Very good to know! The problem with Prismacolor is the horrendous quality of the original pencils, so spotting a fake is not as easy as it would be with an impeccable Polychromos. When I got my set I thought it was a fake, missing/duplicate pencils, smudged printing, split wood, misspelled colour names - but they are real!! Very disappointing when you pay a lot of money for them. I got mine from abroad and people thought they were for my nieces, as they were seen as kids stuff - it’s just the hype of the adult colouring world that pushes the prices up, especially in Europe, it’s unfortunately not the quality. If it weren’t for following tutorials I wouldn’t put up with them.
Yes mine are the real ones, but very disappointed with the quality compared to my Polys. Smooshing is variable, lots of broken cores, off- centres, splitting wood casing in some, etc. Taking those into account we're paying a high price just for pigment payload. Promoted as a beginners pencil but at professional cost.
You're adorable! I just bought a 72 set of prismacolor on Amazon and my cover on the case is much different. It has the butterfly on it. I was also worried that I would get fake ones.
Thanks for this! I also watched Sarah's video the other day. Glad I got my big set back in the '90s...LOLOL. I do also have a set of 72, but bought from a good distributor at the time. Very cool to see the differences and what to look for. Suspect it would apply to many brands too.
Hullo Gem! You are so good at comparing supplies! I finally purchased a full set of Prismacolor pencils, I have found that the 48 set and some open stock add-ons have been what I have found the most useful for years and years! I worked with about 64 pencils and these have been what I have found my most used pencils. I did buy a full set on a Black Friday sale, it cost the same as what I usually pay for 48! I was worried about fakes but it was a well known retail seller! My next pencil set I am desiring for my pencil repertoire is the lightfast pencils from Derwent! I have a smaller set and I want more but just cannot justify more just now. I have been spending my money on soft pastels, now there is an expensive art supply!!!!
Great video, as far as I'm aware, it's the 72 size set that has the most number of "fakes" and issues with it, none of the other size sets seem to generate as much chatter or complaints and I do believe (can't remember which RUclipsr I heard it from though) that Prismacolor did admit they were aware of fake 72 sets. They're an incredibly frustrating pencil for me which is why I don't use them very often. I love the vibrancy of their colours but find the quality and need to re-sharpen so frequently just makes them a ballache to colour with. I also think, if I'm being brutally honest, that the smushing together of colours into a blend isn't really how I like to work and it's how the Prismacolor's do their best work! I vastly prefer being able to build up dozens of light layers of colour to get that payout.
This, this, and so much this. I know Prismas are known for their blending but not my style at all. I love lots of light layers so my Polys are my favorite set of pencils. I bought them to follow along with youtube tutorials and regret them very much. Even if the results are good (following the videos) I don't like the experience of coloring with them mvery much. That's why I won't replace my set when it runs out.
My 72 Prismacolors came today and I’m so relieved. They are originals. Although sold as used, they look like new with perhaps 1 sharpened. The leads are FAT and all seemingly centered……..but at least 2 that I noticed, are split from head to toe. I suppose I’ll have to be careful when sharpening. Phew! I was so frightened of falling for a scam. Oh and no white undercoats. But I have a question, does your tin say Made in Mexico? Mine does, just wondering how far the fake producer would take it.
Hi there, I'm so glad your pencils are legit. Prismacolor moved manufacturing to Mexico a number of years ago now (which sparked all sorts of complaints about consistency and a whole lot of other stuff). Unfortunately I no longer have the counterfeits so I can't answer your question.
Sarah Renae Clark did a video about the prismacolor scandal?fakes/quality control things not so long ago it has definitely put me off buying them from any other source than proper art shop if I decide to at all that is as I have the full set of irojitens and polychromos and would have to get the full set of prismacloros too because art supplies are like pokemon "gotta catch them all" lol love your videos hope your arm is feeling a bit better
I mention her video at the start and linked it in the description - it was very good, wasn’t it? I understand the ‘full set’ syndrome, I’m very much like that myself 🙈 Thanks for asking about my elbow, it’s still not working properly. Boo, elbow!
I noticed when you showed your Legit pencil, it looks it has a white undercoat? I just received my 150 set and they all have the white undercoat. Does that mean they are counterfeit? Ty
I can't comment on this with certainty I'm afraid, some of the pencils I have are pretty old (my original set was bought around 2017) and I noticed the likes of the neon colours had a white undercoat. There was a large period of change when manufacturing moved to Mexico, and the quality standards were questionable for a while, so it's very possible they might be legit. As I said in the video, it was a number of factors that just weren't quite right in the counterfeit set that led me to my conclusions. If you have access to open stock in your country, I would suggest buying 2 or 3 colours and comparing them to the ones in your set. The biggest giveaway for me was the feel of the laydown, pigment and the colour matching just not being on the money. I hope this info helps!
I am sorry you got ripped off. I am glad the seller is working with you though. I got a fake set of Polychromos from Amazon. I confirmed it with Faber- Castelll. The reason I knew they were fake is that when I picked up a pencil, it felt light. Like way lighter than what I would expect of a Poly. And they didn't smell like wood. Anyway, the seller ghosted me but fortunately Amazon not only returned the money but I got to keep the fake set. Fakes are out there sadly.
Hello Kitarra, I just bought a set of 120 polys in a wooden box and I was so super happy to snag such a great deal on Amazon's 2 day super lightning deal or some like that (can't remember what exactly it was called) then I read your comment here... and got scared thinking that perhaps these are fake too... The ones I got smelled like wood, looked exactly like polys, the wooden box was not that great and the only difference I spotted was in the writing, where my old ones say "Germany" and the new ones say "Made in Germany". I am not sure if they're fake or the Fiber Castell just decided to change the labelling, so I need to contact them first to find out before I chase the seller. Thank you very much for your comment, otherwise I would not compared them to my old ones. ❤❤
Do you have advice on where to buy Prismacolors in the UK? I'm struggling to find a reputable seller, I wanted to avoid Amazon cos even if they're genuine I'm worried Amazon will break them in transit.
Hello! I purchase from Emma at the Colour Pencil Shop - she stocks a great range of open stock pencils including Prismacolors and her customer service and postage is great: colouredpencil.shop/
@@TheColourCave oh wow, I wasn't expecting to come across open stock availability in the UK, that's perfect! Thank you for the response, I'm gonna buy a couple of colours to try, see if I like the texture/colour laydown. Despite some quality control issues I've only heard good things about Prismacolors' buttery soft blending.
My stomach is aching, I just purchased a tin of 72 on eBay marketplace. The tin has the same pic as that of your fake tin. It’s used but barely. It comes today, I hope they are real. I thought okay used and the price was fair. They do look like the genuine prismacolor stubby tips, I’m hoping they are genuine. From what I can tell, they do not seem to have the white undercoat like budget pencils. But a lot of Japan made high end pencils have the white undercoat, like the Japan Prismas, the Karismacolor. They surprisingly have the white undercoat too. Now I’m anxious because the mail comes soon, then I’ll see if I fell for a scam. My son says every morning a fool gets out of bed. Somehow I feel like I might be that fool this morning.
Hi, very useful video , thank you. Out of curiosity I have just been on ebay and they're still available, at £59.99, could well be different seller... 🤔....
It's a joke - Julia is a good friend of the channel! While I appreciate your vigilance, I have settings in place to moderate irrelevant or unwanted comments, so no need to worry. Hope you found the video helpful!
after watching this video, i decided to check the set i have. mine are fake. i have a 72-count set that i purchased in 2016 for 32 dollars on amazon, at the time i had no idea of the value they should have been. funny thing the listing is still there, but at 57 dollars with the retail value at 155. what really has me stumped is that i have purchased some open stock at Michaels (arts and craft store) and i think that some of them could be fakes as well. sadly, i cannot afford to replace them for the real thing and will have to make do with what i have since i really don't use them that often. i never would have known the difference, thank you.
I think these types of videos are really helpful for people looking to buy Prismacolors. Especially since they're so darn expensive, even where I live. The biggest set I can find on Amazon DE is 48 pencils and they are almost 86 Euro... One reason why I'm not going to buy them anytime soon! 😅
@@TheColourCave it definitely is. I'll stick to my Polychromos for now 😊 I did get that complete set of Posca Pencils, though. But I'm not allowed to use it, yet. Haven't reached my weight loss goal, yet, that I set myself for getting them 😅
@@thinkerdreamersketcherspy thank you! I've been stuck and lazy for a couple of weeks, not having felt great, but I want to get back into it now. I hope you'll reach your goals, too! 😊
I also noticed as soon as you opened the tin that there wasn’t any product pamphlets. They always want to show off all the products they have available 😂
All the sets I’ve had in tins have never had leaflets in them. Not sure if this is a geographical thing? We don’t have many ‘official’ stockists of Prismas so I’m not sure about that one, might be worth looking into though.
@@TheColourCave ok good I was getting a little worried tbh. I'm very green in the coloring world. I love adult coloring but only just 2 weeks ago I decided to take another step and get a little better.
@@TheColourCave I just got my 30's set of priemier and I cant tell if either of the pencils on the 24 or 32 count box are fake or not. They both are kinda dull but also vibrant at the same time 😅 they weren't in order but I rearranged them so idk if they're fake haha
I have Prisma's for 4 years now.. I do love them, they smoosh lovely easy to blend ….Vibrant and array of colors. However .... Prismacolor Premiere Pencils, Are not worth the price point. Crazy Exspensive now. I will not be buying them again.... I have Faber Castel Polychromes 60 set. I'm buying more open stock. They are far better in my opinion Thank you for this video and Happy crafting xxxxx
Just a quick note, I started my pencil journey with Koh-I-noor as they were the least expensive professional grade pencils at my local art store. I was 12 or 13. I did not buy a Prismacolor until college in 1980! I took a drawing class and they were on the required equipment list! You are a real gem Gem!
I've been looking everywhere for the 150 set, but I'm so afraid to place an order of expensive fake pencils. I'm close to France and unfortunately any Amazon close by have them available. Would you please give me a hand telling me where I can order the legit ones ? I wish everyone could watch your video before buying Prismacolor. Thank you.
Hi there! You are perfectly safe ordering them from Amazon if they are sold by and fulfilled by Amazon - it's only if they are from a third-party seller that you might run in to problems. I wouldn't buy from Ebay as it's where the counterfeit pencils seem to be at large. You can also buy from Blick's - they are a US-based company, so you would be subject to customs fees but they are a safe and reputable source for Prismas. Here in the UK, I was gifted a set of 48 (which came from Amazon) and I built my set up from open stock (single pencils) at the Coloured Pencil Shop. I don' think this would be a cost-effective way for you to purchase them, but you may have an equivalent in France?
Please please in the future, leave the disclaimers up longer. When I pause, my screen darkens making it hard to read it. This was very interesting, thanks for your work to make this video for us. Also OMG your blue hair is gorgeous 💚
there are so many opinion if there are fake prisms out there, some people swear there are fakes, other swear there isnt. meh doesnt matter to me lol started using polychromos pencils lol
Very good to know! The problem with Prismacolor is the horrendous quality of the original pencils, so spotting a fake is not as easy as it would be with an impeccable Polychromos. When I got my set I thought it was a fake, missing/duplicate pencils, smudged printing, split wood, misspelled colour names - but they are real!! Very disappointing when you pay a lot of money for them. I got mine from abroad and people thought they were for my nieces, as they were seen as kids stuff - it’s just the hype of the adult colouring world that pushes the prices up, especially in Europe, it’s unfortunately not the quality. If it weren’t for following tutorials I wouldn’t put up with them.
Yes mine are the real ones, but very disappointed with the quality compared to my Polys. Smooshing is variable, lots of broken cores, off- centres, splitting wood casing in some, etc. Taking those into account we're paying a high price just for pigment payload. Promoted as a beginners pencil but at professional cost.
I love the fact you have used the word ‘smooshing’ 😁 I agree, the quality control has gone downhill considerably over the years.
Thank You so much madam, for sharing this much deep information about colours, greatful.
right when i saw you i was like "Oh my gawd shes so pretty" btw lov your hair
You're adorable! I just bought a 72 set of prismacolor on Amazon and my cover on the case is much different. It has the butterfly on it. I was also worried that I would get fake ones.
Great video Gem! Thank you😎💖
Nicely done, Gem! You've taken an excellent, scientific approach to the comparison of these faux Prismas! Thank you!
Thanks for this! I also watched Sarah's video the other day. Glad I got my big set back in the '90s...LOLOL. I do also have a set of 72, but bought from a good distributor at the time. Very cool to see the differences and what to look for. Suspect it would apply to many brands too.
Hullo Gem! You are so good at comparing supplies! I finally purchased a full set of Prismacolor pencils, I have found that the 48 set and some open stock add-ons have been what I have found the most useful for years and years! I worked with about 64 pencils and these have been what I have found my most used pencils. I did buy a full set on a Black Friday sale, it cost the same as what I usually pay for 48! I was worried about fakes but it was a well known retail seller! My next pencil set I am desiring for my pencil repertoire is the lightfast pencils from Derwent! I have a smaller set and I want more but just cannot justify more just now. I have been spending my money on soft pastels, now there is an expensive art supply!!!!
Very valuable video. Thanks so much for this.
Great video, as far as I'm aware, it's the 72 size set that has the most number of "fakes" and issues with it, none of the other size sets seem to generate as much chatter or complaints and I do believe (can't remember which RUclipsr I heard it from though) that Prismacolor did admit they were aware of fake 72 sets.
They're an incredibly frustrating pencil for me which is why I don't use them very often. I love the vibrancy of their colours but find the quality and need to re-sharpen so frequently just makes them a ballache to colour with.
I also think, if I'm being brutally honest, that the smushing together of colours into a blend isn't really how I like to work and it's how the Prismacolor's do their best work! I vastly prefer being able to build up dozens of light layers of colour to get that payout.
This, this, and so much this. I know Prismas are known for their blending but not my style at all. I love lots of light layers so my Polys are my favorite set of pencils. I bought them to follow along with youtube tutorials and regret them very much. Even if the results are good (following the videos) I don't like the experience of coloring with them mvery much. That's why I won't replace my set when it runs out.
My 72 Prismacolors came today and I’m so relieved. They are originals. Although sold as used, they look like new with perhaps 1 sharpened. The leads are FAT and all seemingly centered……..but at least 2 that I noticed, are split from head to toe. I suppose I’ll have to be careful when sharpening. Phew! I was so frightened of falling for a scam. Oh and no white undercoats.
But I have a question, does your tin say Made in Mexico? Mine does, just wondering how far the fake producer would take it.
Hi there, I'm so glad your pencils are legit. Prismacolor moved manufacturing to Mexico a number of years ago now (which sparked all sorts of complaints about consistency and a whole lot of other stuff). Unfortunately I no longer have the counterfeits so I can't answer your question.
Sarah Renae Clark did a video about the prismacolor scandal?fakes/quality control things not so long ago it has definitely put me off buying them from any other source than proper art shop if I decide to at all that is as I have the full set of irojitens and polychromos and would have to get the full set of prismacloros too because art supplies are like pokemon "gotta catch them all" lol love your videos hope your arm is feeling a bit better
I mention her video at the start and linked it in the description - it was very good, wasn’t it? I understand the ‘full set’ syndrome, I’m very much like that myself 🙈 Thanks for asking about my elbow, it’s still not working properly. Boo, elbow!
I noticed when you showed your Legit pencil, it looks it has a white undercoat? I just received my 150 set and they all have the white undercoat. Does that mean they are counterfeit? Ty
I can't comment on this with certainty I'm afraid, some of the pencils I have are pretty old (my original set was bought around 2017) and I noticed the likes of the neon colours had a white undercoat. There was a large period of change when manufacturing moved to Mexico, and the quality standards were questionable for a while, so it's very possible they might be legit. As I said in the video, it was a number of factors that just weren't quite right in the counterfeit set that led me to my conclusions. If you have access to open stock in your country, I would suggest buying 2 or 3 colours and comparing them to the ones in your set. The biggest giveaway for me was the feel of the laydown, pigment and the colour matching just not being on the money.
I hope this info helps!
This was great! Thanks for sharing.
I am sorry you got ripped off. I am glad the seller is working with you though. I got a fake set of Polychromos from Amazon. I confirmed it with Faber- Castelll. The reason I knew they were fake is that when I picked up a pencil, it felt light. Like way lighter than what I would expect of a Poly. And they didn't smell like wood. Anyway, the seller ghosted me but fortunately Amazon not only returned the money but I got to keep the fake set. Fakes are out there sadly.
Hello Kitarra, I just bought a set of 120 polys in a wooden box and I was so super happy to snag such a great deal on Amazon's 2 day super lightning deal or some like that (can't remember what exactly it was called) then I read your comment here... and got scared thinking that perhaps these are fake too... The ones I got smelled like wood, looked exactly like polys, the wooden box was not that great and the only difference I spotted was in the writing, where my old ones say "Germany" and the new ones say "Made in Germany". I am not sure if they're fake or the Fiber Castell just decided to change the labelling, so I need to contact them first to find out before I chase the seller. Thank you very much for your comment, otherwise I would not compared them to my old ones. ❤❤
@@izabellan9706 I hope that yours are genuine! Good luck!
I am afraid to purchase new pencils on Amazon because they sell fake products mostly
This is really good to know. Thankyou for making this vid xx
Do you have advice on where to buy Prismacolors in the UK? I'm struggling to find a reputable seller, I wanted to avoid Amazon cos even if they're genuine I'm worried Amazon will break them in transit.
Hello! I purchase from Emma at the Colour Pencil Shop - she stocks a great range of open stock pencils including Prismacolors and her customer service and postage is great: colouredpencil.shop/
@@TheColourCave oh wow, I wasn't expecting to come across open stock availability in the UK, that's perfect! Thank you for the response, I'm gonna buy a couple of colours to try, see if I like the texture/colour laydown. Despite some quality control issues I've only heard good things about Prismacolors' buttery soft blending.
I need some advice, I have been using prismacolor for a few years and I don't know where to buy original bulk crayons...
Any sites?
you mean open stock? as in single pencils or bulk as in wholesale? Also, where are you located?
@@TheColourCave Single pencils. I'm from Europe
My stomach is aching, I just purchased a tin of 72 on eBay marketplace. The tin has the same pic as that of your fake tin. It’s used but barely. It comes today, I hope they are real. I thought okay used and the price was fair. They do look like the genuine prismacolor stubby tips, I’m hoping they are genuine. From what I can tell, they do not seem to have the white undercoat like budget pencils. But a lot of Japan made high end pencils have the white undercoat, like the Japan Prismas, the Karismacolor. They surprisingly have the white undercoat too.
Now I’m anxious because the mail comes soon, then I’ll see if I fell for a scam.
My son says every morning a fool gets out of bed. Somehow I feel like I might be that fool this morning.
Hi, very useful video , thank you. Out of curiosity I have just been on ebay and they're still available, at £59.99, could well be different seller... 🤔....
The seller I bought from removed their listing - I will check again, and if they have been relisted I will report to ebay - thanks for the heads-up!
Yes, I see the same listing unless it is a different seller. They could have easily made a new username as they only currently have 7 feedback (100%)
Artist level 53 UNLOCKED ✅
It’s just a joke 😊
It's a joke - Julia is a good friend of the channel! While I appreciate your vigilance, I have settings in place to moderate irrelevant or unwanted comments, so no need to worry. Hope you found the video helpful!
This is why I only buy my art supplies from reputable dealers.
after watching this video, i decided to check the set i have. mine are fake. i have a 72-count set that i purchased in 2016 for 32 dollars on amazon, at the time i had no idea of the value they should have been. funny thing the listing is still there, but at 57 dollars with the retail value at 155. what really has me stumped is that i have purchased some open stock at Michaels (arts and craft store) and i think that some of them could be fakes as well. sadly, i cannot afford to replace them for the real thing and will have to make do with what i have since i really don't use them that often. i never would have known the difference, thank you.
I think these types of videos are really helpful for people looking to buy Prismacolors. Especially since they're so darn expensive, even where I live. The biggest set I can find on Amazon DE is 48 pencils and they are almost 86 Euro... One reason why I'm not going to buy them anytime soon! 😅
WOW that's expensive! A set of (genuine!) 48 here is around £50 (€60 ish?) That's crazy money.
@@TheColourCave it definitely is. I'll stick to my Polychromos for now 😊 I did get that complete set of Posca Pencils, though. But I'm not allowed to use it, yet. Haven't reached my weight loss goal, yet, that I set myself for getting them 😅
Keep going!
@@TheColourCave I'm struggling with my bad habbits, but I'll do my best. Got more than just one motivation to make it to my goal 😊
@@thinkerdreamersketcherspy thank you! I've been stuck and lazy for a couple of weeks, not having felt great, but I want to get back into it now.
I hope you'll reach your goals, too! 😊
I also noticed as soon as you opened the tin that there wasn’t any product pamphlets. They always want to show off all the products they have available 😂
Huh I bought a priemier set at walmart and it didnt have little fliers or anything in the tin, is that what I need to look out for?
All the sets I’ve had in tins have never had leaflets in them. Not sure if this is a geographical thing? We don’t have many ‘official’ stockists of Prismas so I’m not sure about that one, might be worth looking into though.
@@TheColourCave ok good I was getting a little worried tbh. I'm very green in the coloring world. I love adult coloring but only just 2 weeks ago I decided to take another step and get a little better.
@@TheColourCave I just got my 30's set of priemier and I cant tell if either of the pencils on the 24 or 32 count box are fake or not. They both are kinda dull but also vibrant at the same time 😅 they weren't in order but I rearranged them so idk if they're fake haha
I have Prisma's for 4 years now.. I do love them, they smoosh lovely easy to blend ….Vibrant and array of colors.
However ....
Prismacolor Premiere Pencils, Are not worth the price point. Crazy Exspensive now.
I will not be buying them again.... I have Faber Castel Polychromes 60 set.
I'm buying more open stock. They are far better in my opinion Thank you for this video and Happy crafting xxxxx
Thank you for that. Prismacolor is not that inexpensive in the states either. It's a shame people are getting taken advantage of like this.
Just a quick note, I started my pencil journey with Koh-I-noor as they were the least expensive professional grade pencils at my local art store. I was 12 or 13. I did not buy a Prismacolor until college in 1980! I took a drawing class and they were on the required equipment list! You are a real gem Gem!
Ugh I hate the scammers.
I've been looking everywhere for the 150 set, but I'm so afraid to place an order of expensive fake pencils. I'm close to France and unfortunately any Amazon close by have them available. Would you please give me a hand telling me where I can order the legit ones ? I wish everyone could watch your video before buying Prismacolor. Thank you.
Hi there! You are perfectly safe ordering them from Amazon if they are sold by and fulfilled by Amazon - it's only if they are from a third-party seller that you might run in to problems. I wouldn't buy from Ebay as it's where the counterfeit pencils seem to be at large.
You can also buy from Blick's - they are a US-based company, so you would be subject to customs fees but they are a safe and reputable source for Prismas. Here in the UK, I was gifted a set of 48 (which came from Amazon) and I built my set up from open stock (single pencils) at the Coloured Pencil Shop. I don' think this would be a cost-effective way for you to purchase them, but you may have an equivalent in France?
This happens in the US as well. Such a shame really. Lol
Please please in the future, leave the disclaimers up longer. When I pause, my screen darkens making it hard to read it. This was very interesting, thanks for your work to make this video for us. Also OMG your blue hair is gorgeous 💚
When you pause, click/touch on the screen again which should go to normal resolution again
there are so many opinion if there are fake prisms out there, some people swear there are fakes, other swear there isnt. meh doesnt matter to me lol started using polychromos pencils lol
So sorry you burned your money on the fake pencils. it makes me mad that fakes are comong out.
It’s okay, it was kind of intentional. Glad to be about to make people aware so they don’t waste their money.