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Koh I Noor Polycolour Pencils

Imagine having access to high-quality, affordable coloured pencils that have been prized by artists for over a century. For years, Koh I Noor pencils (or koh-i-noor), manufactured by the Czech Republic's Hardtmuth firm, were a well-kept secret, not easily sourced by UK artists.

Today, you can finally get your hands on these pencils, and we're here to explore whether they were worth the wait.

Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Peter's original notes, featuring a real-life review and comparison from a USA-based reader who's been there, done that. 

You'll find her insightful feedback at the end of this article, helping you make a more informed decision.

Polycolor wax based pencils

Koh-I-noor Hardtmuth Polycolor pencils come in boxes of 24 to 72.

Despite varying descriptions, they're consistently touted as highly pigmented and soft to the touch. Some sources describe them as "soft and waxy," while others claim they "avoid wax build-up" or contain "special oils."

However, the company state that the pencils are primarily oil-based, with some white clay and minimal wax - a common approach among European manufacturers aiming to prevent wax bloom while maintaining a soft feel.

Some US reviewers have complained about the limited colour range, but with 72 options available, this criticism may be outdated. It's possible that earlier reviews were based on smaller sets, which may not have included the full range offered today.

Koh I noor Mondeluz Aquarelles

Koh I noor Mondeluz Aquarelles (watercolour pencils) are also now listed in sets or 24 up to 72, with the larger set priced around £54 (a very reasonable price).

I have also seen a wooden box containing 24 of each of the Polycolor and Mondeluz pencils.

Gioconda Pastel Pencils

Koh I Noor Gioconda Pastel Pencils are available in sets of up to 48, priced around £103 (September 2024). A reader in Germany reviewed them a couple of years ago; details can be found on the Pastel Pencil brands page.

Review from reader of the site

This review was received from  USA based reader in June and may prove helpful to readers in the States. Rosemarie writes...

Here is a list of the pencils I own and what I'm comparing Koh-I-Noor to:

  • 115 FaberCastell Polychromos
  • 50 Koh-i-Noor Hardtmuth Polycolor
  • 72Marco Raffines
  • 85 Caran'dAche Pablos (I consider these, and use them as, a wax based pencil)
  • 105 PrismaColor Premiers
  • 48 Staedtler Norris Club and
  • 5-6 each of Lyra Rembrandts and Caran'dAche Luminance

My observation using the Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth is that they compare quite favorably to the FC Polychromos  (which I consider the best for an oil based pencil), in that  they lay down a good amount of color with little effort, yet they respond well if and when one desires to use pressure,     

They are creamy and smooth almost as much as Polychromos but not as creamy as PrismaColors.

The color cores are just a tad harder than Polychromos,  The Koh I noor pencils work well with other brands of pencils oil or wax. By this I mean blending and layering colors, although currently, I'm using them mainly with my Polychromos and Raffines, my other oil pencils.

They are hex shaped and a bit 'smaller' than Polychromos but cores are a good size,

They sharpen well, hold their points a tad longer than Polychromos, much longer than PrismaColors,

They are clearly labeled - each pencil having the color name and number clearly printed,     

The number of colors is fewer than what is offered by Polychromos and PrismaColors but respectable non the less with beautiful pinks/purples and the best all around olive green, in my opinion.  

They sell sets on Amazon.com and are available open stock from Michaels and AC Moore in the USA.

Prices in the UK

I have checked the UK situation today (September 2024) for stockists and prices.

  • Pencils4Artists.co.uk list stock in tins from the Koh-I-noor range as well as offering the Polycolour and Mondeluz pencils singly at 99 pence each. The tin of 24 is available at £22.99, the tin of 36 costs £36.99 and the larger tin of 72 costs £79.99. 
  • Cult Pens (UK) also list tins in stock up to the full 72 sets of Polycolor and also list individual colours as open stock. Here the individual pencils are on sale for £1.20 and the largest tin of 72 costs £100. 

I would welcome any other readers with experience of this brand to write in with comments - also on any other brand listed (or even not listed) on the site.  

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