Alexandrite vs Iron Ore
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Alexandrite reads as green, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 22 vs 6, Alexandrite will read as the brighter of the two — a 17-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Alexandrite's cool character against Iron Ore's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 34.7, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Alexandrite vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Alexandrite and Iron Ore in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Alexandrite will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Alexandrite will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Front Door
Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Alexandrite returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Alexandrite will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Color Details
Alexandrite vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Alexandrite on one side and Iron Ore 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 Alexandrite comparisons
See how Alexandrite stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 22, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 22, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (30 vs 22) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 22, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 22), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 22, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 22 vs 4, Alexandrite is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
Alexandrite reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 22, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 22 vs 21), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
Alexandrite reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 22, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 22, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 25 vs 22), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Alexandrite reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 22), opening up a space where Alexandrite encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (31 vs 22) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 22 vs 7, Alexandrite is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 24 vs 22), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 57 vs 22, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 22, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.