RAL 680-1 vs Open Seas
Where RAL 680-1 belongs to RAL Effect's range, Open Seas is a Sherwin-Williams color. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. Open Seas (LRV 39) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 680-1 (LRV 33), a difference of 6 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. The ΔE 4.4 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 680-1 vs Open Seas in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. RAL 680-1 and Open Seas are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Open Seas reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
RAL 680-1 vs Open Seas Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 680-1 on one side and Open Seas 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 RAL 680-1 comparisons
See how RAL 680-1 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 680-1 encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 33, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 33 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 60 vs 33, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 680-1 encloses it.
RAL 680-1 reads slightly lighter (LRV 33 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 10-point LRV gap (43 vs 33) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 680-1 encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 33), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 33, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 680-1 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 680-1 encloses it.
RAL 680-1 reflects far more light (LRV 33 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
RAL 680-1 reflects far more light (LRV 33 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 680-1 encloses it.
RAL 680-1 reflects far more light (LRV 33 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 680-1 encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 33 vs 31), so neither reads brighter in a room.