There are so many gold markers out there- how do you choose the best one for light or dark surfaces? Which ones are waterproof? Well, I’ve done the work and now you can see them side-by-side and pick the best gold marker for your project!
The gold markers I used for this comparison are:
- Krylon 18 Karat Gold (chisel felt nib)
- Faber Castell Pitt Pen Gold 250 (small bullnose felt nib)
- Zig Painty Metallic (pointed plastic tip)
- Wink of Luna Gold (brush tip)
- Elmer’s Painters Metallic Gold (fine bull nose felt tip)
- Wink of Stella Glitter Gold ) brush tip)
- Letraset Metallic Gold (twin tips- big bullet and fine bull nose)
- Spectrum Noir Gold (brush tip)
- ek success Dual-Tip (1mm/1.2mm felt nib)
- Tsukineko All-Purpose ink (use Fantastik dip nibs)
- Sharpie Gold Metallic (bullet felt nib)
- Bic Mark-It Gold Metallic (bold bullet felt nib)
Now…of course I made you a video and show you exactly how they look on light and dark papers.
Just a reminder- I do a lot of these comparisons live on Periscope TV– you can download the app and watch live, or check out the replays on the website, which you can watch on your computer.
If watching the video isn’t your thing, let me cut to the chase for you!
My favorite: KRYLON 18K GOLD LEAFING PEN. This is the hands-down winner. Great metallic shine, great on light or dark surfaces. It’s a little stinky, but waterproof. It’s also opaque and you can write over acrylic paint and pastels, too. The only down-side is the nib. It’s a chisel- not great for fine lettering- and it’s a bit “scratchy.” You do have to pump the nib to keep the ink flowing. But I’m willing to overlook that for it’s excellent metal-foil look and price!
This is the hands-down winner. Great metallic shine, great on light or dark surfaces. It’s a little stinky, but waterproof.
The next-best pen on my gold marker hit parade is the ALL-PURPOSE INK from Tsukeniko. This stuff looks amazing on light or dark surfaces, and it has a shimmer that won’t rub off. And bonus- it’s water proof! You can apply it with a Fantastix nib (dip in in) like an old-timey quill, or use a paint brush to add large or small strokes. Not stinky, either. And waterproof!
Don’t let the dip-nib Fantastix pen deter you- this looks amazing!
Next up- ELMER’S PAINTERS. This has a nice metallic shine, has a mild odor, and you can write over pastels, paints, etc. The fine bull-nosed tip is fairly suitable for art-journaling, too. Another plus- if the nib starts to break down, you can pull it out and flip it around so that you have a fresh nib!
And I want to give the Zig Painter a shout-out too- the plastic nib is perfect for fine-lining (think adult coloring) and writing. Plus it’s super shiny! I found mine at a craft store a while ago, so I’m not sure what the availability is now. Zig is a line of ek success- so perhaps it’s being re-branded?
The fine plastic nib makes this one perfect for detail work in coloring and writing/journaling as well!
And in case of emergency— the SHARPIE METALLIC GOLD is a good stand-by!
Pretty good pen, and you can find it everywhere!
So there you go- a list of gold marking pens that will keep your projects sparkling and shining!
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Thanks for the gold pen comparison. Without seeing them side by side, it’s hard to tell which one looks gold. Always find your tests a great help to my crafting.