Caran d'Ache Pastel Coloured Pencils 12 Set

The Caran d'Ache Pastel Pencil 12-set brings the blendability of dry pastels into a clean, wood-cased format. Twelve essential colors built around an ultra-thick 4.7mm soft pastel core — the larger diameter delivers the rich, velvety coverage typical of loose pastels while the cedar barrel keeps hands clean and gives full control over fine detail work and sharp outlines. The crumb-resistant paste holds a point well without fracturing, making it practical for both broad blending and precise accent work.

Colors are formulated with highly concentrated, ultra-pure pigments and carry outstanding UV resistance — calibrated to retain their intensity for decades. Performs best on textured pastel card, sanded papers, velour surfaces, and heavily grained drawing papers. A compact and travel-friendly introduction to the Caran d'Ache pastel pencil range. Individual colors are also available as single pencils if you want to expand the palette with specific shades.

Specifications

• Pencil count: 12
• Colors included: Desert Rose, Burnt Sienna, Dark Sepia, Black, Dark Phthalocyanine Green, Light Olive 40%, Light Blue, Light Ultramarine Violet, Scarlet, Fast Orange, Golden Bismuth Yellow, Chinese White
• Core diameter: 4.7 mm
• Core type: Dry soft pastel — powdery, velvety texture, crumb-resistant
• Casing: Round FSC-certified incense cedar wood, four coats clear varnish, color-matched end cap
• Lightfastness: Outstanding UV resistance — color intensity preserved for decades
• Recommended surfaces: Pastel card, sanded paper, velour, heavily grained drawing paper
• Packaging: Cardboard presentation box
• Origin: Swiss Made, Geneva

FAQ

• How do pastel pencils differ from wax or oil-based colored pencils? Pastel pencils use a dry, chalk-based core that blends and smudges far more freely than wax or oil cores. They deliver the coverage and softness of loose pastels with the added precision and cleanliness of a pencil format — no dusty fingers or accidental smearing outside the drawing area.
• What surfaces work best with pastel pencils? Textured surfaces perform best — pastel card, sanded paper, velour, and heavily grained drawing papers all provide enough tooth for the pigment to grip. Smooth papers offer limited adhesion and reduced blending capacity.
• Is the 12-set suited for portrait and figure work? The color selection is broad rather than portrait-focused, covering primary and secondary values with a few earth tones. For dedicated skin tone and figurative work, a larger set with a wider range of warm neutrals and flesh tones would be more practical.
• Do the pencils need to be fixed after use? Like all dry pastel work, a fixative spray is recommended to stabilize finished pieces and prevent smudging during handling or storage.