Is this Daniel Smith 24 watercolour set really worth AU$275??

I got gifted this from my husband last Christmas and was shocked at how much it costed him to buy me this! Daniel smith is expensive in Australia but I always drooled at their colours. So in this video, I unbox, swatch and painting a cute little loose floral painting and let you decide if it's worth it!
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Daniel Smith 24 colour extra fine watercolour half pan set:
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00:00 Intro
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[@mzkatbee463]

What a lovely gift from your loved one, regardless of whether you feel it's worth it. He felt you were worth it to gift it to you. Enjoy!!! ❤🎨👩🏽‍🎨

[@crystaltanart]

Thank u! That's so true!

[@MrsBarnabas]

In reply to those of you saying this is not worth it, I have done a little research. This cost AU$ 275. That's £135 (UK) (AUS$10.00 = £5 UK) $AUS 275 divided by 24 = AUS $11,43 per half pan. £135 divided by 24 = £5.75 per half pan. Jackson's lists Daniel Smith half pans as ranging from £7.10 - £8.90. / AUS$ 14.12 - 17.70 Even if the set came as series one (Aus$7.10) it would cost AUS$338.88. (not including the tin it came in + the 24 empty half pan tin) It cost AUS275. So no, this is not a rip off. Ok, so that aounts to US$212.50. *BUT* you cannot compare US prices for US produced art supplies with the rest of the world. It has to take into account cpst of living, exchange rates, taxes, shipping, etc, plus the retailer's mark-up. Ask any US artist about the prices of eg French, German or UK art supplies (eg Schminke, Sennelier, Faber Castell, Winsor and Newton, Derwent, Saunders Waterford) and see what they have to say about prices! And for you in the US, if Trump gets his way with tariffs and applies them across the world, especially Europe, and China (Paul Rubens to mention just one highly popular Chinese brand) you're going to be paying 25% more (10% on Chinese goods) in the very near future! Another product is Holbein, costing very little in Japan, but look what the rest of the world is paying, for exactly the same reasons! So please, before you all start yelling, "It's a rip-off!!!" how about doing some research,as I've done. (I use XE, a very good, easy to use currency convertor). It really does help to stop the constant complaining and mis-information about cost of living / cost of imported goods v country of origin prices! 😊

[@SharonFoster852]

I'm in the US and I went through this calculation, too. It's definitely worth the price. I haven't bought it because I was already invested in tubes for most of these, and there were a couple that I knew I wouldn't use.

[@crystaltanart]

Good points! Its definitely more pricey than other brands here in Australia , thats why I dont have that many DS paints.

[@fionaleung7924]

Agree with this. I purchased this in the US for about $115 a few years ago and I have no regrets. I benefit from not having to have import duties on Daniel Smith paints and I pay higher prices for imported brands.

[@tanyarobinson1146]

Tarries do not increase thd cost by 25%. I don't remember the specifics but that's what I have been told.

[@jessbutterfly1934]

I live in Australia and the price of Daniel Smith paints are extremely expensive over here. They don’t compare transactionally to what you pay in America even taking into account shipping and other sort of costs That being said the quality of Daniel Smith paints are exceptional. I personally have a lot of them and I love using them. I have saved to get them however when I got my 24 set to start my collection off, I actually bought it on the US Amazon site because even with shipping and the exchange rate it was almost $100 cheaper than the Australian Amazon website or even in an art store which does have a much higher price tag because of extra costs that they incur. A lot of the art shops here in Australia are few and far between my closest one is over four hours away and it is owned as a family business. We don’t have huge retail outlet art stores over here at least not many in Victoria. Most of those if not all of them have shut down and have gone online there’s a couple though. It makes me really sad when I see artists in the US using Archer’s watercolour paper and they say they waited for it to come on sale for like $15-$20 because $25-30 in to expensive and this is the 300 GSM coldpressed or thicker paper in A4 or A3 pad size, overhear that starts at at least $80 now you can’t tell me $15-$20 conversion rate into Australian even if you’re adding shipping and customs that’s justified, that’s an exceptional markup but if you look around, you can get really good prices. You just have to go to different websites and see what you can get. The biggest problem with the tariffs from Donald Trump is it’s actually gonna hurt the people in America other countries don’t pay your tariffs you pay the tariffs. He can make people pay more for American products. But the extra money he’s putting on goods that are made elsewhere and coming to yours. Yours is being paid by the people who were getting them in to resell them. That’s the American people not another country otherwise that would mean for example China is shipping Chinese goods to the US to a Chinese person to sell them back to the Chinese doesn’t make any sense . Tariffs are basically GST equivalent in Australia. No one else pays that but the Australian people. So when companies want to buy something from another Country. and that country raises their prices on import than the people buying those products to resell in your country, will have to pay more, therefore, passing the cost on to you as a consumer so the only one that actually misses out are the American people. I watched a news documentary that was in America By American financial advisors, and they explained how tariffs work and how Donald Trump obviously knows nothing about it or how it works because no other country pays your countries tariffs only. The people that live in the country pay it. This is gonna backfire so badly America is famous for standing up to tyrants and things that are not right. I look forward to seeing the day when Trump is back down to ground zero and given a serious reality, check by the people. Thinking of you America.

[@Schatzie301]

So cute that you are just carrying it around looking at it. Now THAT is a good gift. What a sweet husband you have. And you can’t go wrong with Daniel Smith. Those are gorgeous colors.

[@crystaltanart]

He had no idea! So I thank the lady at the art store HAHAHA.

[@Schatzie301]

@@crystaltanart but he didn’t drop it and run when he heard the price. Definite hero in my books! 😂

[@lesleycranshaw515]

Great video Crystal. I love Buff Titanium and use it alot. Mix it with other colors and it makes a lovely creamy looking color. I do house portraits too and it's great for making brick and stone colors look very realistic

[@hanichay1163]

I used a lot of buff titanium on 3 week trip to Turkey, Greece, and Italy. Color of many of the ruins and columns and buildings and sculptures and rocks. And good for mixing.

[@crystaltanart]

I need to try mixing it as alot of others have suggested.

[@lisamessina5952]

I also bought gray titanium and find I am using both quite a bit!

[@madhabitz]

I have this set (paid USD $123.69 on Amazon). I did it deliberately, even knowing that if I'd purchased tubes it would have been so much cheaper for the long haul. However, I just didn't have the kind of money it would take to buy all of those colors at once, so I got this set because the majority of the colors are ones I would have chosen anyway, plus the rest of them were pretty great additions. There's not one clunker in this tin. Now I can buy one tube at a time to replace colors as I use them up, or to fill up the 2nd tin that comes with the set. Win/win. This worked for me -- gave me a head-start toward a really nice Daniel Smith collection. Even paying an extra chunk of money for his gift, this set is fantastic, well worth it. Hubby did good. :)

[@crystaltanart]

Makes so much sense and yes I agree. A great set with almost all the colours that I would use! Super versatile.

[@kayakRnann]

Loved your new set of DS. So thoughtful of your husband. Enjoy your upcoming trip.

[@crystaltanart]

thank u! I already made the trip actually. And didn't end up taking any supplies with me because it was a very hectic holiday! Glad to be back home with it now though!

[@kayakRnann]

@ ❤️

[@elizabethwilliams4127]

Daniel Smith is my favorite I have built up quite a collection. I have tubes instead of pans but pans are great too. Buff Titanium is a great mixing color and also good for clouds. Have fun with your great set.

[@coverlady1722]

Great suggestion!

[@crystaltanart]

Thanks!!! I can't imagine it for clouds!

[@tonyaturner2762]

I bought this set a few months ago and they're beautiful colors. You can mix buff titanium with other colors and it's beautiful sort of mutual tones sort of pastel colors with some. Also mix with certain colors for sand colors and certain colors for skin tones.

[@crystaltanart]

Thankssss!!! I will use them today and use it for sand as I want to paint a few beach scenes for my patreons!!

[@TheSmallArtSociety]

Hi Crystal! New subscriber here 😊 I absolutely love buff titanium! It’s one of my palette staples, it’s a really versatile colour for urban sketching, and that’s mainly how and when I use it 😊 thank you for this video!

[@crystaltanart]

Thanks for subbing! After so many people raving about buff titanium, I did a bit of swatching today and find it a little chalky, but in a pretty nice way.

[@TheSmallArtSociety]

@ ah could it be the granulation that it has? I found that for painting buildings and similar things it’s a really helpful colour. I use it a lot but I’m not blanking on what I use it for 😂 I also used it in a banana painting yesterday, with a bit of hansa yellow light, and it worked really well!

[@hanichay1163]

The only Daniel smith I have is titanium buff! Tube. Love it.

[@dianepaynter2414]

Love buff titanium for mixing soft colors

[@crystaltanart]

I need to try that.

[@SharonFoster852]

I love the way you swatch by painting over the names!

[@crystaltanart]

So you can see how transparent they are! :) Seen other artist do this.

[@fionaleung7924]

Check out Jane Blundell’s blog on this palette. Daniel Smith worked with her on the selections of these colors in this set. It’s worth the read on why these colors were chosen.

[@crystaltanart]

I will! No wonder it's called Jayn'es grey and not paynes grey.

[@fionaleung7924]

@ yes she worked with them to create that Grey which is essentially a mix of burnt Sienna and ultramarine blue. She said she wanted a grey without the dulling effects of a black pigment.

[@jenneke2]

Aww, that’s a gift given with love! Embrace that fully and enjoy the set! In Canada 🇨🇦 that set is $159.00 @Deserres( but unavailable online 😢) or $179.00 from Amazon (if you have Prime)…so, if you like many of us, need to travel a good distance to purchase it, you must factor in travel costs, which are substantial nowadays. They ARE good quality, but the other top brands are equally as good IMO. (Eg.Roman Szmal came out recently with a full pan set named Essentials which looks intriguing, too!)

[@crystaltanart]

Totally! It will definitely be embraced and used! I have heard of Roman Szmal but never seen it anywhere. Will look out for it!

[@diannedupuis2960]

Buff titanium is a great mixing color.

[@crystaltanart]

I'll give mixing it a go.

[@Ropeorsnake]

“bonus metal box” after plunking down a pile of $$ but very nice gift!! 💝 👏🏼

[@crystaltanart]

Yeah I was hoping it would be paint inside! hahahaha. But alas, empty tin!

[@alejandromorales9516]

YIKES THAT IS EXPENSIVE. I think this is based on the Jane Blundell Ultimate Mixing Set and you can get those in the old plastic cases for US$66 here in the USA and then put them in tins. I love Daniel Smith but they are like every other professional brand. They do great with some things and not others. That said, ENJOY THAT GORGEOUS SET. The paint is very very good.

[@MrsBarnabas]

Hi, Alejandro. See my researched reply ^^^. It explains why it seems so expensive compared to the price in the US. 😊

[@crystaltanart]

Thanks!!!! Well, I have it now, so I have to use it! :)

[@MrsBarnabas]

@@crystaltanart Yup - don't do the it's too good for me to use' - just enjoy using this lovely gift to the full! 😊

[@zenlife1200]

Daniel Smith paints are really expensive here in New Zealand too. I started with their two sets of tube paints, the primary and secondary sets with three 15ml tubes in each. I think they've changed the colors in them now. These days I only buy the granulating paints I love from Daniel Smith and even then I buy the sticks if I can as they're cheaper than the tubes but fill just as many half pans. My basic color palette is now mostly ShinHan's PWC professional paints and Holbein colors. That's cut my paint expenses down massively. I do a lot of urban sketching or landscapes and love the buff titanium and goethite for sand and textured rocks.

[@lynleyshort2758]

I'm in NZ and I bought colours of inspiration set and very expensive too

[@crystaltanart]

Yes I have alot of Korean brand paints that are so so so affordable and not bad at all! Seems like so many things are more expensive in NZ ouch!

[@swimwithsue9227]

Wah so expensive. So sweet of him ❤

[@crystaltanart]

I know! It's a big splurge!

[@lenaalexandersson5615]

Buff titanium love it blend with other or buy its self dark paper ❤❤❤ it

[@MrsBarnabas]

Also good for buildings, stone, beaches, etc... I've actually had to add it to my palette since being here in SW France, particularly for buildings. After 40 years of mixing all I needed with my 12 watercolours and a tube of white gouache it was quite a shock!!! Also, a lot of research (thank you, my Art Tube friends for your help!!!) to choose the best Buff Titantium to use by itself / mised with other colours... 😄

[@crystaltanart]

Im starting to paint more beaches, so hope to use it more for sand!! Thanks for the tips!

[@jas0409]

I use Buff titanium a lot too, absolutely love it

[@mariaconsuelo4073]

A gift of love

[@crystaltanart]

Totally :) I love the gift! >_

[@jackielubeck]

Wonderful.

[@dawn4224]

Here in the US this pan set is half that price and can be found for even cheaper at times. Love this brand. Sad that it is so pricey in other parts of the world.

[@crystaltanart]

Oh well, makes sense I suppose!

[@tonyaturner2762]

What brand do you get dragons blood paint? It's beautiful and I'd like to get the color. Thank you in advance

[@crystaltanart]

Thats Maimeri Blu dragons blood I have in my usual palette. Recommended by Jenna Rainey!

[@tonyaturner2762]

@crystaltanart thank you!

[@diannedupuis2960]

This was one of my first sets and I love it. So expensive for you though, I paid half of that price.

[@crystaltanart]

I would never have agreed to this gift if I knew the price! But thats the thing about my husband. He's quite a gifter and dont feel the pinch as I do. :) Lucky me.

[@marlenaamalfitano1558]

I live in the USA and I would never pay that much for Daniel Smith. I like some of their colors, but for they tend to crack and make a mess. If you are traveling, put a layer of plastic tightly over the dry paints. Enjoy!

[@brushmovement]

I understand why now when I see what you got 😂

[@crystaltanart]

Hahaha understand what??

[@kiriki737]

It´s expensive present !!! but you´ll love it... I do love the color Moonglow, it is a complex violet hue composed of Anthraquinoid Red, Ultramarine Blue, and Viridian grey. Daniel Smith's paint manufacturing facility is located in Seattle, Washington, where it mills pigments and mixes the final paint product. One of the unique approaches to paint that the company focuses on is the use of pigments derived from semi-precious minerals and other unique geological deposits. Daniel Smith Inc. manufactures professional artist quality watercolor paints, gouache paints and mediums.

[@crystaltanart]

Oh yes I have heard and seen artists rave about Moonglow!!!!! Wish I had it in this set! Sounds like I have jewels in my paints! :)

[@lisamessina5952]

@@crystaltanartif you ever get a chance, the Amethyst Genuine is a great muted purple with a subtle sparkle. I use that or Moonglow for shadows, lovely granulating paints.

[@gwenritch]

If I received this as a gift, I would absolutely love it. DS is too expensive for my budget as a beginner watercolor artist

[@crystaltanart]

I totally agree!

[@lynleyshort2758]

This is $399 in NZ

[@crystaltanart]

WOAH MAMA.

[@judihart9658]

🤔simple answer? No. They are not worth that.That's greedy if ya asked me.# say no.👎

[@MrsBarnabas]

Hi, Judi. Not if you take into consideration the things I've mentioned in my comment about the price. Maybe take a look? 😊

[@shellymay-cutpastememories6667]

I have found a comparable brand of rich, saturated colours at a more affordable price is Roman Szmal. Daniel Smith paints are gorgeous but pricy.

[@crystaltanart]

You're not the first to mention Roman Szmal! I havent seen it anywhere in Oz though.

[@crab3696]

Derwent paint sets are best for travel and a lot cheaper

[@crystaltanart]

I only ever tried Derwent ink sticks. Not paints!

[@Barbara-fy8cs]

I favor Daniel Smith over all my other watercolors; was disappointed in my W&N set.

[@crystaltanart]

Interesting. why is that?

[@jmoss55ish]

That set sells for $123.69 in the U.S.A. Australia must have some very expensive shipping charges!

[@crystaltanart]

Insane!

[@milenamarcocci6320]

❤❤❤❤❤❤bravissima

[@crystaltanart]

Thanks darling! XX

[@kathygus]

Daniel Smith is expensive everywhere lol.

[@crystaltanart]

haha. its a luxury level paint!

[@wildflower1397]

Those are available for $124 here in the US, which is less than 200 AU dollars. Therefore, I would say it's overpriced.

[@crystaltanart]

Yup! Very!!! Its just super expensive here!

[@tanyarobinson1146]

You have to remember the US is the only country to tax both imports and exports, then if Australia taxes imports, that is double tax.

[@wildflower1397]

I don't pay sales tax in my home state of Oregon. I live a few hours from Daniel Smith, so no import tax. It might actually be cheaper for me to buy them and mail them to Australia, lol.

[@paulinastarkute4898]

It a set i would love to try yet i find way to expensive also find extra pallete really unensary whicth also ups a price...

[@crystaltanart]

Yeah thats so true. Didn't really need the extra tin. hmm.

[@paulinastarkute4898]

@crystaltanart I found they sell it with several their palletes it's just make go ??? Thanks but no thanks

[@mywifetheartist]

Beautiful. But very expensive.

[@crystaltanart]

Yup, its just very pricey here!

[@ErinEnoArt]

Isn’t the real question here: How in the world could you wait over a month to try them?!!! Heck, you didn’t even take the wrapper off to look at them!😳 That is restraint!!😂

[@crystaltanart]

That's the life of a content creator!!! No matter how much the urge is to open something, u know you need to wait to record the whole thing!!! Trust me. I was dying to. But it was christmas and new year and holidays. So i didnt get a chance to till much later.