Black shoes that look dark brown in sunlight

[mdesq]

I'm pretty sure I've heard before that "black" is never really black and most times (all?) black colors are really just dark brown/green/etc.

I have a pair of 10+ year old black JM Aristocraft bals (made in USA) that I love and are still trucking along just fine. However, I've noticed several times that when I'm out in strong sunlight, from some angles they actually look really dark brown. I've used black creams, polishes, you name it. Nothing really changes it very much. It's not a big deal, but I wanted to ask around. Has anyone noticed something similar? I'm a musician so I have been found more than once outside comparing the black on my tux to my shoes and hoping no one noticed the difference.

(and yes, I'm aware of the slight rule I might be breaking wearing non-patent bals with the tux, but since I know the rule, I feel fine breaking it, plus they hold a great shine)

 

[Philip1978]

So they look brown eh? Sounds like an improvement over black.

 

[gnatty8]

Have you considered the possibility that these are actually dark brown shoes that just look black?

 

[mdesq]

I have considered that, but they are definitely supposed to be black (I bought them new as such, anyway) and they look absolutely jet black everywhere except direct sunlight. I've seen other "black" shoes that actually look dark green, but they tend to look blacker than mine do.
It's not really a problem, just weird.