Match Golden Rule
Sherwin-Williams Golden Rule is a mid-tone shade, warm in character with an LRV of 34. The matches below are the closest equivalents available across every brand on Pontata, ranked by ΔE — a perceptual color difference score. A ΔE under 3 is subtle; under 10 is noticeable but harmonious; above 25 means genuinely different colors.
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Closest matches across every brand
One match per brand, ranked by ΔE — a perceptual color difference score calculated from Lab color space values. Lower is closer. Click any card to compare side by side in simulated rooms.
With LRVs of 34 and 34, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 1.0 you'd need them side by side to tell them apart.
With LRVs of 35 and 34, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 2.2 you'd need them side by side to tell them apart.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 34 vs 33), so neither reads brighter in a room. A ΔE of 2.7 means the difference barely reads in a finished room.
With LRVs of 34 and 34, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 2.8 you'd need them side by side to tell them apart.
RAL 290-1 reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 34), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms. At ΔE 3.8 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
Ceremonial Gold reads slightly lighter (LRV 39 vs 34), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms. At ΔE 5.2 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
India Yellow reads slightly lighter (LRV 37 vs 34), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms. At ΔE 7.9 they're clearly different, yet close enough to share a room.
A 11-point LRV gap (45 vs 34) makes Honey Drizzle 2 the marginally brighter of the two. The ΔE 9.4 gap is real but not dramatic — distinct as a choice, harmonious together.
A 10-point LRV gap (44 vs 34) makes Pastel yellow the marginally brighter of the two. A ΔE of 10.7 puts them firmly in different territory — a strong contrast if combined.
Golden Rule reflects far more light (LRV 34 vs 22), opening up a space where Middle Buff encloses it. At ΔE 11.7 these are two genuinely different directions, not variations on a theme.
A 3-point LRV gap (34 vs 31) makes Golden Rule the marginally brighter of the two. A ΔE of 11.9 puts them firmly in different territory — a strong contrast if combined.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 34 vs 33), so neither reads brighter in a room. A ΔE of 15.2 puts them firmly in different territory — a strong contrast if combined.
At LRV 34 vs 19, Golden Rule is decisively the brighter choice. A ΔE of 16.3 puts them firmly in different territory — a strong contrast if combined.
With LRVs of 37 and 34, the two reflect almost the same amount of light. At ΔE 18.1 these are two genuinely different directions, not variations on a theme.