Comments about Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II Brushes:

Sceptre Gold is a great value and a well-constructed product. I use the flats for soft blends in oil painting and they work like a charm. I like the results better than what I was getting with the real sable flat brushes that I have. I am very glad to have discovered this brand!

Comments about Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II Brushes:

I bought several of these brushes looking for a cheaper alternative to full sable brushes, but I guess you get what you pay for.

I paint highly detailed oil paintings and these brushes performed so horribly that I didn't even bother to clean them and just threw them away.

The tips of the hairs on the flats look like they are cut off with a guillotine, and the filberts look like an underage monkey assembled them between snack breaks.

If you paint thick, and have no care how a stroke looks, or blends with another maybe you can use them, but for a few bucks more you get a decent brush like the Escoda Kolinsky Sable that outperforms these in every way.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II Brushes:

The brush, a size 12, round, was purchased from Blick on 12/15/2012. Since the last review, it has been used five more times, and it continues to loose three to five bristles with each use. This is disappointing, because I really like the brush. The brush has been used exclusively for watercolor.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II Brushes:

I have used this brush three times now and am impressed with it. It has just the right snap and holds a lot of water/paint. I especially like the way the brush delivers its load of paint; it is identical to a sable brush in this respect. One negative I have noticed is the loss of several bristles with each use. If this doesn't continue, this is a great brush; if it continues, it may be a real issue. My recommendation it tentative based on the the bristle loss.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II Brushes:

I bought about ten Sceptre Gold II brushes about four years ago, and I use them in every painting (oil paint, only) now mostly for blending and some finishing detail or glazing work. They're really an ideal blend because pure sable would have lost it's spring long ago. Granted, they are not nearly as responsive as they were four years ago, but still very usable. The rounds still come to a very sharp point, too. You can paint big or small with one #8 round. Tip: Always dry your brushes with the tips pointing down after washing in soap and warm water. (Rubber band them together and hang the band on your easel with the tips hanging down until dry.) This prevents the handle from swelling and cracking the enamel.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II Brushes:

I use these when I'm not using my Series 7 sable brushes - generally for sketching and mixed media works, or for acrylic. They're the best blend I've ever used, holding a better point, carrying more paint, and having better spring (not too stiff, not too soft) than any other synthetic or blend I've used. These and Series 7 are pretty much all I will use!

Comments about Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II Brushes:

Best sable-synthetic blend for watercolor that I've used. Good point on the designer rounds, easy to clean, variety of styles and sizes. Buying more!

Comments about Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II Brushes:

I have an entire set of these brushes and I really like them. I see very little difference in performance between them and my 100% sable brushes, although after several months of use some of the smaller sizes (0 -2) get a curl set in the tips. This is actually a bonus for some purposes, but not for others.

Comments about Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II Brushes:

Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold Brushes are the best Brushes for me. I like to use since since I was in the high school 1996. I will continue use these brushes to create more art. :D

Comments about Winsor & Newton Sceptre Gold II Brushes:

These are my favorite sable-blend brushes based on the overall level of quality you get. I've only used the rounds, but they come to a fine point, hold a lot of water, and are extremely versatile: I can do fine lines, fill in color, or anything else I want with these. I am very gentle with my brushes, so I can't comment on the durability of these.

Overall, these are good for anyone no matter their skill level. They work well for everything.