Cobalt Blue (RAL 5013)

RAL cobalt blue, a deep, intense dark cobalt blue

HEX#232C55

RGBrgb(35, 44, 85)

HSLhsl(229, 42%, 24%)

HSVhsv(229, 59%, 33%)

CMYKcmyk(59%, 48%, 0%, 67%)

HEXA#232C55FF

RGBArgba(35, 44, 85, 1)

HSLAhsla(229, 42%, 24%, 1)

OKLCHoklch(56.3%, 0.065, 272)

LCHlch(49.1%, 27.4, 272)

🎨 Color Palettes

Analogous2-3 adjacent hues (≤60°)

Triadic3 hues spaced 120° apart

Split ComplementaryMain color + colors adjacent to its complement

Complementary2 hues spaced 180° apart

Tetradic (Rectangle)4 hues forming a rectangle

MonochromaticSingle hue with varying saturation and lightness

♿ WCAG Contrast Colors

Learn More →

Aa14px Body

High Contrast Text

#AFB8DERatio 6.9:1AA

Suitable for body text, headings, and primary content, ensuring readability for all users

Aa14px Body

Standard Text

#9E88CERatio 4.4:1AA Large

Suitable for regular body content, meeting WCAG AA standards

Aa14px Body

Large Text / UI Components

#A755B9Ratio 3:1AA Large

Suitable for large text (≥18px bold or ≥24px), icons, UI component boundaries

Aa14px Body

Decorative / Dividers

#983E4FRatio 2:1Fail

Suitable for decorative elements, dividers, non-essential text

📊 Color Scales

Online Color Picker → Gradient Generator →

Lightness VariationFixed hue and saturation, proportional lightness scaling 30%→100%

#0A0D19

#0F1324

#13182F

#181E3A

#1B2241

#1F274C

#232D57

Saturation VariationFixed hue and lightness, proportional saturation scaling 40%→100%

#333748

#30354A

#2E344D

#2B324F

#283052

#262E54

#232D57

Lightness + Saturation Mixed VariationSimultaneous lightness and saturation proportional scaling

#101014

#15171E

#1A1D28

#1E2234

#1F253D

#222949

#232D57

Hue Fine-TuningFixed saturation and lightness, stepwise hue fine-tuning ±15°

#233A57

#233557

#233157

#232D57

#232957

#232457

#272357

💡 Use Cases

🚇

Rail Transport

Fiberglass interiors of Berlin U-Bahn cars—withstanding graffiti removers and carrying Cold War spy-film memories.

👔

Purple Label Tailoring

Custom suit linings from Ralph Lauren Purple Label—dark cobalt silk jacquard, subtly暗示 club membership.

🛢️

Petrochemical Storage

Giant crude oil floating roof tanks in the Persian Gulf—cobalt blue polyurethane coatings resisting decades of desert sun.

📖

Legal Classics

Cloth spines of the German Civil Code and EU constitutional treaties—dark cobalt representing the profound jurisprudence behind the text.

📜 Origin & History

RAL 5013 Cobalt Blue traces its roots to the 18th-century chemical synthesis of cobalt aluminate spinel. Before RAL standardization, artists used hand-ground cobalt pigments—the birth of RAL 5013 marked a milestone in the transition from artist-grade pigment to heavy industrial coating.

Against the backdrop of Germany's division, this stable dark blue was the interior trim color for Berlin subway and suburban railway cars. Warmer than pure black yet effectively hiding graffiti and wear from heavy use in public facilities.

Thanks to cobalt-based pigments' excellent UV resistance and heat stability, RAL 5013 is widely used for high-temperature industrial equipment and outdoor storage tanks. On desert oil rigs, this blue-black coating remains firmly adhered through extreme day-night temperature swings.

In fashion, cobalt blue aligns perfectly with Ivy League academic aesthetics. Ralph Lauren's Purple Label frequently features this dark cobalt on cashmere sweaters and flannel trousers. Steady, traditional, and old-guard elite—a sartorial key to the upper club.

🧠 Color Psychology

ProfoundPossessing bottomless spiritual depth—like gazing into an ancient well, each layer of history becoming a deeper blue sediment in the dark.

EliteDeeply tied to Ivy League institutions and old money—a cultured family honor that flows in the blood without need for self-assertion.

DurableExtremely chemically stable—resisting acid rain and time—the psychological visualization of heirloom legacy and century-old foundations.

MeditativeThe deep blue turning attention inward—like a sensory deprivation tank, creating extreme conditions for philosophical reflection.

StubbornA conservative color clinging to tradition—resisting pop culture and algorithmic tides, maintaining old-world stubbornness and dignity.

UndercurrentTurbulent thoughts churning beneath the calm deep blue—suppressed by good breeding and etiquette just below the surface.

← Back to Explore Colors