Turquoise is a vivid blue-green color that has been prized for millennia. But there has long been confusion and debate over whether turquoise should be classified as a shade of green or a distinct color unto itself. In this article, we’ll examine the origins of turquoise, its definition, and how it relates to similar colors like teal green.
The Origins and Definition of Turquoise
The word “turquoise” dates back to the 16th century and comes from the French word for Turkish, “Turquie.” This is because the vibrant blue-green stones were first imported to Europe from Turkey. The name became used to describe the color of the gemstones.
According to color theory, turquoise is considered a tertiary color. This means it is formed by combining a primary color and a secondary color. In the case of turquoise, it combines blue (primary) with green (secondary).
More specifically, turquoise contains more green than blue. It is made by mixing between 20-40% blue with 60-80% green. This gives turquoise a slightly greenish-blue hue.
In technical terms, turquoise is defined as a color between blue and green on the color wheel. The HEX code for turquoise is #40E0D0. The RGB values are Red 64, Green 224, Blue 208. The CMYK values are Cyan 74, Magenta 0, Yellow 24, Black 0.
How Turquoise Compares to Teal Green
Teal is often used interchangeably with turquoise. But while similar, they are distinct colors. Teal contains a higher ratio of blue to green pigments than turquoise does.
Here’s a table comparing the technical definitions of turquoise vs teal:
| Color | HEX Code | RGB Values | CMYK Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turquoise | #40E0D0 | R 64 G 224 B 208 | C 74 M 0 Y 24 K 0 |
| Teal | #008080 | R 0 G 128 B 128 | C 100 M 25 Y 25 K 0 |
As you can see, teal contains more blue pigment and less green than turquoise. While turquoise skews slightly toward green, teal skews slightly toward blue.
How Lighting Affects Turquoise
The appearance of turquoise can shift quite a bit depending on the type of lighting. This also contributes to the confusion between turquoise and teal.
In natural daylight, turquoise appears as a bluish green. But under incandescent or fluorescent lighting, it can take on more of a greener teal appearance.
This is because artificial lights have spikes in yellow and orange hues. These mix with and mute the blue notes in turquoise, making it pull more green.
So a turquoise garment or accessory can look clearly blue-green in daylight, but then appear teal green under indoor artificial lighting. This chameleon-like nature adds to the complexity in pinning down turquoise as a blue green vs green blue.
How Turquoise is Classified
Authoritative sources classify turquoise as a shade of blue rather than green:
- The Oxford English Dictionary defines turquoise as “a greenish-blue color.”
- Encyclopaedia Britannica states turquoise is considered a “greenish blue or bluish green.”
- Pantone, the global authority on commercial color reproduction, lists turquoise with other blue hues.
Additionally, in color theory turquoise is considered a “cool” color along with blues and greens. In interior design, turquoise pigments are sourced from blue rather than from yellow (required to make greens).
And even though it contains green, the higher ratio of blue content means turquoise is not considered a “pure” green. This makes most experts classify it as a shade of blue.
Cultural Perceptions of Turquoise
The cultural significance of turquoise also provides clues about whether it is viewed as blue or green:
- In Iran, turquoise is the national gemstone and represents blue.
- Native Americans associated turquoise with the blue sky and rain.
- In China, turquoise symbolizes wisdom, tranquility and happiness, which aligns with blue as a color.
- Turquoise jewelry has been popular in Western cultures as it complements many skin tones.
So while there are some variations, overall turquoise tends to be linked more with blue meanings rather than green across cultures.
Uses of Turquoise
Turquoise has been an esteemed color since ancient times. Here are some of the major uses of turquoise pigment spanning history to today:
- The ancient Egyptians used turquoise gems and dyes in their art and jewelry.
- Turquoise adorned the funeral mask of Tutankhamun dating back to 1343-1323 BCE.
- Turquoise is a signature color of Chinese porcelain and continues to decorate modern pieces.
- In Persian culture, the blue shades of turquoise are traditionally associated with heaven.
- Native Americans have long used turquoise for amulets and jewelry.
- Turquoise is December’s birthstone, associated with clarity and calm.
- Today it’s a popular color for apparel, interior decor, cosmetics, and web design.
From its earliest applications to now, turquoise has been prized globally as a vivid blue green, especially associated with adornment and spiritual objects.
Distinguishing Turquoise from Other Colors
There are a few other colors that are comparable to turquoise and also sit between blue and green:
Teal
As discussed earlier, teal is like a richer, darker version of turquoise with more blue content. They are easy to confuse but side-by-side teal reads as more blue than turquoise.
Cyan
Cyan is a stronger, more saturated primary greenish-blue. It lacks the subtle earthy tones of turquoise.
Aqua
Aqua is a lighter, brighter, more cheerful color. Turquoise has more complexity from the mixture of blue and green.
Tiffany Blue
Tiffany blue, named after the famed jewelry brand Tiffany & Co., is slightly lighter and brighter than turquoise, with more green undertones.
Mint Green
Mint green is obviously a green rather than a blue. It has a cooler yellow-green hue compared to the blue notes in turquoise.
Being able to identify these comparable colors helps narrow down what gives turquoise its signature blue-green identity.
Conclusion
While turquoise straddles the line between blue and green, it is widely regarded as a shade of blue. This can be seen in its technical specifications having slightly more blue pigment, classification by authoritative sources as a blue, and the predominance of blue cultural meanings.
The only exception is that turquoise can shift toward teal green under certain lighting conditions, adding to the complexity. But in most cases, turquoise reads as a cooler, more subtle blue green rather than a true green.
So in summary – is turquoise a green or blue? While it incorporates elements of both, turquoise is classified as a bluish green that falls on the blue side of the color spectrum.
