The signature Tiffany Blue color has sparked debate for decades – is it more blue or more green? The robin’s egg blue is unmistakably associated with luxury jewelry brand Tiffany & Co., but its precise hue lies somewhere between blue and green on the color spectrum. In this article, we’ll examine the origins of Tiffany Blue, how it is defined, and make the case for whether it should be classified as blue or green.
The Origins of Tiffany Blue
The iconic color was established in 1837 when Charles Lewis Tiffany founded Tiffany & Co. in New York City. Some accounts say he chose the distinctive blue-green shade to honor the Lyceum of Natural History (now the New York Academy of Sciences), which used a similar color on its building. Others say Tiffany was inspired by the aquamarine gemstones he featured in his catalogues.
Whatever its origin, Tiffany Blue emerged as Tiffany & Co.’s signature color by the early 20th century. They used it extensively on their boxes, bags, catalogs, and in the decor of their Fifth Avenue store. In fact, in 1933 they even copyrighted the specific custom color they called “1837 Blue.”
Defining the Tiffany Blue Hue
So how exactly is the Tiffany color defined? In 1998, Pantone created a custom color standard called Pantone 1837, which matches the Tiffany Blue hue. Here are the color details:
| HEX Code | #0ABAB5 |
| RGB | R: 10, G: 186, B: 181 |
| CMYK | C: 94, M: 0, Y: 14, K: 27 |
| HSV | H: 192°, S: 95%, V: 73% |
As these specifications show, Tiffany Blue definitely leans more towards the green side of the color wheel. But with its high saturation, brightness, and more blue than yellow composition, it still reads as a blue to the human eye.
The Case for Tiffany Blue Being Blue
Despite its greenish tint, there are several reasons why Tiffany Blue is considered a blue rather than a green:
It has blue in the name – Tiffany Blue, not Tiffany Green. The brand itself defines it as a blue.
It evokes blue – When people look at the Tiffany boxes and bags, they perceive the color as a light blue rather than a green. It has a cool, calming feeling like many shades of blue.
It’s closer to blue hues – On the color wheel, Tiffany Blue lies between blue and green but is much closer to shades of blue like cyan and teal. Its hue angle of 192° puts it just on the blue side of the spectrum.
Blue overrides green – In color theory, blue is considered a dominant color while green is more recessive. When the two are combined, blue has more of a controlling influence on how we see the resulting color.
Market positioning – Tiffany has always marketed itself as a luxury jewelry retailer specializing in diamonds and blue gemstones like sapphires and aquamarines. The blue brand image is key.
So despite having more green than blue in its technical definition, Tiffany Blue reads as blue due to color dominance, its marketing, and the very name Tiffany Blue.
The Case for Tiffany Blue Being Green
On the other side of the debate, there are also reasons why the signature color could be classified as green:
It contains more green pigment – The RGB and CMYK color breakdowns show significantly more green pigment than blue. There’s nearly four times more green than blue.
It’s scientifically greenish – The specific hue angle of 192° on the color wheel places Tiffany Blue in the blue-green range, but closer to green. Anything above 180° starts shifting into green hues.
Context matters – When surrounded by true blues, Tiffany Blue looks much greener in comparison. Context influences our color perception.
Green is in the undertones – While we see the blue notes upfront, the subtle green undertones become more apparent on closer inspection. The color is clearly a blue-green blend.
Blue-green is considered a green – In color terminology, blue-green is classified as a type of green rather than a blue. Tiffany Blue fits squarely into the blue-green category.
So with its higher green pigment levels and position in the blue-green spectrum, there are valid reasons for identifying Tiffany Blue as a type of green.
Conclusion
In the end, whether Tiffany Blue is classified as a blue or a green likely comes down to individual perspective. The iconic color clearly has aspects of both – it’s a blue with strong green undertones. Branding plays a role as Tiffany uses its “Tiffany Blue” identity as a symbol of luxury. But technically there are good arguments on both sides of the debate. The next time you see the signature robin’s egg color, decide for yourself whether you think it’s more blue or green!