Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor Paint Set 24 Glittery Colors - Metallic, Professional-Quality Art Supplies Review (2026)

What makes this a specialty set rather than an everyday palette

Kuretake is a Japanese brand with a long history in ink and paint, and the Gansai Tambi line is built around gansai, a Japanese opaque watercolor style that behaves partway between gouache and traditional watercolor. This particular 24 color set is a glittery and metallic edition rather than a standard hue assortment, combining gold tones, a run of gem colored pans, and a set of pearlescent shades into one tin. That focus makes it a strong pick for letterers who want shimmering titles, metallic accents on invitations, or festive seasonal pieces, but it is not meant to replace a general watercolor set used for everyday color mixing.

How the pans handle and rewet

The pans in this set are generously sized compared with typical half pan watercolors, which makes it easier to load a larger brush or a water brush without constantly working a tiny well of paint. Kuretake describes the formula as creamy and strongly pigmented, needing only a light dampening of the brush to reactivate rather than a long soak, which suits the quicker pace of lettering work where a letterer is dipping and writing in a steady rhythm. All the colors in the set are certified non toxic, and the brand notes the metallic and gem shades are lightfast, meaning finished pieces should hold their shimmer rather than dulling quickly.

Pairing this set with pens, brushes, and nibs

Because the metallic and glitter particles in these pans are physically coarser than dye based ink, they suit water brushes and small paint brushes far better than fine pointed dip nibs, which can catch or clog on the reflective pigment. Letterers who want to use this set for brush lettering or watercolor titles will get the smoothest results, while anyone hoping to load a flexible nib pen with straight metallic paint from these pans should expect more maintenance and cleaning than with a standard ink. Diluting the paint slightly with extra water before loading a nib can help, but it remains a brush first product by design.

How it compares with other lettering watercolor sets

Against the Schmincke Aqua Drop liquid set and the smaller six color Kuretake Gem set reviewed nearby, this 24 pan tin offers by far the widest color range for the price, which is part of why it ranks near the top of its group. Liquid watercolor sets like the Schmincke line load into pens more readily since they are already fluid, while this pan set trades some of that pen compatibility for a bigger palette and the specific metallic and glitter finishes that liquid sets in this category do not offer. For letterers chasing shimmer effects specifically, the pan format is generally the better trade.

Who gets the most out of this set

This set suits brush letterers, mixed media artists, and anyone adding metallic flourishes to invitations, greeting cards, or journal spreads who is comfortable working with a water brush or small paintbrush rather than a dip pen. It is a poor match for someone who only writes with pointed nibs and wants a straightforward ink replacement, and it is overkill for a beginner who just wants one or two metallic accent colors rather than a full 24 pan tin. Letterers who already own a plain watercolor set and want to add shimmer for special occasion pieces will get the clearest benefit from adding this tin alongside their existing palette.

Frequently asked questions