Pearl Blue vs Sapphire Blue

Pearl Blue

Brand
Tamiya
Range
TS Spray
Code
TS-89
Type
a pearl paint
Swatch
#024691 (estimate)

Sapphire Blue

Brand
Vallejo
Range
True Metallic Metal
Code
77.151 Shade
Type
a metallic
Swatch
#014174 (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 15.7, loose: different enough that you should pick on purpose. Sapphire Blue is a little darker, much more muted, cooler than Pearl Blue. They are different kinds of paint: Tamiya Pearl Blue is a pearl paint and Vallejo Sapphire Blue is a metallic, so they won’t behave the same on the model even where the colour is close.

Can I use Sapphire Blue instead of Pearl Blue?

Not as a straight swap; see the closer alternatives below. Loose match (ΔE 16). Sapphire Blue is a little darker, much more muted, cooler than Pearl Blue. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Pearl Blue instead of Sapphire Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Pearl Blue is a little lighter, much more saturated, warmer.

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.

See Pearl Blue on the colour wheel See Sapphire Blue on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to Pearl Blue

Other Tamiya paints close to Sapphire Blue

All matches: Pearl Blue equivalents · Sapphire Blue equivalents

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