The purposes of this study were to evaluate the color differences those can exist between different brands of porcelain with identical shade designation, and to find their causes. For these purposes the following experiments were executed: The color of each opaque and layered porcelain specimen was determined by spectral reflectance measurements with a spectrophotometer. The compositions of each opaque porcelain powder were analyzed by qualitative, and quantitative analysis. Microscopic structures of each opaque porcelain were observed by scanning electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. Identical shade of different brands of porcelain produced significantly different colors. 2. Color differences among the three brands were found under different light sources. 3. Color differences among the three brands were mostly a result of differences in kinds and amounts of opacifying agents and fluxes and microstructure of porcelain systems. 4. When porcelain systems have similar compositions and firing cycles, they produced similar colors.