Turquoise and teal are two colors that are often used interchangeably or confused for one another. Both colors fall into the blue-green color spectrum but have some distinct differences. In this article, we’ll examine the definitions of turquoise and teal, look at their origins and history, compare their color properties, and determine whether turquoise and teal are the same color or two separate colors. Understanding the nuances between these two shades can be helpful for artists, designers, decorators, and anyone looking to accurately identify or describe colors.
Defining Turquoise
The first step is to define what exactly is meant by the color turquoise. Turquoise is a slightly greenish blue color. The name comes from the gemstone turquoise, which has been mined since ancient times and traditionally has a blueish-green color.
Some key facts about turquoise:
- It is considered one of the oldest known gemstones, dating back thousands of years.
- The color was originally named after the gemstone because the gem’s color was used as a reference point.
- Turquoise gemstones are formed by copper minerals like cucurbitacin and phosphate.
- Turquoise gemstones are mined in places like Iran, Afghanistan, Australia, Southwestern United States.
- Turquoise gets its signature bluish-green color from traces of copper and iron.
- Pantone, which is the authority on commercial color reproduction, defines Pantone 13-5417 as the turquoise color standard.
So in summary, turquoise refers to a bluish green color similar to the color of the gemstone. The turquoise gemstone provides the color reference point for anything described as turquoise.
Defining Teal
Now let’s examine the definition of the color teal. Teal is also considered a blue-green color, similar to turquoise. But it has some distinct characteristics.
Some key facts about teal:
- The name comes from the common teal bird which has greenish-blue feathers.
- So teal was originally named after the color of the teal bird’s plumage.
- Teal is considered to be a darker, duller shade of cyan.
- Cyan is one of the primary colors in the CMYK color model used for printing.
- Teal gets its color from having more blue rather than green in its hue.
- The standard color for teal is Pantone 3242.
In summary, teal is a bluish green that takes its name from the teal bird. It is darker and contains more blue than standard cyan. When compared to turquoise, teal differs in that it does not come directly from a gemstone reference point.
Origins and History of Turquoise and Teal
Understanding the origins and history of turquoise and teal gives more insights into how they developed into distinct colors.
Turquoise Origins
As mentioned earlier, turquoise was named after the turquoise gemstone that was mined in places like Iran, Afghanistan, and the Sinai Peninsula. This gemstone was first used in jewelry and ornamental objects dating back to the First Dynasty of Egypt around 3000 BCE. The signature blue-green color made it stand out and gain popularity.
The name turquoise did not come until the 17th century, derived from the French word for Turkish, “Turquie”, since Turkey was a major trader of the gemstone from Persian mines. Before that it was simply called “blue stone” or similar names in various cultures.
Teal Origins
Teal has a very different history. As a color name it first arose in the early 1920s from the common teal bird. This medium-sized duck has a striking greenish-blue patch on its wings. In 1917, the government assigned paint colors to all US Navy ships and planes. One assigned color was called teal blue based on the teal duck colors. Its use spread from there.
It was not until after World War II that teal started to be used more commercially for dyeing and printing. It gained prominence when the CMYK printing process became standardized because teal was used as one of the primary cyan tones.
So in summary, turquoise has ancient roots originating from a gemstone, while teal is a newer color from the 20th century named after a bird.
Color Properties of Turquoise vs. Teal
With definitions and origins covered, we can now do a technical comparison of the color properties of turquoise and teal to see how they differ. We’ll look at RGB values, hex codes, and how they fit into color models.
RGB values
RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue – the three primary colors used on screens to produce all other colors. RGB values are given on a 0-255 scale for each color.
– Turquoise RGB values = (64, 224, 208)
– Teal RGB values = (0, 128, 128)
This shows teal has more blue and less green than turquoise. Teal is also darker with more black mixed in.
Hex codes
Hex codes are six-digit codes prefixed with # that define digital colors.
– Turquoise hex code = #40E0D0
– Teal hex code = #008080
Again this confirms teal as slightly darker and bluer than turquoise.
Color models
Looking at how turquoise and teal fit into color models also gives insight into their difference:
– Turquoise is considered a lighter tint of the cyan primary color in the CMYK model used for printing.
– Teal is considered the darker shade of cyan in CMYK.
– In the RYB color model, turquoise leans more towards green while teal leans more towards blue.
– On the color wheel, turquoise is positioned between green and cyan, while teal is between blue and cyan.
So teal clearly distinguishes itself by having more blue hues than turquoise.
How Lighting Affects Turquoise vs. Teal
The perceived color of turquoise and teal can also shift slightly based on lighting conditions.
Under natural daylight lighting, the greenish components of turquoise are enhanced. Teal appears more unambiguously blue-green.
Under incandescent or candle lighting, turquoise can take on a slightly bluer hue. Teal’s blue notes are emphasized under warm lighting.
This is important to consider when trying to distinguish turquoise from teal by eye. The lighting source can cause subtle color variations. Always try to observe color comparisons under natural daylight conditions to get the most accurate impression.
Turquoise vs. Teal: Key Comparisons
Here are some key comparison points between turquoise and teal:
| Turquoise | Teal |
|---|---|
| – Named after a greenish blue gemstone | – Named after a greenish blue bird |
| – Slightly greener hue | – Slightly bluer hue |
| – Lighter, brighter shade | – Darker, duller shade |
| – Hex code #40E0D0 | – Hex code #008080 |
| – RGB values (64, 224, 208) | – RGB values (0, 128, 128) |
| – Pantone color code 13-5417 | – Pantone color code 3242 |
This makes it clear that turquoise and teal, while close, are distinct colors with different origins, shades, and technical color specifications. Teal is not just a different name for turquoise.
How are Turquoise and Teal Used?
Context also helps differentiate turquoise vs. teal. Despite similarities, each color has associations and patterns of usage:
Turquoise usage:
– Commonly used in Southwestern United States design and Native American art
– Associated with protection, healing, spirituality by some cultures
– Used to evoke tropical water colors
– Popular for jewelry and ornaments
– Works for many styles from Bohemian to retro to modern
Teal usage:
– Used in marketing, media, videos to represent “green” causes and environmentalism
– Popular in beauty and cosmetics for eye shadows, liners, etc.
– Works well in modern, sophisticated color palettes
– Looks great combined with dark neutrals like black and grey
– Frequently used as an accent color in home decor
So turquoise and teal each shine in different contexts based on their unique Attributes and connotations.
Is Turquoise a Teal Color?
With all the evidence, can turquoise simply be defined as a type or shade of teal? The short answer is no:
– Turquoise has a separate history and etymology from teal and is not defined in relation to it.
– Turquoise is lighter and brighter where teal is darker and duller.
– The green component in turquoise is more pronounced than teal.
– Technical specifications like RGB values and hex codes put turquoise and teal in distinct categories.
– Turquoise has different cultural associations and usage contexts from teal.
For these reasons, turquoise cannot be considered accurately as just a variety of teal. It stands as its own distinct color.
Is Teal a Turquoise Color?
For similar reasons, teal is not considered accurately as just a shade or type of turquoise:
– Teal was named independently after the teal bird, not in relation to the turquoise gemstone.
– Teal has more blue rather than green in its color hue.
– Technical color specifications give teal its own distinct identity.
– Teal has different modern connotations than the traditional gem-linked turquoise.
So teal is not just a subclass of turquoise, but its own independent color.
Conclusion
While turquoise and teal have similarities and overlap as blue-green colors, they are definitively separate and distinct colors rather than one simply being a variation of the other. Each has their own:
– Unique histories and stories behind their names
– Slight variations in exact hue and shade
– Technical specifications like RGB values and hex codes
– Palettes, associations, and usage contexts
The differences between turquoise vs. teal become most clear when examples are compared side by side under the same lighting conditions. Small variations in hue and brightness emerge.
So in summary, turquoise and teal are best considered independent colors, not to be used interchangeably for accuracy, despite sharing a close relationship on the color spectrum. When precisely identifying colors, context and technical details both matter. Teal and turquoise occupy distinct niches, and each has an important place on the palette.
