How does Blue John by Edward Bulmer compare with Johnstone's’s closest paints? The nearest match by perceptual distance is Johnstone's Romantic Evening (ΔE 1.9, “near-identical”). 3 more Johnstone's colours sit within ΔE 4 — close enough that the difference is hard to spot once paint’s on the wall. Prices for these 5 Johnstone's paints range from £6.14 to £12.36 per litre, against Edward Bulmer Blue John at £26.40/L.
Edward Bulmer Blue John vs Johnstone's
5 closest Johnstone's matches ranked by ΔE
ΔE (CIEDE2000) is a perceptual distance metric — lower means a closer match. Matches under ΔE 2 are typically indistinguishable; ΔE 2–4 looks “the same” once dry on a wall; ΔE 4–6 is noticeable side-by-side. Always view a sample pot before committing — screen colours and lighting vary.
| Colour | Number | ΔE | Match quality | Price/L | Price/m2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romantic Evening | — | 1.9 | near-identical | £12.36 | £2.06 |
| Bramble Jelly | — | 3.2 | very close | £12.36 | £2.06 |
| Black Lily | — | 3.4 | very close | £12.36 | £2.06 |
| Chilled Wine | — | 3.6 | very close | £12.36 | £2.06 |
| Barolo | — | 4.0 | very close | £6.14 | £1.02 |