detailed pastel drawing and portraiture.

FAQ

What is the difference between Caran d'Ache Luminance and Museum Aquarelle? Luminance 6901 are permanent, wax-based pencils — they do not activate with water and are designed for dry drawing with exceptional lightfastness and smooth layering. Museum Aquarelle are watercolour pencils — they can be used dry for precise line work, then activated with a brush and water to create full watercolour washes. Both are professional-grade; the choice depends on your technique.

Can I buy individual Caran d'Ache pencils rather than full sets? Yes — at Craft and Canvas we sell individual pencils from the Luminance 6901, Museum Aquarelle, and Neopastel ranges, so you can replace colours as you use them or build a custom palette. See the individual product listings for available colours.

Are Caran d'Ache pencils worth the price? For artists who work seriously with coloured pencils or watercolour pencils, yes. The pigment concentration and lightfastness ratings are significantly higher than student-grade alternatives, and the consistency of the lead means fewer breakages and more predictable blending behaviour. Many artists find they use less product overall because the coverage is so much better.

What is Neocolor II and how is it different from other pastels? Neocolor II Aquarelle are water-soluble wax pastels — a completely different medium to both oil pastels (Neopastel) and dry pastels (Pastel Pencils). Used dry, they behave like a soft, highly pigmented crayon with excellent coverage on paper, card, and many other surfaces. Add water with a brush and they dissolve fully into rich, luminous washes that behave like watercolour. This makes them one of the most versatile products in the Caran d'Ache range — equally at home in sketchbooks, mixed media work, journalling, and expressive mark-making. Available in 84 colours in sets of 10 to 84.

Which Caran d'Ache range is best for beginners? The Supracolor Soft Aquarelle is a great entry point — it's versatile enough to use dry or wet, works across many techniques, and gives you 120 colours to explore. For those committed to dry coloured pencil work from the start, the Pablo range offers brilliant quality at a more accessible price than the Luminance.