Faber-Castell Goldfaber: 3.3 mm Colored Pencils
Faber-Castell Goldfaber is the company's mid-priced line of wood-cased colored pencils for students and hobby artists, with a 3.3 mm smudge- and water-resistant core. It comes in metal tins of 12, 24, 36 and 48; the 48 tin is item 114748. Pencils cost well under $5 each, and the tin is printed Made in Germany.
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Product facts
- Product
- Faber-Castell Goldfaber colored pencils, tin of 48 (114748)
- Brand
- Faber-Castell
- Brand origin
- Germany
- Made in
- Germany*
- Material
- Wood case, 3.3 mm color core with SV bonding, metal tin (Faber-Castell)
- Price range
- $under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by Faber-Castell AG, Stein, Germany. Made in Germany: The 48 tin in Faber-Castell's Amazon US listing photo is printed 'Creative Studio Quality · Made in Germany', and the listing's bullets say 'made in Germany' (viewed October 23, 2026). Faber-Castell's German product page doesn't state a country, so check your tin. Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Faber-Castell's German site lists a 3.3 mm core that is smudge-proof and water-resistant, glued along its length (SV bonding) to resist breaking.
- Faber-Castell Germany sells Goldfaber colored pencils in metal tins of 12, 24, 36 and 48; the 48 tin is 114748 (EAN 4005401147480).
- The 48 tin had 5,147 Amazon US ratings averaging 4.7 stars on October 23, 2026.
- Polychromos, Faber-Castell's artist line, has a thicker 3.8 mm oil-based core and 120 colors.
- The 48 tin pictured on Faber-Castell's Amazon US listing is printed Made in Germany.
What are Faber-Castell Goldfaber colored pencils?
They’re Faber-Castell’s mid-range wood-cased colored pencils, sold for students and hobby artists. Faber-Castell’s German site describes a soft, color-rich laydown, high pigment and a core that resists smudging and water.
In the US, Faber-Castell sells them under its Creative Studio banner. They sit below the company’s artist-grade Polychromos.
Goldfaber specs
Faber-Castell lists a 3.3 mm core, excellent lightfastness and SV bonding, and sells the pencils singly or in tins.
| Spec | Goldfaber colored pencil |
|---|---|
| Core | 3.3 mm, highly pigmented |
| Core properties | Smudge-proof and water-resistant |
| Break resistance | SV bonding along the full length |
| Lightfastness | “Excellent”, per Faber-Castell (no per-color rating) |
| Sharpening | Any common sharpener |
| Tins (Germany) | 12, 24, 36, 48 (metal) |
| 48 tin | 114748, EAN 4005401147480 |
Faber-Castell doesn’t publish the pencil’s length or diameter on its Goldfaber page. Its German site shows no price for the 48 tin on the day we checked.
What does SV bonding mean?
It’s Faber-Castell’s name for gluing the color core to the wood along its whole length, so a dropped pencil doesn’t shatter inside. Faber-Castell’s German page credits it for the pencils’ high break resistance.
That matters with colored pencils, because a cracked core breaks again every time you sharpen. Faber-Castell says the Goldfaber sharpens in any common sharpener.
Goldfaber vs Polychromos: which should you buy?
Buy Goldfaber for learning, sketchbooks and coloring books; buy Polychromos when you need more colors and rated lightfastness for finished work.
| Goldfaber | Polychromos | |
|---|---|---|
| Aimed at | Students, hobby artists | Artists |
| Core | 3.3 mm | 3.8 mm, oil-based |
| Colors | Up to 48 in a tin | 120 |
| Lightfastness | “Excellent”, no per-color rating | Star rating on every pencil |
| Price band, per pencil | $ | $ |
The other common US step-up is the wax-based Prismacolor Premier. Our best colored pencils roundup compares more sets.
How much do Goldfaber pencils cost?
Well under $5 a pencil, so they sit in our $ band. The 48 tin worked out to under a dollar a pencil on Amazon US when we checked on October 23, 2026.
On the same day the 48 tin (B074GX76H3) showed 5,147 Amazon ratings averaging 4.7 stars. That’s a lot for a mid-priced set, and the main reason we gave Goldfaber its own guide.
Which Goldfaber set should you get?
The 24 tin covers most coloring and sketching; the 48 adds the in-between shades that make blending easier. Faber-Castell Germany lists metal tins of 12, 24, 36 and 48 colored pencils.
Don’t confuse them with Goldfaber Aqua. Faber-Castell sells that as a separate watercolor pencil range, in its own tins.
How do you get the best results from Goldfaber pencils?
Layer lightly, then press harder for the last layers. A 3.3 mm core lays down color quickly, so several light layers give smoother blends than one heavy one.
Because Faber-Castell says the core is water-resistant, a wet brush won’t dissolve it the way it would a watercolor pencil. That makes Goldfaber safe to use over dry watercolor or under ink, but it also means you blend by layering or with a colorless blender, not with water.
Smooth paper shows fine detail; a toothier sketch paper holds more layers. Our best colored pencils for beginners guide covers paper and starter sets.
Where are Goldfaber pencils made?
Faber-Castell’s Amazon US listing shows the 48 tin printed “Made in Germany”. Faber-Castell is based in Stein, near Nuremberg. Its German product page doesn’t state a country, so check your tin.
Frequently asked questions
Are Goldfaber pencils oil-based or wax-based?
Faber-Castell doesn't say on its German Goldfaber page; it describes the core as soft, highly pigmented, smudge-proof and water-resistant. Its artist-grade Polychromos are the ones it calls oil-based.
Are Goldfaber pencils artist grade?
Faber-Castell's Amazon listing pitches Goldfaber at students and hobby artists. Polychromos is the company's artist line, with more colors and lightfastness ratings on each pencil.
How many colors does Goldfaber come in?
The largest colored-pencil tin Faber-Castell Germany lists is 48. The pencils are also sold one color at a time, according to Faber-Castell.
Are Goldfaber colored pencils watercolor pencils?
No. Goldfaber Aqua is the separate watercolor version; the plain Goldfaber colored pencil has a water-resistant core.
Are Faber-Castell Goldfaber pencils made in Germany?
The 48 tin shown on Faber-Castell's Amazon US listing is printed Made in Germany. Faber-Castell's German product page doesn't state it, so check your tin.
What sharpener works with Goldfaber pencils?
Any standard one. Faber-Castell says they sharpen easily in all common sharpeners.
Sources
- Faber-Castell (Germany): Goldfaber Farbstift, 48er Metalletui, item 114748 (3.3 mm Mine; lichtbeständig; wisch- und wasserfest; SV-Verleimung; Einzelfarbe und Etuis; read October 23, 2026)
- Amazon US: Faber-Castell Creative Studio Goldfaber Color Pencils, Tin of 48 (3.3 mm lead, SV bonding, student and hobby artists, made in Germany; 5,147 ratings, 4.7 stars, read October 23, 2026)
- Officeworks: Faber-Castell Goldfaber Coloured Pencils 48 Pack (FA18114748)
- School Specialty: Faber-Castell Goldfaber Color Pencils, set of 48