Frequently Asked Questions
Ordering and shipping
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. Orders are processed within 1 to 3 business days (excluding weekends and holidays), and you receive a tracking number when your order ships.
How long does delivery take and how much does it cost?
Delivery options at checkout:
- Regular Mail: about 3 to 5 weeks, from $10 for one jar.
- EMS: about 2 to 4 weeks.
- DHL Express: about 3 to 7 days.
The available options and the exact cost depend on the parcel weight and are shown at checkout.
Will I have to pay customs duties?
Possibly. Your order may be subject to import duties and taxes (including VAT) when it reaches your country. These charges are paid by the buyer.
My order hasn't arrived. What should I do?
Tracking information can take up to 48 hours to appear. If you haven't received your order within 30 days of the shipping confirmation email, write to info@colibripigments.com with your name and order number, and we will look into it.
What if my order arrives damaged?
Email us as soon as possible at info@colibripigments.com with your order number and a photo of the item's condition. We handle these case by case and will work toward a satisfactory solution.
Can I return a pigment?
Yes, within 14 days of delivery, if the item is unused and in its original condition. Write to info@colibripigments.com to start a return; items sent back without a return request are not accepted. Return shipping is paid by the buyer, and we issue the refund after we receive and inspect the returned item. Details are in our Refund policy.
Our pigments
What sizes do you sell?
Jars of 10 to 100 g, depending on the pigment, and for most pigments also 1 kg bags. If you need another quantity, contact us for an individual quote.
What is the difference between natural and artificial pigments?
Natural pigments are made from minerals and earths, such as azurite, lapis lazuli, malachite, ochres and green earths. Artificial (synthetic) pigments are manufactured, such as cadmium, cobalt and Mars iron oxide pigments. Every product page states the pigment type.
What do Extra class, First class (FC) and Second class (SC) mean?
They are our grades of the same pigment, sorted by color. For lapis lazuli, Extra class is the deepest blue, First class is slightly lighter, and Second class is lighter still. Read more in our guide to lapis lazuli pigment grades.
Are your pigments lightfast?
Each product page gives the pigment's lightfastness on the Blue Wool Scale, from 1 to 8, where 8 is the best.
How do I make paint from pigment powder?
Mix the powder into a binder with a palette knife or a glass muller: egg yolk for tempera, gum arabic for watercolor and gouache, linseed oil for oil paint, or acrylic medium. Each product page has notes on which media suit that pigment. Our azurite guide shows how much the binder and the grind change a pigment's color.
Safety
Are the pigments safe to use?
Handle every dry pigment with care: avoid breathing the dust, wear a dust mask (FFP2/N95) and gloves, and work in a well-ventilated area. Some historical pigments are toxic, for example those containing lead, cadmium, arsenic or mercury; each product page names the specific hazard. Keep pigments away from children and pets.
Can I use your pigments in cosmetics?
No. Our pigments are sold for artistic and technical use only, not for cosmetics, food or tattoos.
About us
Who are you?
Colibri Pigments (COLIBRI PIGMENTS LLC) has been producing pigments for more than 25 years. The company is registered in Yerevan, Armenia, and our production is in Moscow, Russia. For our natural pigments we cover the whole cycle ourselves: extracting the raw material, crushing, sorting and packing. Our shop offers 135 pigments, natural and synthetic.
Do you sell gift cards?
Yes, gift cards are available in our shop.
How can I leave a review?
Open the page of the pigment you bought and click Write a review in the Customer Reviews section. Thank you: your review helps other artists choose.
How can I contact you?
Email info@colibripigments.com, use our contact form, or write to us on Instagram @natural_pigments.