Pantone Color of the Year 2013
The Pantone Color of the Year 2013 is Emerald (17-5641). Its HEX approximation is #009473. A vivid, jewel-toned green that brought a sense of elegance, growth, and renewal to design after years of warm tones.
About Emerald
A vivid, jewel-toned green that brought a sense of elegance, growth, and renewal to design after years of warm tones.
Pantone announced Emerald as its Color of the Year 2013 in December 2012, following the program's annual cadence. The announcement placed the shade within the broader cultural conversation of the year — from fashion and interiors to graphics and packaging — and was accompanied by coordinated product releases from partner brands who had pre-adopted the color. Like every Pantone Color of the Year, Emerald is a TCX reference (17-5641) rather than a Solid Coated (C) code, reflecting the program's textile-focused selection framework.
In practical design terms, Emerald translates to a screen HEX of #009473 and a CMYK print approximation of 100/0/22/42. The precise printed result depends on paper, ink, and proof conditions. For brand-critical work that references Emerald, the safest approach is to specify the 17-5641 TCX reference directly to your printer or textile supplier, and to verify with a printed proof on the target stock before committing to production.
Closest Solid Coated match
If you need to reproduce Emerald with a Solid Coated (C) reference, the closest match in our catalog is 334 C (#009775), with a perceptual difference of ΔE 2000 = 1.02. This is a very close match — suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pantone Color of the Year 2013?
The Pantone Color of the Year 2013 is Emerald (17-5641). Pantone announced it as the shade that its Color of the Year Committee believed would best reflect the cultural mood and design trends of 2013. Its HEX approximation is #009473.
What is the HEX code for Emerald?
Emerald is a Pantone TCX reference (17-5641), not a HEX color. Its closest screen approximation is #009473 in the sRGB color space, with RGB channels 0, 148, 115 and CMYK print approximation 100/0/22/42. These values are approximations and should not be treated as authoritative — the Pantone code is the actual specification.
What Pantone Solid Coated code is closest to Emerald?
The closest match in our Solid Coated catalog to Emerald (17-5641) is 334 C at #009775, with a perceptual difference of approximately ΔE 2000 = 1.02. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
How do I use Emerald in my design?
For digital design, use the HEX value #009473 — it will render correctly across browsers. For print design, specify the Pantone TCX reference 17-5641 to your printer, or convert to the closest Solid Coated (C) code (334 C). For textile and fashion applications, the TCX code itself is the standard — no conversion is necessary if your manufacturer works with Pantone textile references.