823 — Navy Blue dark
Blues family#20233A
Looking up DMC 823? It's Navy Blue dark, a dark blue shade (#20233A / RGB 32, 35, 58). Scroll down for Cosmo, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works equivalents ranked by visual similarity, plus 8 close DMC alternatives and curated color harmonies.
About DMC 823
DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss (Mouliné Spécial)
- Also sold as
- Blueberry
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Strands
- 6 strands
- Sold as
- 8 m skein
Brand Equivalents for DMC 823
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 823 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 823 (Navy Blue dark) in any brand.
Similar DMC Colors to 823
Closest DMC threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.
Working with DMC 823
It pops on white and light fabric but nearly disappears on black, so pair it with a light or neutral ground.
DMC 823 (Navy Blue dark) is dark enough to define edges: stitchers reach for shades like it when a design needs crisp backstitch outlines or readable text.
DMC 823 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 Navy Blue dark turns up.
Diamond painting: the same number is sold as a drill — Diamond Dotz D823, Diamond Drills USA DMC823. A kit legend or drill bag marked 823 means this color. See the diamond painting DMC chart for every code with drill availability.
Color Harmonies for DMC 823
DMC threads that pair well with 823, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.
Blues Family
DMC823 in context with nearby shades from the blues color family.
About DMC 823
Meet DMC 823, Navy Blue dark — a muted, dark thread in the blues family with true blue tones. The shade reads as dramatic and quiet — a go-to choice for forget-me-nots and bluebird motifs. It also turns up in patterns built around whale designs and sapphire accents.
Frequently Asked Questions
DMC 823 — what color is it?
The color of DMC 823 is Navy Blue dark — a dark blue thread (hex #20233A, RGB 32, 35, 58). It shows up most in water and denim textures.
What is the Anchor equivalent of DMC 823?
The closest Anchor match for DMC 823 (Navy Blue dark) is Anchor 150 (Navy Blue Dark) with a 81% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include Anchor 127 (Navy Blue Very Dark, 76%) and Anchor 152 (Navy Blue Ultra Very Dark, 67%).
Which DMC threads are close to 823?
The closest DMC threads to 823 are 939 Navy Blue very dark (ΔE 3.58), 336 Navy Blue (ΔE 5.45), and 311 Navy Blue medium (ΔE 6.26). These are useful substitutes when 823 is unavailable or for building gradients.
What is DMC 823 good for?
DMC 823 (Navy Blue dark) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring water, denim textures, cool-toned backgrounds, nautical themes. Its dark tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 823.
Is DMC 823 (Navy Blue dark) good for backstitching and outlines?
It's an excellent outline color. The depth of 823 defines edges and text cleanly where lighter threads would disappear into the fill; one strand is usually enough for backstitch.
Does DMC 823 come in a satin, metallic, or Étoile version?
Yes. The same number is made as DMC Étoile C823. The base shade is matched across the lines, but the fiber changes the look: Satin is a high-sheen rayon, Light Effects is a metallic polyester most people blend one strand at a time, and Étoile is cotton with a sparkle filament that stitches like ordinary floss.
What is the diamond painting drill code for DMC 823?
Diamond Dotz D823 and Diamond Drills USA DMC823 carry the same number. Diamond painting adopted DMC's numbering, so a kit legend or drill bag marked 823 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 823?
Outside the main floss brands, the nearest shades we hold are Kimono Silk 331 Samuri (100%), Soie d'Alger 1416 Bleuet (95%), The Gentle Art Simply Wool 7021 Black Raspberry Jam (93%). Percentages are perceptual color distance between the two swatches; anything above about 93% is hard to tell apart on fabric.