--- title: "Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer: Watercolor Pencils" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/faber-castell-albrecht-durer-watercolor-pencils/" description: "Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer watercolor pencils explained: the 3.8 mm water-soluble core, 120 colors, tin sizes, lightfastness ratings and Dürer vs Polychromos." category: "Pencils" type: "Colored pencil" published: 2026-10-22 updated: 2026-10-22 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 9 products: - name: "Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer artists' watercolor pencils, tin of 36 (117536)" brand: "Faber-Castell" brand_origin: "Germany" made_in: "Germany" material: "PEFC-certified wood (Faber-Castell Germany); 8 mm barrel painted the lead color (Modulor, Faber-Castell photo); 3.8 mm water-soluble, SV-bonded core (Faber-Castell)" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Faber-Castell AG, Stein, Germany" model: "Albrecht Dürer" mpn: "117536" gtin: "4005401175360" url: "https://www.faber-castell.de/produkte/AlbrechtD%C3%BCrerAquarellstift36erMetalletui/117536" --- # Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer: Watercolor Pencils > Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer pencils are artists' watercolor pencils: you draw with a 3.8 mm core, then brush on water and the color dissolves into a wash. The range has 120 colors with lightfastness rated on each pencil, sold singly and in tins of 12 to 120. Faber-Castell's own comparison chart says they're made in Germany. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/faber-castell-albrecht-durer-watercolor-pencils/ - Category: Pencils - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-22 - Updated: 2026-10-22 ![Blue Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer watercolor pencil drawn to scale at 176 mm, with blue hatching turning into a wash](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/faber-castell-albrecht-durer-watercolor-pencils-16x9.png) *An Albrecht Dürer pencil at 176 mm, drawn at 1 mm = 4 px.* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer artists' watercolor pencils, tin of 36 (117536) | Faber-Castell (by Faber-Castell AG, Stein, Germany) | Germany | Germany | PEFC-certified wood (Faber-Castell Germany); 8 mm barrel painted the lead color (Modulor, Faber-Castell photo); 3.8 mm water-soluble, SV-bonded core (Faber-Castell) | – | $: under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer artists' watercolor pencils, tin of 36 (117536)): Germany. Faber-Castell's own US product photo of a single pencil (117672) shows GERMANY printed on the barrel, and its brand comparison chart on the Amazon US listing ticks 'Made in Germany' for Albrecht Dürer. A Galaxus listing for the 24 tin, seen in search results, also gives Germany. Source: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OSMQVE ## Key takeaways - Faber-Castell lists a 3.8 mm, fully water-soluble, break-resistant core; Modulor lists the barrel at 8 mm and a Belgian retailer at 176 mm (6.9 in) long. - The range has 120 colors, matched to Faber-Castell's other Art & Graphic lines, with each pencil's lightfastness rated on the barrel. - Tins come in 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 and 120; the 36-pencil tin is 117536, EAN 4005401175360. - The 36 tin had 4.8 stars from 1,482 Amazon US ratings and sat in the colored-pencil top 100 on October 22, 2026. - Faber-Castell's comparison chart on Amazon marks Albrecht Dürer as made in Germany. ## What are Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer pencils? **They're Faber-Castell's artist-grade watercolor pencils: colored pencils whose core dissolves in water, so a drawing can become a painting with a wet brush.** The line is named after Albrecht Dürer, the German Renaissance painter and printmaker. Faber-Castell's German page says the high-grade pigments have unsurpassed lightfastness and brilliance, and that strokes can be washed finely or broadly. On suitable paper, it says, the color dissolves completely and behaves like classic watercolor. ## Albrecht Dürer watercolor pencil specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | Faber-Castell AG, Stein, Germany | | Core | 3.8 mm, fully water-soluble, SV-bonded against breakage | | Barrel | 8 mm across (Modulor), painted the lead color; PEFC-certified wood | | Length | 176 mm (6.9 in), per a Belgian retailer | | Colors | 120, with lightfastness rated on each pencil | | Tins | 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 120; wooden cases of 48, 72 and 120 | | 36 tin | 117536, EAN 4005401175360 | | Price band | $ (under $5 per pencil) | | Made in | Germany (Faber-Castell comparison chart) | The core and color counts are Faber-Castell's own. The 8 mm diameter is Modulor's, and the length comes from a Belgian retailer's listing, which matches the 176 mm length listed for Faber-Castell's Polychromos. ![Albrecht Dürer cross-section to scale: 3.8 mm core in an 8 mm barrel; tins of 12 to 120 pencils](https://stationerytimes.com/images/faber-castell-albrecht-durer-watercolor-pencils-section.svg) *The 3.8 mm core in its 8 mm barrel, and the tin sizes Faber-Castell lists.* ## How do watercolor pencils work? **You draw dry, then wet: water dissolves the pigment in the stroke and spreads it into a wash.** Faber-Castell US says the colors blend easily when wet and become permanent once dry, so later layers sit on top of earlier ones. A water brush such as the [Pentel Aquash](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-aquash-water-brush/) makes this portable: draw in a sketchbook, then touch the strokes with the brush tip. Modulor recommends classic watercolor paper if you add water; dry, the pencils also work on smooth, colored or black paper. ## How lightfast are Albrecht Dürer colors? **Faber-Castell rates each color and prints the rating on the pencil, so you can check before using it in finished work.** Faber-Castell US adds that the 120 colors are matched to the colors of its other Art & Graphic lines. Faber-Castell's German page calls the pigments of "unsurpassed" lightfastness, which is a maker claim. For work meant to hang in daylight, favor the colors with the highest rating. ## Which Albrecht Dürer set should you buy? **The 36 tin is the sensible start; buy singles to top up the colors you use most.** Faber-Castell US lists the 36 as white and cream, yellows, oranges and reds, pinks and purples, blues and greens, earth tones, two warm greys and black. | Set | Item | Notes | |---|---|---| | Tin of 36 | 117536 | The Amazon US best seller | | Gift box of 36 | 117538 | Same 36, in a gift box | | Wood case of 48 | 117506 | Adds a brush, a Castell 9000 HB pencil, a sharpener and an eraser | | Tin of 120 | 117511 | The full range | | Single pencils | 1176xx (e.g. 117672 Earth Green) | All 120 colors, per Faber-Castell US | On October 22, 2026, Faber-Castell's US store listed single pencils at US$3.85. If you already own Polychromos, match Albrecht Dürer colors by number: Faber-Castell says its artist ranges share one color-matching system. ## Albrecht Dürer vs Polychromos and Black Edition: which should you choose? **Choose Albrecht Dürer when you want washes, Polychromos for dry, layered drawing, and Black Edition for bright color on dark paper.** | | Albrecht Dürer | [Polychromos](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/faber-castell-polychromos/) | [Black Edition](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/faber-castell-black-edition-colored-pencils/) | |---|---|---|---| | Core | 3.8 mm, water-soluble | 3.8 mm, oil-based | 3.3 mm SuperSoft | | Colors | 120 | 120 | Up to 100 | | Barrel | Painted the lead color | Dark green | Black wood | | Lightfastness | Rated on each pencil | 1–3 stars on each pencil | Not rated | | Made in | Germany | Germany | Varies by set | | Price band | $ | $ | $ | Our [best colored pencils](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-colored-pencils/) roundup picks Albrecht Dürer as its watercolor choice. ## Where are Albrecht Dürer pencils made? **In Germany: Faber-Castell's own product photo shows GERMANY printed on the barrel, and its comparison chart on the Amazon US listing says the same.** A Galaxus listing for the 24 tin, seen in search results, also gives Germany. Faber-Castell's German product page doesn't name a country, so the tin is the final word. ## Frequently asked questions ### How do you use Albrecht Dürer watercolor pencils? Draw or shade as with any colored pencil, then go over the area with a wet brush. Faber-Castell says the color can be washed finely or broadly and, on the right paper, dissolves completely like classic watercolor. ### Are Albrecht Dürer pencils permanent once dry? Faber-Castell US says the colors become permanent when dry, so you can layer a new wash over a dried one without lifting it much. We haven't tested lifting ourselves yet. ### What paper should I use with watercolor pencils? Watercolor paper, if you plan to add water; Modulor's guidance says the same. Without water, smooth, colored or black papers also work. ### What is the difference between Albrecht Dürer and Polychromos? Albrecht Dürer cores are water-soluble; Polychromos cores are oil-based and stay put when wet. Both have 3.8 mm cores and 120 colors; Albrecht Dürer barrels are painted the color of the lead and carry a paintbrush symbol. ### Can I buy single Albrecht Dürer pencils? Yes. Faber-Castell US sells all 120 colors individually, so you can replace the colors you use most. ### Is the Albrecht Dürer made in Germany? Yes, according to Faber-Castell's comparison chart on Amazon, which marks Albrecht Dürer as made in Germany. The tin itself is the best place to check. ## Sources - [Faber-Castell (Germany): Albrecht Dürer Aquarellstift, 36er Metalletui (117536; 3.8 mm fully water-soluble core, lightfast pigments, PEFC wood)](https://www.faber-castell.de/produkte/AlbrechtD%C3%BCrerAquarellstift36erMetalletui/117536) - [Faber-Castell (Germany): Albrecht Dürer Künstleraquarellstifte (range page; 48, 72 and 120 wooden cases)](https://www.faber-castell.de/produkte/albrecht-duerer) - [Faber-Castell US: Albrecht Dürer Artists' Watercolor Pencils, Tin of 36 (FC117536, EAN 4005401175360; 120 colors, lightfastness on each pencil, 3.8 mm SV-bonded core, permanent when dry)](https://www.fabercastell.com/products/albrecht-durer-artists-watercolor-pencils-tin-of-36-117536) - [Faber-Castell US: Albrecht Dürer Artists' Watercolor Pencils, Gift Box of 36 (117538; acid-free)](https://www.fabercastell.com/products/albrecht-durer-artists-watercolor-pencils-gift-box-of-36-117538) - [Faber-Castell US: Albrecht Dürer single pencil, No. 172 Earth Green (117672; product photo shows the barrel painted the lead color, printed GERMANY, with the paintbrush symbol)](https://www.fabercastell.com/products/albrecht-durer-artists-watercolor-pencil-172-earth-green-117672) - [Amazon US: Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolor Pencils, Tin of 36 (B000OSMQVE; model 117536, 4.8 stars from 1,482 ratings, #51 in Wooden Colored Pencils, Faber-Castell comparison chart 'Made in Germany', read October 22, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OSMQVE) - [Modulor: Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer watercolour pencils (8 mm barrel, 3.8 mm lead)](https://modulor.de/en/faber-castell-albrecht-duerer-watercolour-pencils.html) - [Bruneau: Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer watercolor pencil (176 mm length, seen in search results)](https://www.bruneau.be/en/product/faber-castell-albrecht-durer-watercolor-pencil/8016903) - [Galaxus: Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer, tin of 24 (country of origin Germany, seen in search results)](https://galaxus.be/en/s12/product/faber-castell-watercolour-pencil-albrecht-duerer-multicoloured-24-x-pencils-5684811)