Which is better for archival or exhibition work?

The Luminance. It publishes ASTM D6901 lightfastness with 81 LFI-rated colors and a claim of up to 100 years. Polychromos pigments are lightfast, but no per-color rating is given here.

Which set gives more colors?

Polychromos, with 120 colors against 100 in the Luminance set.

Do the leads break easily?

Polychromos has SV bonding and is marketed as break resistant. Luminance uses cedar wood but makes no bonding claim.

Can I blend and layer with both?

Yes. Luminance is a wax lead that layers smoothly. Polychromos is oil-based and blends without waxy buildup.

Is the Luminance set worth the extra?

Only if lightfastness matters to you. For general drawing and coloring, the Polychromos tin gives more colors and stronger buyer feedback. Check both prices on this page.

Are the pencils pre-sharpened?

Polychromos is pre-sharpened. The Luminance listing does not say, so expect to sharpen before first use.

Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 Colour Pencils, Set of 100 vs Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists' Color Pencils, Tin of 120

Both are 3.8 mm artist-grade pencils, but they suit different buyers. The Caran d'Ache Luminance 100 set is the pick for archival, lightfast work: 81 of its 100 colors are LFI rated and it claims lightfastness up to 100 years. The Faber-Castell Polychromos 120 tin is the better value for most people: 76 ratings at 4.8 out of 5, oil-based leads that resist smudging, and SV bonding against breakage. No current prices were given for either set, so compare store prices on this page before deciding.

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