Navy Blue, Royal blue and cobalt blue are among the popular shades of color blue. Blue being one among the three primary colors, has been a favorite color of millions of people especially women around the world. This can be attributed to the fact that, color blue is the color of the skies and oceans and thus it is can have a calming (soothing) and peaceful effect. From its use in ancient civilization to modern day discoveries, pigment of color blue has enticed artists and designers all over the world.
Due to its image of luxury, color blue is a symbol of class and elegance in fashion. Typically, medium and dark shades of blue are associated with intelligence, stability, unity and conservatism. Color blue was developed as the power suit in the corporate world and used as uniforms of many authoritative figures.
When it comes to color psychology, the color blue can be associated with a number of things. First it can be associated with reliability and trust which is the reason it is used in many business logos. Secondly it can be associated with sadness. A common well known catch phrase in this regard is ‘’Feeling blue’’ which describes a feeling of depression or sadness.
Royal Blue
Royal blue is a deep shade of blue that is sometimes associated with tinges of slight red or purple. Royal blue is a shade that has high intensity and brightness and it is not serene or calming like sky blue shade. Royal blue has historical association with United Kingdom. Its name goes all way back to the early eighteen hundreds. The ‘royal’ part was associated with the royalty of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg. During the Elizabethan reign in England, only royals were allowed to wear royal blue color. Royal blue was created for a competition to make a dress for Queen Charlotte and the designer created this specific blue tone by using very expensive pigments from Spain. Today, the color royal blue is featured on the United Kingdom’s flag, known as the Union Jack. Royal blue has a hexadecimal color code #002366.
There are also two version of royal blue, that is, queen blue and imperial blue. Queen blue being a medium shade of royal blue, it is a version of royal blue which is not very much popular. Imperial blue on the other hand is darker and closer to navy blue. Similarly, imperial blue is not a very much popular shade of royal blue.
Royal blue is a good color to use for making noticeable or eye catching outfits and objects. In this regard, it is used as a typical color in business logos, school uniforms etc. It is also a popular color choice among formal attires such as suits and dresses. When it comes to color combinations, royal blue matches (complements) perfectly with orange or neutral color such as gray and ivory.
Navy Blue
Navy blue is a dark shade of blue that is almost similar to color black. The term Navy blue was used as early as 1813 in reference to the color of the officer uniforms of the British Royal Navy that have had a dark blue color since 1748. The uniforms proved so popular that the color was eventually adopted by navies around the world. Navy blue has also become a common color for fabrics, products and art supplies.
Beyond black and white, Navy blue is quite a versatile color that you can add to your closet. It is a foolproof classic on its own pairing wonderfully with different shades and tints of green, oranges, reds, yellows and even purples. The navy blue has a hexadecimal code #000080.
Cobalt Blue
Cobalt blue is a shade of color blue that is medium and bright. It is very bright and is used in ceramics and glassware. The name of this shade is derived from cobalt, a metal that has bluish gray color. It is when this metal is mixed with aluminum oxide that a shade of blue color is produced that is called cobalt blue. It is a shade that is cool and calm and appears rich. When you hear the word cobalt blue then think about a color shade that is deeper than sky blue but lighter than royal blue. Cobalt blue has a hexadecimal color code #445686.
Also Read: Difference Between Maroon And Burgundy
Difference Between Royal Blue, Navy Blue & Cobalt Blue In Tabular Form
| BASIS OF COMPARISON | ROYAL BLUE | NAVY BLUE | COBALT BLUE |
| Description | Royal blue is a deep shade of blue that is sometimes associated with tinges of slight red or purple. | Navy blue is a dark shade of blue that is almost similar to color black. | Cobalt blue is a shade of color blue that is medium and bright. |
| Association | Royal blue has been associated with imperialist and Royal families since centuries. | Navy blue has been associated with military authorities such as Navy for centuries. | Cobalt blue has been a default color for many businesses for a very long time. |
| Symbolizes | Royalty, excellence, fidelity and honesty. | Authority, official, confidence, duty. | Reliability and trust |
| Hexadecimal Code | Royal blue has a hexadecimal code #000080. | The navy blue has a hexadecimal code #000080. | Cobalt blue has a hexadecimal color code #445686. |
| Brightness | High intensity. | Low intensity. | Medium intensity. |
| Psychological Effect | Calming effect/influence. | Authoritative And Commanding Influence. | Serene And Calming Effect. |
| Popularity | Common around the world. | Common in majority of international navies. | Common around the world. |
| Use | Royal blue is used in royal interiors. Royal blue is also a common choice for restaurant logos, interiors and menus. | Used in office and common household interiors and furnishing. Navy blue is a popular color for sheets and pillows. Navy blue is also among the many different color of robes worn by traditional leaders and monks in Africa. | It is a popular color choice among formal attires such as suits, school uniforms, dresses and television graphics. It is used more often in glassware and ceramics. |
| Combination | Royal blue is often paired with purple, grey, gold, white, red or green colors. | Navy blue pairs wonderfully with different shades and tints of green, oranges, reds, yellows and even purples. | Cobalt blue is commonly paired with white, purple, maroon and burgundy colors. |
Also Read: Teal Vs Turquoise Vs Aqua Vs Mint
Summary
- Cobalt blue is darker than sky blue shade and is used more often in glassware and ceramics.
- Navy blue is the darkest of the three shades while cobalt is the lightest.
- Royal blue has the highest intensity of these three shades of blue.
- Royal blue symbolizes honesty, loyalty and excellence.
- Navy blue symbolizes authority, firmness and confidence.
- Cobalt blue symbolizes Reliability and trust.
- Royal blue has been associated with imperialist and Royal families since centuries.
- Navy blue has been associated with military authorities such as Navy for centuries.
- Cobalt blue has been a default color for many businesses for a very long time.