RAL 5010

The German pop singer Heino knew in 1972 exactly what the RAL 5010 colour tone looks like as he sang “Blue blooms the gentian”. Yet it is not because of the “alpenglow”, as described in the song, that the gentian plant (in Germany mainly at home in the Alps) shines in this shade of blue. It is also so in normal light. The number 5010 is registered as “Gentian blue” in the list of RAL colours and describes a dark blue tone. From 1955 to 1962 it was the official Lufthansa corporate colour and adorned the entire fleet of the airline. Incidentally, the hue “Gentian blue” is similar to the familiar “Signal blue”, which is known from numerous mandatory signs, e.g. at the workplace.