Turquoise (color)
Turquoise | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Hex triplet | #40E0D0 |
sRGBB (r, g, b) | (64, 224, 208) |
HSV (h, s, v) | (174°, 71%, 88%) |
CIELChuv (L, C, h) | (81, 59, 179°) |
Source | X11 |
ISCC–NBS descriptor | Brilliant bluish green |
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) |
Turquoise (/ˈtɜːrkɔɪz, -kwɔɪz/) is a blue/green color, based on the gem of the same name. The word turquoise comes from the French for "Turkish", as the gem was originally imported from Turkey.[1][2] The first recorded use of turquoise as a color name in English was in 1573.[3]
The X11 color named turquoise is displayed on the right.
Turquoise gemstones
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Turquoise.pebble.700pix.jpg/220px-Turquoise.pebble.700pix.jpg)
Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green 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.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Bukhara_city_skyline_Bibi-Khanym_Mosque.jpg/220px-Bukhara_city_skyline_Bibi-Khanym_Mosque.jpg)
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 can change color. The change can be caused by light, or by a chemical reaction brought about by cosmetics, dust or the acidity of the skin.
Turquoise is a stone and color that is strongly associated with the domes and interiors of large mosques in Iran, Central Asia and Russia.[4][5]
Variations of turquoise
Celeste
Celeste | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Hex triplet | #B2FFFF |
sRGBB (r, g, b) | (178, 255, 255) |
HSV (h, s, v) | (180°, 30%, 100%) |
CIELChuv (L, C, h) | (95, 38, 192°) |
Source | S.Fantetti e C.Petracchi (2001). Il dizionario dei colori: nomi e valori in quadricromia. Zanichelli. ISBN 8808079953. |
ISCC–NBS descriptor | Very light bluish green |
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) |
The color Celeste is a sky bluish turquoise.
Light turquoise
Light turquoise | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Hex triplet | #AFEEEE |
sRGBB (r, g, b) | (175, 238, 238) |
HSV (h, s, v) | (180°, 26%, 93%) |
CIELChuv (L, C, h) | (90, 32, 192°) |
Source | X11 |
ISCC–NBS descriptor | Very light bluish green |
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) |
Light turquoise is a lighter tone of turquoise.
Turquoise blue
Turquoise blue | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Hex triplet | #00FFEF |
sRGBB (r, g, b) | (0, 255, 239) |
HSV (h, s, v) | (176°, 100%, 100%) |
CIELChuv (L, C, h) | (91, 72, 182°) |
Source | Maerz and Paul |
ISCC–NBS descriptor | Brilliant bluish green |
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) |
Turquoise blue is a color close to turquoise on the color wheel, but slightly more bluish.[6]
The first recorded use of turquoise blue as a color name in English was in 1900.[7]
Medium turquoise
Medium turquoise | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Hex triplet | #48D1CC |
sRGBB (r, g, b) | (72, 209, 204) |
HSV (h, s, v) | (178°, 66%, 82%) |
CIELChuv (L, C, h) | (77, 53, 188°) |
Source | X11 |
ISCC–NBS descriptor | Brilliant bluish green |
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) |
At right is displayed the web color medium turquoise.
Dark turquoise
Dark turquoise | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Hex triplet | #00CED1 |
sRGBB (r, g, b) | (0, 206, 209) |
HSV (h, s, v) | (181°, 100%, 82%) |
CIELChuv (L, C, h) | (75, 60, 195°) |
Source | X11 |
ISCC–NBS descriptor | Brilliant bluish green |
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) |
At right is displayed the web color dark turquoise.
Bright turquoise
Bright turquoise | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Hex triplet | #08E8DE |
sRGBB (r, g, b) | (8, 232, 222) |
HSV (h, s, v) | (177°, 97%, 91%) |
CIELChuv (L, C, h) | (83, 66, 185°) |
Source | [Unsourced] |
ISCC–NBS descriptor | Brilliant bluish green |
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) |
At right is displayed the color bright turquoise.
See also
References
- ^ "Turquoise:turquoise mineral information and data". mindat.org. Retrieved 2006-10-04.
- ^ http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/turquoise.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
- ^ Maerz and Paul (1930). A Dictionary of Color. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 206; Color Sample of Turquoise [green]: Page 73, Plate 25, Color Sample I5.
- ^ Reference info here: Andrew Petersen, Dictionary of Islamic Architecture, p. 121, at Google Books.
- ^ Farida M Said (November 20, 2012). "Tradition of the tile". Archived from the original on June 3, 2013.
- ^ Maerz and Paul (1930). A Dictionary of Color. New York: McGraw-Hill. Color Sample of Cyan:I Page 73 Plate 25 Color Sample K12—Turquoise blue is shown lying very close to Turquoise, but very slightly more bluish.
- ^ Maerz and Paul (1930). A Dictionary of Color. New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 206; Color Sample of Turquoise blue: Page 73, Plate 25, Color Sample K12.