Prismacolor Premier vs Faber-Castell Polychromos: which is worth it?

The core question

Faber-Castell Polychromos are consistently recommended as the gold standard of coloured pencils. Prismacolor Premier are consistently recommended as the best soft-core pencils for blending. Both claims are true. The question is which matters more for your work.

Core and wax content

Prismacolor uses a wax-based core. This gives the pencils their characteristic buttery feel and exceptional blendability, but it also means wax bloom — a slight haze that can appear on finished work. Faber-Castell uses an oil-based binder, which reduces bloom and improves layering on textured surfaces.

Lightfastness

This is the clearest win for Polychromos. Faber-Castell rates every pencil in the range with a lightfastness score, and most score well. Prismacolor’s lightfastness ratings have historically been inconsistent, with some colours fading significantly under UV exposure.

For work that needs to last — client commissions, gallery pieces — Polychromos is the more responsible choice.

Blending

For soft, seamless blends and heavy layering, Prismacolor has no equal at this price point. The wax core responds beautifully to blending stumps, solvents, and burnishing. Polychromos blends acceptably but requires more layers and more pressure.

Our recommendation

Buy both eventually. Start with Polychromos as your primary set — the lightfastness and durability justify the price. Add Prismacolor for skin tones and any work that requires heavy blending.

If budget requires one: Polychromos for professional and archival work. Prismacolor for illustration and work where blending is the primary technique.