Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | French Violet |
| SKU | 1427 |
| Hex | #696D86 |
| RGB | 105, 109, 134 |
| HSL | 232°, 12%, 47% |
| LRV | 18 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Benjamin Moore French Violet
With an LRV of 18, French Violet is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its blue undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
French Violet works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
12 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Clare
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to French Violet within Benjamin Moore's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #696D86 in HSL space. Pair French Violet with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Benjamin Moore French Violet Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching French Violet from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Benjamin Moore 1427 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of French Violet
At Behr, the closest color to French Violet is Plush Velvet (N100-5) — very close at ΔE 3.3, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Plush Velvet swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of French Violet
Valspar's nearest match is Shadow Mountain (8003-48E), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.9). It runs slightly darker (LRV 15 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for French Violet without repainting risk. See the full Shadow Mountain swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of French Violet
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of French Violet is Great Grape (PPG1169-6). At ΔE 0.68 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Great Grape and you'll get the same color. See the full Great Grape swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of French Violet
The closest Glidden equivalent of French Violet is Great Grape (PPG1169-6). At ΔE 0.91 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18). If Glidden is your counter, order Great Grape and you'll get the same color. See the full Great Grape swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of French Violet
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to French Violet is Intuition Iris (340-6DB) — very close at ΔE 2.95, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 15 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Intuition Iris swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of French Violet
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of French Violet. The nearest is Pitch Blue (NO. 220) at ΔE 4.03 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 15 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Pitch Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of French Violet
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of French Violet. The nearest is Grapes of Wrath (1284) at ΔE 3.57 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Grapes of Wrath swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of French Violet
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of French Violet. The nearest is Overlook (1319) at ΔE 4.43 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Overlook swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of French Violet
At C2 Paint, the closest color to French Violet is Mystery (C2-776) — very close at ΔE 2.68, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 15 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mystery swatch →
Clare Equivalent of French Violet
Clare has no exact twin of French Violet. The nearest is Blue'd Up (PNT100-MD-57) at ΔE 4.24 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 13 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blue'd Up swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of French Violet
Kompozit has no exact twin of French Violet. The nearest is Overlook (1319) at ΔE 4.43 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 15 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Overlook swatch →