Schmetz started color coding their needles at a year or so ago. I have lots of packages of the older non-coded needles but I keep them in their packages. You actually can read the size on the needle with a very very very good magnifier - honest - but it still doesn't help me. I've been using 70/10 and 75/11 Jeans, Sharps and Microtex needles - so much better than the universals and the smaller needle sizes really do sew much better.
Sandy in Mooresville, NC