Pearl Light Blue vs Sapphire Blue

How close are they?

ΔE 12.4, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Sapphire Blue is a little lighter, more saturated, cooler than Pearl Light Blue. They are different kinds of paint: Tamiya Pearl Light 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 Light Blue?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). Sapphire Blue is a little lighter, more saturated, cooler than Pearl Light Blue. They are different kinds of paint.

Can I use Pearl Light Blue instead of Sapphire Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Pearl Light Blue is a little darker, more muted, 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.