The main difference between Ruby and Garnet is hue — Ruby is a warm pink, while Garnet is a warm red. Ruby and Garnet are often confused but differ in brightness, saturation, and undertone. Ruby (#E0115F) and Garnet (#733635) each have distinct characteristics and best uses.
Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.
Ruby is more saturated (86% HSL vs 37%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Garnet can feel washed out when printed small.
Garnet hits a 9.10:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Ruby only reaches 4.76:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.
Ruby is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Garnet leans warmer and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.
Garnet is the more muted of the two (37% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Ruby's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.
Ruby (#E0115F) is a medium, vivid pink with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.
Garnet (#733635) is a dark, muted red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and subdued, sophisticated.
Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.
Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.