Prima Watercolor Confections: Pigment composition

UPDATED TUE 10th APRIL 2018 - Prima have given me some more information - see the comments below in RED.

After years now of asking Prima what the pigment compositions of their Watercolor Confections watercolours are, they have provided them for me and I thought I would share them and my thoughts.

I have linked to my videos reviewing these products and links through which you can buy them - sometimes there are excellent deals to be had that are so good, even if you don't like the paints, the metal palette works out cheaper than buying one - I know a few people who have used them for that! The swatch cards in the older sets were horrid glossy stock that actually made the paints look really bad but swatched on watercolour paper, they are much better so don't be fooled if you think that! Try them on a better paper :)

As you will see, all of the palettes are based around the same set of pigments, more or less, so they will all work well together across the sets. I get very tired of hearing people say "these aren't artist quality!" about Prima's paints - they are. Fine artists can get a bit snobby and forget that art-journalling and scrapbooking and mixed media are professional artwork forms, thus, these paints are professional artist quality, but they are not necessarily fine-art suited. I think they are lovely for use in sketchbooks and they form nice limited palettes to challenge yourself with - I take a different one with me in my bag each week to sketch whatever I come across that I enjoy.

As always with non-fine-art watercolours, PW5 Lithopone will be used to extend and opacify some colours but labelling conventions do not require it to be stated. 

Anywhere I gave given a pigment without a C.I. number and in capitals e.g. "GOLD", it is a proprietary pigment or coated mica.

In 2018, some of the colours from the early sets were renamed, so I have given both names where this is the case. The numbers have not changed, just the names - the paints are still 100% the same!

The Classics
This was the first set in the series and I didn't get this one for quite some time as the colours in the other sets appealed a lot more. I have given two sets of names here - the first name for each colour is the original name, and the second one is the 2018 onwards name.
BUY ONLINE: US$18.57
BUY ONLINE: £20.79

Number	Paint Name	Pigments and Notes
01	Dove / White	PW6 Titanium White
02	Candy / Pinky	PR81 Rhodamine 6G
03	Rouge / Red	PR112 Naphthol Red AS-D PR170 Naphthol Red AS
04	Carrot / Orange	PO13 Benzidine Orange PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT
05	Canary / Yellow	PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT
06	Green Apple / Green	PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade
07	Breeze / Icy Blue	PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade
08	Sailor / Blue	PB29 Ultramarine Blue
09	Lavender / Purple	PB81 Cobalt Tin Alumina Blue Spinel PV23 Dioxazine Violet
10	Roasted Coffee / Cocoa	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PBk9 Bone Black
11	Slate / Grey	PW6 Titanium White PBk9 Bone Black PB29 Ultramarine Blue
12	Dark Night / Black	PBk9 Bone Black

Tropicals
This was the first set that I bought in the series and I like it for sketching out of doors in the summer months when you don't want to use your best paints - use cheaper ones and fill up your sketchbook! Lovely vibrant colours. I have given two sets of names here - the first name for each colour is the original name, and the second one is the 2018 onwards name.
BUY ONLINE: US$18.88
BUY ONLINE: £18.47

Number	Paint Name	Pigments and Notes
13	Grassland / Island	PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade
14	Plantain / Coconut	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT
15	Thunderstorm / Hurricane	PB29 Ultramarine Blue PB27 Prussian Blue
16	Avocado / Parrot	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB27 Prussian Blue PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic)
17	Tropicana / Hibiscus	PO13 Benzidine Orange PR112 Naphthol Red AS-D
18	Rainforest / Palms	PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT
19	Red Parrot / Pitaya	PR57:1 Lithol Rubine
20	North Isle / Reef	PV23 Dioxazine Violet
21	Sunset / Pineapple	PY83 Diarylide Yellow HR
22	Lush / Sunset	PR81 Rhodamine 6G
23	Wild Berry / Ocean	PB27 Prussian Blue
24	Cacao / Tiki	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk9 Bone Black

Decadent Pies
This was the second set I tried and I love these colours - sooo good for sketching beach scenes or anything 'earthy'. Some beautiful, deep, soulful colours herein. I have given two sets of names here - the first name for each colour is the original name, and the second one is the 2018 onwards name.
BUY ONLINE: US$20.57
BUY ONLINE: £18.42

Number	Paint Name	Pigments and Notes
25	Frosting / White Mocha	PW20 Mica
26	Silver Pearl / Earl Grey	PW20 Mica PBk9 Bone Black PB29 Ultramarine Blue
27	Praline / Pischahio Cream	PW20 Mica PY83 Diarylide Yellow HR PB29 Ultramarine Blue Rich Gold
28	Rose Petal / Guava Meringue	PW20 Mica PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PO13 Benzidine Orange Pale Gold
29	Vanilla Cream / Banana Cream	PY6 Titanium Dioxide PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic)
30	Dark Chocolate / Pecan	PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PO13 Benzidine Orange PBk9 Bone Black
31	Frappe / Peach Cobler	PW6 Titanium Dioxide PO13 Benzidine Orange PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic)
32	Sweet Jam / Apple	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B
33	Caramel / Pumpkin	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB27 Prussian Blue
34	Pistachio / Keylime	PB27 Prussian Blue PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade
35	Blue Berry / Blackberry	PB27 Prussian Blue PBk9 Bone Black PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic)
36	Berry Syrup / Blueberry	PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade

Pastel Dreams
This was not a set that I enjoyed much at first as most colours are very opaque in nature and I found them a little heavy - but I've seen some beautiful lightweight use of them on Prima's Instagram feed with lovely dilute washes - I really need to try these out again! They are jolly ice-cream colours and I think they would be really useful for cardmakers.
BUY ONLINE: US$19.39
BUY ONLINE: £18.42

Number	Paint Name	Pigments and Notes
37	Brown	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB27 Prussian Blue PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT
38	Chocolate	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk9 Bone Black
39	Crimson	PO13 Benzidine Orange PR112 Naphthol Red AS
40	Rose	PO13 Benzidine Orange PR112 Naphthol Red AS
41	Lemonade	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB27 Prussian Blue
42	Citrus	PY83 Diarylide Yellow HR
43	Bumblebee	PY3 Hansa Yellow 10G
44	Sea Dream	PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade
45	Paradise	PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade
46	Pool Party	PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade
47	Icy Sky	PB27 Prussian Blue
48	Lilac Rain	PR81 Rhodamine 6G

Shimmering Lights
This set is full of metallics and is clearly intended to complete with the far more expensive FineTec metallic watercolours for brushed lettering. They'd be great for that or for card-making but not much use to traditional watercolourists.
BUY ONLINE: US$23.98
BUY ONLINE: £58.32 [may be cheaper at Art From The Heart]

Number	Paint Name	Pigments and Notes
49	Gold	GOLD
50	Twinkle	GOLD/PALE GOLD
51	Allure	GOLD
52	Treasure	PB27 Prussian Blue GOLD
53	Glaze	PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic)
54	Antique	PR27 Prussian Blue GOLD
55	Coppered	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY83 Diarylide Yellow HR PO13 Benzidine Orange
56	Flare	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B
57	Disco	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic)
58	Goldstone	PO13 Benzidine Orange PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB27 Prussian Blue
59	Champagne	PEARL
60	Chandelier	PEARL

Celestial
The set that never was. It was shipped to some reviewers in 2017 after a long delay but was never released formally though I think a few people did manage to buy sets from reviewers who had been sent it. For undisclosed reasons, it was quietly pulled by Prima. If I can get the pigment info I may add it for completeness.

Number	Paint Name	Pigments and Notes
61	Venus
62	Comet
63	Vega
64	Aurora
65	Nebula
66	Galactic
67	Heavenly
68	Stellar
69	Luna
70	Big Bang
71	Nova
72	Divina

Odyssey
This set was originally intended to be released with Celestial and then it was delayed and finally released. The colours are really interesting but I've yet to try it. Prima gave me two reds for 74 Rome - it is either made from PR57:1 and PV23 or PR170 and PV23, which I assume was a reformulation at some stage along the way.
BUY ONLINE: US$22.17
BUY ONLINE: £23.48

Number	Paint Name	Pigments and Notes
73	Tokyo	PR57:1 Lithol Rubine PR170 Naphthol Red AS
74	Rome	PR57:1 Lithol Rubine OR PR170 Naphthol Red AS PV23 Dioxazine Violet
75	Amsterdam	PV23 Dioxazine Violet PR122 Quinacridone Red
76	Maui	PR112 Naphthol Red AS PO13 Benzidine Orange
77	Jordan	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade
78	Cusco	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk7 Lamp Black
79	Dubai	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PO13 Benzidine Orange PBk7 Lamp Black
80	Jamaica	PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade
81	London	PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PB27 Prussian Blue PB29 Ultramarine Blue
82	Inca	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PO13 Benzidine Orange
83	Budapest	PR170 Naphthol Red AS PO13 Benzidine Orange PV23 Dioxazine Violet PBk7 Lamp Black
84	Calgary	PW6 Titanium White

Woodlands
One of the three sets released in early 2018 in the new packaging, this set is based around landscape colours and thus would be great for landscape sketching - though I've yet to try it myself.
BUY ONLINE: US$30.33
BUY ONLINE: £23.01

Number	Paint Name	Pigments and Notes
85	Sand Ridge	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PBk7 Lamp Black
86	Shadow	PBk7 Lamp Black
87	Cavern	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PBk7 Lamp Black PB27 Prussian Blue
88	Foxberry	PR112 Naphthol Red AS PB27 Prussian Blue
89	Pond	PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade
90	Stream	PB27 Prussian Blue PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade
91	Bear	PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B
92	Mist	PB27 Prussian Blue PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT
93	Greystone	PBk7 Lamp Black PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic)
94	Daylight	PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB27 Prussian Blue PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic)
95	Redwood	PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT
96	Deep Moss	PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PB27 Prussian Blue PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT

Essence
Whilst I have this set, I've yet to open it and try it. The colours are really beautiful and it could be useful for urban sketchers or cityscape painters.
BUY ONLINE: US$30.33
BUY ONLINE: TRY ART FROM THE HEART (UK)

Number	Paint Name	Pigments and Notes
97	Adore	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk7 Lamp Black
98	Chant	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB29 Ultramarine Blue
99	Emotion	PB27 Prussian Blue PG7 Phthalocyanine Green Blue Shade
100	Earth	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB27 Prussian Blue
101	Namaste	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB29 Ultramarine Blue
102	Ponder	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PBk7 Lamp Black
103	Eternity	PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PB27 Prussian Blue PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT
104	Nirvana	PB27 Prussian Blue PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT
105	Unite	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk7 Lamp Black
106	Awake	PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PY14 Arylide Yellow AAOT
107	Creation	PB29 Ultramarine Blue PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PR57:1 Lithol Rubine
108	Serenity	PY3 Hansa Yellow 10G PB27 Prussian Blue

Complexion
This set is just a mix of colours from older sets put together to make a portrait set, so there is no point really in buying this if you already have all of the older sets, of course, but if you don't, this is a really useful portrait set. Note that some of the colours (12, 14, 24 and 31) have different names in Complexion than in their original sets as the paints in those sets have been renamed in 2018, but based on the material Prima has provided, they are the same pigment composition and they do look identical - the paints have not been changed, only the name.
BUY ONLINE: US$29.33
BUY ONLINE: £23.01

Number	Paint Name	Pigments and Notes
12	Black	PBk9 Bone Black
14	Coconut	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT
24	Tiki	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk9 Bone Black
31	Peach Cobbler	PW6 Titanium Dioxide PO13 Benzidine Orange PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic)
41	Lemonade	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB27 Prussian Blue
49	Gold	GOLD
87	Cavern	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PBk7 Lamp Black PB27 Prussian Blue
91	Bear	PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B
95	Redwood	PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB15:3 Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT
98	Chant	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PB29 Ultramarine Blue
101	Namaste	PY42 Yellow Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PB29 Ultramarine Blue
105	Unite	PR101 Red Iron Oxide (Synthetic) PY14 Diarylide Yellow AAOT PR48:4 Permanent Red 2B PBk7 Lamp Black