Best Watercolour Brands Compared — Daniel Smith vs Roman Szmal vs White Nights
Three great brands, one store
Choosing your first (or next) set of professional watercolours can be overwhelming. At Föndurlist we stock three of the world’s most respected watercolour brands — each with a different personality. Here is how they compare.
Daniel Smith Extra Fine
American-made, 15 ml tubes. Known for an enormous colour range (240+ colours globally, 60+ in our shop), including the unique PrimaTek line made from genuine ground minerals like lapis lazuli and amethyst. Daniel Smith pigments are densely loaded, rewet beautifully, and granulate in ways no other brand replicates. Price: mid-to-high range.
Best for: Artists who want unique mineral colours, heavy granulation, and a huge palette to explore. The PrimaTek line is unmatched.
Roman Szmal Aquarius
Polish-made, handcrafted in small batches. Roman Szmal is a favourite among European watercolourists for its buttery consistency, high pigment load and beautiful granulating colours. Their Aquarius line uses single-pigment formulations wherever possible, giving clean, vibrant mixes. Available in pans and tubes. Price: mid range — excellent value for the quality.
Best for: Artists who value single-pigment purity, buttery texture, and want professional quality without the premium price tag.
White Nights (Nevskaya Palitra)
Russian-made in St. Petersburg since 1934. White Nights offers a huge range of colours in both pans and tubes at a very accessible price point. The pigment quality has improved dramatically in recent years — many colours are now single-pigment and lightfast. The half-pan sets are especially popular for beginners and plein air painters.
Best for: Beginners wanting professional-grade quality at an affordable price, and plein air painters who want a portable set.
Our recommendation
There is no single “best” brand — it depends on what you paint and how you like your colours to behave. Many experienced watercolourists use colours from all three brands on the same palette. Start with a small set from any of these three and you will not be disappointed.
All three brands are available at Föndurlist with free shipping on orders over 20,000 ISK.