781 — Topaz Very Dark
Browns family#A25F1F
Need details on DMC 781? This medium-dark, vivid brown shade (Topaz Very Dark) is hex #A25F1F, RGB 162, 95, 31. Cross-brand equivalents in Madeira, J&P Coates, and Sullivans are listed below — ranked by perceptual similarity — alongside 8 nearby DMC shades and color-theory harmony pairings.
About DMC 781
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 781
The five closest matches in each brand, ranked by CIEDE2000 perceptual color difference.
Anchor
Madeira
J&P Coates
Sullivans
Classic Colorworks
Weeks Dye Works
Gentle Art Sampler
Valdani
Crescent Colors
Closest match to DMC 781 in 67 more brands
The single nearest shade in every other palette we hold, from needlepoint silks and wools to fuse beads and yarn. Match quality is perceptual color distance: 93% and up is hard to tell apart, under 75% is a visible shift.
More stranded cotton
Hand-dyed & overdyed
Silk
Wool for needlepoint
Metallic, rayon & specialty
Other threads & beads
Fuse beads
Yarn for crochet & knitting
Need the runners-up, or a whole pattern converted? The thread conversion chart ranks every alternative for DMC 781 (Topaz Very Dark) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 781
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 781
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground.
Its nearest neighbor, DMC 782 (Topaz dark (781)), is barely a step away (ΔE 2.9). Tweed the two together for subtle shading, or substitute freely when one is out of stock.
DMC 781 in other DMC lines
DMC reuses base numbers across its specialty lines, so the same shade can exist as a satin, a metallic, or a sparkle floss under a prefixed code. Here is where Topaz Very Dark turns up.
DMC 781 is a Mouliné Spécial-only number: there is no Satin, Light Effects, or Étoile version of this shade. For a sheen or sparkle in the same tone, blend one strand of the nearest metallic with two strands of DMC 781.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D781. A kit legend or drill bag marked 781 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 781
DMC threads that pair well with 781, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Browns Family
DMC781 in context with nearby shades from the browns color family.
About DMC 781
Topaz Very Dark (catalog code DMC 781) is a medium-dark, vivid shade from the browns family with earthy sienna tones. With a strong and rich quality, this thread works beautifully in earth tones and animal fur. You will find this color at home in patterns featuring warm outlines and wooden textures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color is DMC 781?
DMC 781 is called Topaz Very Dark. It's a medium-dark brown shade (hex #A25F1F, RGB 162, 95, 31) in the browns family, commonly used for horse designs, cinnamon motifs, and similar motifs.
What's the closest Anchor match for DMC 781?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 781 (Topaz Very Dark) is Anchor 365 (Golden Brown Medium) with a 67% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 375 (Hazelnut Brown Medium, 66%) and Anchor 309 (Topaz Medium Dark, 64%).
What's a good substitute for DMC 781?
The closest DMC threads to 781 are 782 Topaz dark (781) (ΔE 2.9), 435 Brown very light (ΔE 4.31), and 3829 Old Gold very dark (ΔE 4.8). These are useful substitutes when 781 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What projects use DMC 781?
Cross-stitchers pull DMC 781 (Topaz Very Dark) for charts featuring horse designs, cinnamon motifs, bark patterns, gingerbread themes. The medium-dark tone reads cleanly on its own and slots into multi-color palettes — see the color harmonies below for pairing ideas.
What fabric color works best with DMC 781 (Topaz Very Dark)?
It stands out clearly on both white and dark fabric, so it is an easy, versatile choice for any ground. For reference, 781 has a contrast ratio of about 5:1 on white fabric and 4.2:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.
Is there a metallic or satin version of DMC 781?
No. DMC 781 (Topaz Very Dark) exists only as Mouliné Spécial six-strand cotton — there is no Satin, Light Effects, or Étoile code for it. For a matching shine, blend one strand of the nearest Light Effects color with two strands of the cotton.
What is the diamond painting drill code for DMC 781?
Diamond Dotz D781 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 781 is this color regardless of drill brand — though each manufacturer dyes to the reference in its own batches, so avoid mixing brands inside one large block.
Which other thread brands come closest to DMC 781?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Waverly Wool 4051 Waverly Wool (95%), PNK Kirov 0607 (93%), Soie d'Alger 2246 Feuilles Mortes (92%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.