RAL 830-2 vs Breakwater
RAL 830-2 (RAL Effect) and Breakwater (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 38 vs 38 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. A ΔE of 1.1 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 830-2 vs Breakwater in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. RAL 830-2 and Breakwater 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.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
Color Details
RAL 830-2 vs Breakwater Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 830-2 on one side and Breakwater 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 RAL 830-2 comparisons
See how RAL 830-2 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 830-2 encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 38, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (38 vs 30) makes RAL 830-2 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 38, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 830-2 encloses it.
RAL 830-2 reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 5-point LRV gap (43 vs 38) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 830-2 encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 38), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 38, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 830-2 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 830-2 encloses it.
RAL 830-2 reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 38), opening up a space where RAL 830-2 encloses it.
RAL 830-2 reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 38), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (38 vs 31) makes RAL 830-2 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 38 vs 7, RAL 830-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 38 vs 24, RAL 830-2 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 38, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.