Not sure how these colors are named internationally, but in Germany there are two black-metallic paints for Porsches. The first one is black-metallic (translated from German word by word) which was used on Porsche cars (Boxster and 996) until 2002.

With MY 2002, a new color, named "Basalt-Black metallic", was introduced (which on photos looks pretty much the same as the "old" black-metallic). However, I am pretty sure that there is a visual difference in real life between "Basalt-Black-Metallic" and the old "Black-Metallic".

Can anyone tell me which of these two colors is more "graphite"-like or which color is brighter? ...or in general what the main visual difference between those two Porsche colors is?

 

Basalt and Black Met. are distinctly different.
I purchased my car sight unseen and was told it was a black car . However when the car was being off loaded from the transport the sun reflected off the paint and the car looked more grey or graphite. The basalt is a true black with metallic highlight. The black metallic is a rare and unique color.. I hope Porshce brings it back for the 997 Turbo. I will definetaly go for that color again

 

Thanks for your answer HZ. So if I get you right: "Basalt-Black" = Deep Black with metallic effect and "Metallic-Black" = Dark Grey/Graphite metallic?

Funny thing is... I thought it was the other way around. But that's why I was asking. I was offered a "Metallic-Black" car and the owner told me that it really looks very black... and that you can only see the metallic particles when the car is exposed to full direct sunlight.

Does anyone have photos of a "metallic-black" or a "Basalt-black" car in direct sunlight?