Primary Red vs Zircon
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Primary Red belongs to the pink-red family and Zircon to the grey family. Zircon (LRV 59) reflects noticeably more light than Primary Red (LRV 9), a difference of 50 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Primary Red runs warm while Zircon is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 89.3, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Primary Red vs Zircon Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Primary Red on one side and Zircon 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 Primary Red comparisons
See how Primary Red stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 9), opening up a space where Primary Red encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 9, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (9 vs 6) makes Primary Red the marginally brighter of the two.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 9), opening up a space where Primary Red encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 9), opening up a space where Primary Red encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 9, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 9), opening up a space where Primary Red encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 9, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 9, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 9), opening up a space where Primary Red encloses it.
Primary Red reads slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 9, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (13 vs 9) makes Bancha the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 44 vs 9, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 9), opening up a space where Primary Red encloses it.
Artichoke reflects far more light (LRV 21 vs 9), opening up a space where Primary Red encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 9, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 9, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 9, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 9), opening up a space where Primary Red encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (12 vs 9) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 9 vs 8), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 68 vs 9, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 9), opening up a space where Primary Red encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (12 vs 9) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 9, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 9), opening up a space where Primary Red encloses it.