Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Historical Black |
| SKU | AF-680 |
| Hex | #3D3A36 |
| RGB | 61, 58, 54 |
| HSL | 34°, 6%, 23% |
| LRV | 5 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Black |
What Color Is Historical Black, Really?
Historical Black reads as a warm red-orange tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore AF-680 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Historical Black
Historical Black earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Near-blacks like this are best as contrast — doors, trim, cabinets, window frames.
How Lighting Changes Historical Black
At LRV 5, Historical Black is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its orange 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Historical Black are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
TEST IT IN YOUR LIGHT →Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Benjamin Moore AF-680 directly — but if you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches:
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Historical Black 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 #3D3A36 in HSL space. Pair Historical Black 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.
Will It Work in YOUR Room?
No page can promise how Historical Black behaves in your light. Upload a photo and see it on your own walls in seconds — before you spend a cent on samples.
TRY HISTORICAL BLACK ON YOUR ROOM →
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