Home › Benjamin Moore › Blue › Athens Blue
Athens Blue 797
On-screen approximation from the published RGB value. Order a physical sample before you decide.
Undertone: Saturated blue (a color, not a neutral)
In CIELAB, Athens Blue sits at L* 47.6, a* -0.2, b* -35.3. Its hue angle is 270° and its chroma is 35.3, so it reads as an outright blue rather than a neutral. It classifies as cool. Among Benjamin Moore colors with a similar LRV (±5), it is warmer (more yellow) than 1%.
LRV 18.7: dark
Light Reflectance Value runs from 0 (absolute black) to 100 (perfect white). At 18.7, Athens Blue is lighter than 19% of Benjamin Moore colors. Absorbs most light. Good for accent walls, cabinets, doors and exteriors; needs good lighting indoors.
Closest Sherwin-Williams match to Athens Blue
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire | SW 6963 | 2.61 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Lupine | SW 6810 | 3.03 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Blue Chip | SW 6959 | 5.05 | Similar, clearly different |
Closest Behr match to Athens Blue
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color. Behr does not publish LRV, so Behr values here are estimates.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Blue | P520-6 | 2.01 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Wide Sky | T18-17 | 2.67 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Croquet Blue | HDC-SM16-07 | 3.06 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Blues | 804 | 2.54 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Nile Blue | CSP-560 | 3.65 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Old Glory | 811 | 4.45 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Blue Macaw | 784 | 4.65 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Paddington Blue | 791 | 4.94 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Big Country Blue | 2066-30 | 5.49 | Similar, clearly different |
Lighter and darker versions
Colors from Benjamin Moore with nearly the same hue and saturation, one step lighter or darker.
- Waterdrop CC-902 · lighter, LRV 21.5
- Finley Blue CW-620 · lighter, LRV 22.3
- Watertown 818 · lighter, LRV 22.6
- Seaport Blue 2060-30 · darker, LRV 16.1
- Old Glory 811 · darker, LRV 15.9
- Paddington Blue 791 · darker, LRV 16.0
Colors that go with Athens Blue
Color-theory pairings — the nearest Benjamin Moore color to each rotated hue, keeping the same lightness and saturation:
- Foot Hills 2148-10 · complementary (180°)
- Americana 770 · analogous (−30°)
- Seduction 1399 · analogous (+30°)
- Warm Sienna 1203 · triadic (120°)
- Irish Moss 2036-20 · triadic (240°)
Athens Blue vs popular colors
- Van Deusen Blue (Benjamin Moore HC-156, ΔE 12.8) is darker (LRV 12.0 vs 18.7), more yellow/warm, more green, more muted.
- Gentleman's Gray (Benjamin Moore 2062-20, ΔE 18.9) is darker (LRV 7.3 vs 18.7), more yellow/warm, more green, more muted.
- Hale Navy (Benjamin Moore HC-154, ΔE 19.6) is darker (LRV 8.4 vs 18.7), more yellow/warm, more muted.