Caran d’Ache Luminance Pencils

Pros:

Extremely Intense Colors

No Lightfast Issues

Smooth Application

Great Packaging

Cons:

Pricy

Only Bright Color Choices

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Caran d’Ache Luminance Colored Pencils Review

Updated by Brandon F. on February 23, 2023

The Caran d’Ache Luminance colored pencils are a premium offering for those looking for extremely intense, UV-resistant colors that will make your work jump off the page.  Despite being wax-based, there is little wax bloom and application is smooth and layering is a breeze.  Color options are a bit more limited in that subtle and dull colors aren’t included but with options from 20 to 72-piece sets, it is still more than serviceable.  The lead is contained in a round barrel.

Visual Appeal – 4.5/5

Simply put, the Caran d’Ache Luminance colored pencils are some of the most intense colors you will find from any pencil on the market.  The color output is thick and almost creamy and you can mix and match layers from different colors extremely easily.  Even with multiple passes, the wax bloom is essentially non-existent and all the colors have fantastic lightfastness. 

The color can also be controlled into fine details, making it great for high-resolution areas of your piece as well.  One important note that is worth mentioning is that the variety of colors available is a bit polarized, as the Luminance collection focuses on bright colors.  Because of that, you might have to look elsewhere if you are after some dull grays or subdued earth tones.  

We do wish that Caran d’Ache would consider expanding its line to include more dull colors but we understand why they decided to prioritize bright colors with this particular set.  As you might expect, their naturally brighter colors such as yellow and orange pop which further help to make this set stand out.

Usability and Durability – 5/5

The lead is extremely strong and can be sharpened to a fine point very easily.  No matter if at a fine point for detailed areas or a duller point to put out more color in each pass, both application processes are a joy.  The output is some of the smoothest we have come across, and stacking layers of color is a fun and rewarding experience. 

It is easy to get a good feel for the pencils and they communicate very well with differing application pressures.  Blending is also spot-on for those times you need a color that isn’t already available in the set.  Overall the pencils are quite tough, and you can push down as hard as you like with little concern of lead breakage.

Packaging and Presentation – 4.5/5

The pencils come in choices of an attractive sturdy box or a beautiful wooden case.  Both choices have the pencils comfortably placed in embedded grooves which means they are well-protected and also easy to identify and grab.  The pencils themselves have a colorless outer barrel except for the base which is stamped in the matching color. 

The Caran D’ache brand, type, and color are stamped on the side in silver.  All of this comes together for a style that we appreciate and we feel that you will as well.  It also helps to make it easy to identify specific colors which are always nice.

Cost – 3/5

One of the best-performing pencils on the market also comes with a comparable price tag.  Similar to many of Caran d’Ache’s products, expect to pay a premium price for these.  Just about anything with the Caran d’Ache label is going to fetch a premium asking price, but we feel that it is more than worth it to enjoy this fantastic set of pencils.  You get an extremely high-quality product that can compete with the best pencils in the world so it is no surprise to us that it costs more for this privilege.  Being higher quality, they will also be more capable for a variety of applications ranging from entry-level all the way up to professional pieces.

Overall Ranking – 4.5/5

Simply fantastic color that stacks and blends with ease.  No matter what your skill level is, the Caran d’Ache Luminance colored pencils will continue to impress you for years to come.  The color is deep and vivid and the pencils are well-constructed and easy to sharpen, not to mention are very attractive  Lightfastness is in-check as well.  Overall, these are an absolute joy to work with but they are quite expensive so be prepared for sticker shock.