Water blue vs RAL 720-6
Where Water blue belongs to RAL Classic's range, RAL 720-6 is a RAL Effect color. Both sit in the blue family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Water blue (LRV 16) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 720-6 (LRV 12), a difference of 4 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 6.1 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Water blue vs RAL 720-6 in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Water blue and RAL 720-6 are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Water blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Water blue vs RAL 720-6 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Water blue on one side and RAL 720-6 on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Water blue comparisons
See how Water blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 16, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 16), opening up a space where Water blue encloses it.
Water blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 16 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 16, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 16, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 16), opening up a space where Water blue encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 16, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 16), opening up a space where Water blue encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 16), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 16, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (16 vs 4) makes Water blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 16), opening up a space where Water blue encloses it.
With LRVs of 16 and 13, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 16), opening up a space where Water blue encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 16, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (21 vs 16) makes Artichoke the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 16), opening up a space where Water blue encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 16), opening up a space where Water blue encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 16), opening up a space where Water blue encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 16, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
Water blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 16 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Water blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 16 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 16), opening up a space where Water blue encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 16, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Water blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 16 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 16), opening up a space where Water blue encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 16, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.