# #686a73

A color — neutral, minimal. Deterministic analysis from BrandSweets (no inference).

## Values

- Hex: `#686a73`
- RGB: rgb(104, 106, 115)
- HSL: hsl(229, 5%, 43%)
- OKLCH: oklch(0.526 0.014 275.9)
- Relative luminance: 0.1449
- Nearest named color: Alley Cat (#656874, Δ 0.838) — https://brandsweets.com/colors/alley-cat
- Moods: neutral, minimal
- Page: https://brandsweets.com/colors/686a73

## Tints & shades

- Tints (toward white): #777983, #848690, #94969e, #a1a3aa, #b1b3b9, #bfc0c5, #cfd0d3, #dcdde0, #ecedee, #fafafa
- Shades (toward black): #5e6068, #55565e, #4b4d53, #414348, #3a3b40, #303136, #27282b, #1d1e20, #131415, #0a0a0b

## Harmonies

- Complementary: #737168
- Analogous: #687073, #6c6873
- Triadic: #73686a, #6a7368
- Split-complementary: #736c68, #707368
- Tetradic: #736870, #737168, #68736c

## Colors that go with #686a73

Named partners (harmony on the OKLCH wheel, co-occurrence in curated palettes and brand systems, and the neutrals that carry it), best first:

- **Charcoal** #36454f [role, pool] — Charcoal is the text near-black that reads cleanly against #686a73 without the hard edge of pure #000. Seen in: Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus), Gusto (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/gusto-com), Harbour (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#harbour), Stanley (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/stanley1913-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/charcoal
- **Champagne** #f7e7ce [pool] — 7 real palettes, including BrandSweets's brand system and Coffee Bar put Champagne beside #686a73. Seen in: BrandSweets (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/brandsweets), Coffee Bar (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#coffee-bar), Forest Floor (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#forest-floor), Woodsmoke (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#woodsmoke). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/champagne
- **Copper** #b87333 [pool] — Designers have shipped Copper with #686a73: 8 real palettes, including Riverbed and Clay & Linen, as the accent. Seen in: Riverbed (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/muted#riverbed), Clay & Linen (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#clay-and-linen), Dusk (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#dusk), Desert Road (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#desert-road). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/copper
- **Crimson** #dc143c [pool] — Crimson is paired with #686a73 in 7 real palettes, including Retro Pop and Gemstone, as the lead colour. Seen in: Retro Pop (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/playful#retro-pop), Gemstone (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/vivid#gemstone), Redfin (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/redfin-com), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/crimson
- **Denim** #1560bd [pool] — Designers have shipped Denim with #686a73: 10 real palettes, including Campus and The New York Times's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Campus (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/friendly#campus), The New York Times (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/nytimes-com), HP (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/hp-com), Discover (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/discover-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/denim
- **Firebrick** #b22222 [pool] — Designers have shipped Firebrick with #686a73: 5 real palettes, including Newsprint and Wendy's's brand system, as the lead colour. Seen in: Newsprint (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/editorial#newsprint), Wendy's (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/wendys-com), Fireside (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#fireside), Honda (https://brandsweets.com/colors/brands/honda-com). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/firebrick
- **Goldenrod** #daa520 [pool] — Goldenrod shows up next to #686a73 in 7 real palettes, including Mid-Century and Open House, as the accent. Seen in: Mid-Century (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#mid-century), Open House (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/clean#open-house), Sapphire & Gold (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/luxury#sapphire-and-gold), Harvest (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/warm#harvest). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/goldenrod
- **Medium Sea Green** #3cb371 [pool] — Medium Sea Green is paired with #686a73 in 4 real palettes, including Indigo SaaS and Undergrowth, as the accent. Seen in: Indigo SaaS (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/modern#indigo-saas), Undergrowth (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/dark#undergrowth), Fintech Trust (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/cool#fintech-trust), Console Light (https://brandsweets.com/palettes/technical#console-light). — https://brandsweets.com/colors/mediumseagreen

## Contrast (WCAG 2.x, as text)

- On white (#ffffff): 5.39:1 — AA pass, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AAA: text → #55565e (7.29:1)
- On black (#000000): 3.9:1 — AA fail, AA-large pass, AAA fail. Fix: AA: text → #72747e (4.51:1); AA: background → #ebebeb (4.52:1); AAA: text → #94969e (7.12:1)

## Curated palettes containing it

- **Ink & Paper** (minimal, editorial, clean) — #1b1b1b, #6e6e6e, #1e40af, #fcfbf7 — Two greys and one ink-blue link color: the palette of a well-set book page. — tool: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/1b1b1b-6e6e6e-1e40af-fcfbf7 — collection: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/minimal

## Fonts for this mood

- neutral: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/neutral
- minimal: https://brandsweets.com/fonts/mood/minimal

## Palette tool

Open this color locked as the lead with four explored companions: https://brandsweets.com/palettes/new/686a73-a2beb0-c859d4-1f2d2b-eaf1e9?lock=0&style=vibrant
(Humans lock/regenerate in the tool; the URL is the state — read `lock=` back to see what they kept.)

## Connect an agent

Point any MCP client at the BrandSweets colors endpoint for the same engine:

- Endpoint: https://mcp.brandsweets.com/colors/mcp
- Tools: `analyze_color` (e.g. `analyze_color({ color: "#686a73" })`), `check_contrast` (with fixes), `generate_palette` (explore around locks), `suggest_palette` (mood/industry → curated-first), `list_palettes`.