A real-time color comparator which performs color comparisons of sample objects to a reference color for the purpose of identification, sorting or matching. Two optical paths are positioned to collect the light from a reference object and a sample object and the light outputs from the two paths are directed onto a spherical dispersive element shown in the form of a concave diffraction grating that decomposes each light signal into its spectral constituents which are imaged on a dual photodetector array. The color signature from the reference and the color signature from the sample are compared.