Brass Balls vs Polished Gold

How close are they?

ΔE 13.7, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Polished Gold is noticeably darker, more muted, warmer than Brass Balls.

Can I use Polished Gold instead of Brass Balls?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 14). Polished Gold is noticeably darker, more muted, warmer than Brass Balls.

Can I use Brass Balls instead of Polished Gold?

The same difference applies the other way round: Brass Balls is noticeably lighter, more saturated, cooler.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.