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Breakwater SW 9638
On-screen approximation from the published RGB value. Order a physical sample before you decide.
Undertone: Subtle blue-green undertone
In CIELAB, Breakwater sits at L* 68.3, a* -2.5, b* 0.3. Its hue angle is 173° and its chroma is 2.5, so it leans blue-green only slightly — the undertone mostly shows next to whiter or grayer colors. It classifies as cool. Among Sherwin-Williams colors with a similar LRV (±5), it is warmer (more yellow) than 23%.
LRV 38.3: mid-tone
Light Reflectance Value runs from 0 (absolute black) to 100 (perfect white). At 38.3, Breakwater is lighter than 48% of Sherwin-Williams colors. Reads clearly as a color. Best in rooms with good natural light, or as an accent wall; small dark rooms may feel smaller.
Closest Benjamin Moore match to Breakwater
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adagio | 1593 | 1.26 | Very close | |
| Slate | CW-700 | 1.31 | Very close | |
| Cobblestone Path | 1606 | 1.42 | Very close |
Closest Behr match to Breakwater
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Film | MQ5-30 | 1.39 | Very close | |
| Sharkskin | PPU25-04 | 1.95 | Very close | |
| Chain Reaction | PPU25-16 | 1.99 | Very close |
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gris | SW 7659 | 1.29 | Very close | |
| Castlegate | SW 9558 | 1.52 | Very close | |
| Network Gray | SW 7073 | 2.53 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Mineral Deposit | SW 7652 | 2.56 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Unusual Gray | SW 7059 | 2.58 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Uncertain Gray | SW 6234 | 2.82 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Lighter and darker versions
Colors from Sherwin-Williams with nearly the same hue and saturation, one step lighter or darker.
- Aqua-Sphere SW 7613 · lighter, LRV 41.2
- Eventide SW 9643 · lighter, LRV 41.4
- Morning Fog SW 6255 · lighter, LRV 41.6
- Stamped Concrete SW 7655 · darker, LRV 35.1
- Let it Rain SW 9152 · darker, LRV 34.3
- Debonair SW 9139 · darker, LRV 33.9
Colors that go with Breakwater
Breakwater is too close to neutral (chroma 2.5) for hue-based pairings to be meaningful; pair it with any color that shares its blue-green lean, and use a crisper white for trim.
Breakwater vs popular colors
- Oyster Bay (Sherwin-Williams SW 6206, ΔE 4.9) is lighter (LRV 44.1 vs 38.3), more yellow/warm, more green, more saturated.
- Coventry Gray (Benjamin Moore HC-169, ΔE 5.6) is lighter (LRV 48.2 vs 38.3), more yellow/warm, more red/pink.
- Dorian Gray (Sherwin-Williams SW 7017, ΔE 5.9) is about as light, more yellow/warm, more red/pink, more saturated.