Turquoise (color)

Turquoise /ˈtɜrkɔɪz/ or /ˈtɜrkwɔɪz/ is a slightly blueish tone of light green. The color is based on the gem turquoise. The term comes from the French for Turkish.

Turquoise
— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet		#40E0D0
RGBB	(r, g, b)	(64, 224, 208)
HSV	(h, s, v)	(174°, 71%, 88[1]%)
Source		X11
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

At right is displayed the X11 color named turquoise.

The first recorded use of turquoise as a color name in English was in 1573.^[2]

Turquoise gemstones

The turquoise gemstone is the namesake for the color.

Main article: Turquoise

Turquoise is an opaque, green-to-blue mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4H₂O. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue.

In many cultures of the Old and New Worlds, this gemstone has been esteemed for thousands of years as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune or a talisman. The oldest evidence for this claim was found in Ancient Egypt, where grave furnishings with turquoise inlay were discovered, dating from approximately 3000 BC. In the ancient Persian Empire, the sky-blue gemstones were earlier worn round the neck or wrist as protection against unnatural death. If they changed color, the wearer was thought to have reason to fear the approach of doom. Meanwhile, it has been discovered that turquoise certainly can change color, but that this is not necessarily a sign of impending danger. The change can be caused by light, or by a chemical reaction brought about by cosmetics, dust or the acidity of the skin.

Variations of turquoise

Further information: Variations of cyan

Celeste

Main article: Celeste (colour)

Celeste
— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet		#B2FFFF
RGBB	(r, g, b)	(178, 255, 255)
HSV	(h, s, v)	(180°, 30%, 100%)
Source		S.Fantetti e C.Petracchi (2001). Il dizionario dei colori: nomi e valori in quadricromia. Zanichelli . ISBN 8808079953.
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

The color Celeste ('Bianchi Green') is displayed at right.

Pale Turquoise

Pale Turquoise
— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet		#AFEEEE
RGBB	(r, g, b)	(175, 238, 238)
HSV	(h, s, v)	(175°, 84%, 94%)
Source		X11
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

At right is displayed the web color pale turquoise.

Turquoise Blue

Turquoise Blue
— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet		#00FFEF
RGBB	(r, g, b)	(0, 255, 239)
HSV	(h, s, v)	(176°, 100%, 100 [3]%)
Source		Maerz and Paul
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

Displayed at right is the color turquoise blue.

Turquoise blue is a color close to cyan on the color wheel, but slightly more greenish.^[4]

The first recorded use of turquoise blue as a color name in English was in 1900.^[5]

Medium Turquoise

Medium Turquoise
— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet		#48D1CC
RGBB	(r, g, b)	(72, 209, 204)
HSV	(h, s, v)	(175°, 55%, 50%)
Source		X11
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

At right is displayed the web color medium turquoise.

Dark Turquoise

Dark Turquoise
— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet		#00CED1
RGBB	(r, g, b)	(0, 206, 209)
HSV	(h, s, v)	(175°, 40%, 94%)
Source		X11
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

At right is displayed the web color dark turquoise.

Pearl Mystic Turquoise

Pearl Mystic Turquoise
— Color coordinates —
Hex triplet		#32C6A6
RGBB	(r, g, b)	(50, 198, 166)
HSV	(h, s, v)	(175°, 84%, 94%)
Source		X11
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)

At right is displayed the color pearl mystic turquoise.

Turquoise in human culture

The mosque with turquoise domes in Bukhara

Astrology

• The gemstone turquoise represents the sign Sagittarius.

Geography

The water of Havasu creek is turquoise due to high concentrations of dissolved lime picked up as it runs through sedimentary rock.

• In slang form, the phrase "The Turquoise" refers to the waters of the Caribbean, which are shallow and therefore take on the color in sunlight.^{[dubious – discuss]}

Medicine

• In holistic medicine, the color turquoise purportedly has a calming effect on patients, and is particularly used to treat patients prone to panic attacks or mania.
• Mainstream psychiatric hospitals use turquoise and other light tones of blue and green to calm patients by painting the walls in these colors.
• Nurses often wear turquoise or aquamarine colored clothing because of the calming nature of these colors.

Religion

• Some mosques have turquoise domes.

References

1. ^ web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color 40E0D0 (Turquoise):
2. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 206; Color Sample of Turquoise [green]: Page 73 Plate 25 Color Sample I5
3. ^ web.forret.com Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #00FFEF (Turquoise Blue):
4. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Color Sample of Turquoise Blue: Page 73 Plate 25 Color Sample K12--Turquoise Blue is shown lying very close to Cyan, but very slightly more greenish.
5. ^ Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York:1930 McGraw-Hill Page 206; Color Sample of Turquoise Blue: Page 73 Plate 25 Color Sample K12

See also

• List of colors