Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor No.695 OPAL GOLD

Opal Gold No. 695 is a single colour from Kuretake's Gansai Tambi line – handcrafted in Nara, Japan, where Kuretake has been producing sumi inks and watercolours since 1902. The large-format pan contains a pigment-based watercolour with a pearl-gold shimmer: delicate and shimmering on white paper, luminous and rich on dark backgrounds. The creamy, soft consistency dissolves instantly with a wet brush – no rubbing, no effort required.

Features

• Iridescent pearl lustre: The colour contains pearl pigments that work differently depending on the surface – subtle and shimmering on light paper, warm-golden and opaque-luminous on dark paper.
• Greater opacity than Western watercolours: Typical of Gansai Tambi, the colour works more directly and opaquely than transparent watercolours in the European tradition – ideal for highlights, lettering and calligraphy on dark or coloured papers.
• Large-format pan (48 mm × 28 mm): The pan is significantly larger than standard watercolour wells. Broad brushes and watercolour brushes with thick tips can be used without any problem, without the colour supply becoming a bottleneck.
• Pigment-based and lightfast: The colour is based on water-soluble resin and pigments with no animal-derived ingredients. Lightfastness is good with moderate water addition; the more water you add, the lighter and more transparent it becomes – and correspondingly more sensitive.
• Individually replaceable: The pan sits in a removable plastic well and can be inserted into an existing Gansai Tambi palette or used as a standalone pan.
• Non-toxic (AP-certified): Non-toxic, water-soluble, easy to clean.

Use & Tips

• Calligraphy and brush lettering: Opal Gold works particularly strikingly on dark, smooth paper. Pick it up directly from the pan with a medium-sized watercolour brush or a water tank brush and write on black or deep blue paper – the gold shimmer is most vibrant there.
• Highlights in illustrations: Use as an accent colour on finished, dried areas. Because the colour is opaque enough, you can layer highlights and reflections over other watercolour layers.
• Sumi-e and mixed media techniques: Opal Gold works well as a complement to classical sumi ink or dark Gansai Tambi colours. A fine brush with little water produces precise, metallic-looking lines.
• Cards and mixed media: Works well on watercolour paper, bristol board or smooth, ink-resistant paper with moderate texture. Very smooth, calendered paper can slow drying, which can be used for layering effects.
• Control water ratio: Little water = strong, opaque gold tone with full pearl effect. More water = watercolour-typical, more glazing effect with delicate shimmer. Both variants are appealing.

For Calligraphy Enthusiasts

Gansai Tambi watercolours are based on Kuretake's more than a century of experience in sumi ink production – the creamy, even pigment distribution is no accident, but the result of this tradition. Opal Gold No. 695 belongs to the Opal colour family: pearl pigments react to the angle of light incidence and create this characteristic shimmer effect, which differs from matt gold powder or purely metallic paints. For calligraphers working with a broad brush or nib on dark paper, consistency is key: the colour is fluid enough for even strokes, but opaque enough not to disappear into darker papers. Not archival – this should be considered for archived work.

Technical Specifications