Zambian or Colombian Emerald?
Bonnot Paris22/9/2026
Teal sapphire: colour, origins and price per carat
François Deprez
July 6, 2026
-
5 min read
Bonnot Paris · The Precious Stone Journal 2026
Sapphire teal
What iron and titanium do to colour, six real stones from green to blue, their origins, and the prices per carat recorded from our own stock.
Teal is not a colour. It is a range — and that is precisely why none of these stones can ever be reproduced identically.
In brief
Teal sapphire, explains Bonnot Paris, a sapphire dealer in Paris, is not a colour but a range between blue and green, caused by iron and titanium, meaning that no two stones are ever identical. Almost all Bonnot Paris teals come from Madagascar, with a lighter proportion from Sri Lanka, often unheated; in September 2026, the house’s stock ranged from €660 to €1,730 per carat between 1 and 2.6 carats, before doubling from 3 carats onwards. It is the most requested stone at the Bonnot Paris workshop for an engagement ring.
In five years, teal sapphire has gone from being a dealer’s curiosity to the foremost request at our workshop. Yet it has neither a proper name, nor a controlled designation, nor a grading scale: “teal” is a market term, not a gemmological term. Two stones sold under this label may have almost nothing in common.
This guide sets out what we know first-hand: what produces this colour, what we see on our buying markets, and above all what these stones really cost — using figures from our own stock rather than a convenient range.
01
The chemistry
What teal really is
Pure corundum is colourless. Its colour comes from trace impurities — a few atoms per million. In the case of teal, two mechanisms compete within the stone.
Iron alone makes it green. The iron-titanium pairing makes it blue., through a charge transfer between the two atoms, particularly effective at absorbing light. Depending on the natural proportions of each, the same name can encompass forest green, deep teal blue or a lagoon shade.
Two practical consequences, and they matter more than theory. The first: the colour is almost never uniform. Many teals display zoning—areas of growth that are bluer or greener—which the cutter balances through cutting. The second: perception changes with the lighting. A stone that appears distinctly blue in a display case may turn green in daylight.
The rule we apply
We examine each teal in daylight, then in a room lit in the evening. If the colour falls apart, the stone does not make it into the catalogue. It is the only test that matters—and no screen can replace it, neither yours nor ours.
02
The colour chart
Six real teals, from green to blue
Six stones from our display cases, arranged from the green end to the blue end. Each is a teal, and none resembles its neighbour: that is precisely the point.
green endblue end
#99C091Green teal
Round, 1.53 ct
Decidedly green, with just the right amount of blue. A woodland teal rather than an ocean teal.
2 112 €
#448870Green-blue
Round, 1.20 ct
Deep water green, tending towards fir green. A shade found almost exclusively in Madagascar.
948 €
#86D7D2Light teal
Oval, 3.02 ct
Three carats of lagoon: the largest and brightest in this selection.
6 396 €
#37A0ABBalanced teal
Oval, 1.25 ct
The sought-after balance between blue and green, in a size that is easy to set as a solitaire.
1 200 €
#42A0B5Blue teal
Oval, 1.12 ct
Balanced blue-green and unheated: the stone as it came out of the ground, without any intervention.
744 €
#186696Blue teal
Radiant, 1.11 ct
The blue side of teal, saturated and crisp. A shade away, it would be called a blue sapphire.
1 248 €
Loose stones, prices recorded in September 2026. Colour swatches are indicative: no screen is calibrated like yours.
The art of matching
Matching two teals is one of the most delicate exercises in jewellery: the same designation can cover two very different stones. This is the work our workshop does on a pavé ring, and it is also why a matched pair of teals costs more than the sum of the two stones. View all teal sapphires →
03
Origin
Where does teal
Almost all the teal we buy comes from Madagascar. It is the deposit that created the colour: without it, teal would have remained an occasional anomaly in the mines of Ceylon. A smaller part of our selection comes from Sri Lanka, generally in lighter shades.
This concentration explains the price better than any rarity argument. Madagascar is an active deposit, volumes are available, and above all teal carries no prestige premium — the kind the market accords to Ceylon blue or Burmese ruby, and which sometimes has nothing to do with the beauty of the stone.
A word on origin in general: it is determined by a laboratory only when the inclusions allow it. “Origin undetermined” is not a flaw in the stone; it is a limitation of the analysis. And a beautiful stone from Madagascar surpasses an average stone from Ceylon — always in that order.
04
Budget
Price per carat, with the figures to prove it
The ranges below are not market prices: they are our own stones, recorded from the catalogue in September 2026. The number of stones in each range is indicated, so you know what each line represents.
| Weight | Price per carat | Stone price | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 1.3 ct | €660 to €1,150/ct | €740 to €1,500 | 8 stones |
| 1.4 to 1.7 ct | €1,210 to €1,730/ct | €2,030 to €2,660 | 9 stones |
| 2 to 2.6 ct | €1,140 to €1,510/ct | €2,710 to €3,070 | 3 stones |
| 3 ct | €2,120 to €2,230/ct | €6,400 to €6,720 | 2 stones |
| 4 ct and above | €2,430 to €6,110/ct | €9,780 to €62,340 | 2 stones |
There are three things to read in this table, one of them unsettling.
The acceleration is real, but late. Between 1 and 2.5 carats, the price per carat rises gently. From 3 carats onwards, it enters a different world — doubling compared with the one-carat format. Beyond 4, one moves from an engagement ring to a collector’s stone.
The 2 to 2.6 ct range is an apparent anomaly : its price per carat falls below that of the previous range. Only three stones, and more restrained colours: that is the explanation. It says exactly what should be remembered — at these weights, individual colour carries more weight than carat.
The two extremes are not comparable. The stone at €6,110/ct is a 10.20 ct cushion: a collector’s stone, beyond the reach of an ordinary engagement setting. We have left it in the table out of honesty, not as a benchmark.
What we would recommend
Teal’s best presence-to-budget ratio lies between 1.4 and 1.8 carats : the stone sits beautifully on a ring finger, the colour has substance to express itself, and one remains below the threshold at which the price per carat takes off. Then allow for the setting, from €1,250 for a simple design to several thousand for substantial stone-setting work. Sapphire pricing in detail →
05
Treatment
Heated or unheated
Teal has a privilege shared by few colours: unheated stones remain accessible. In Ceylon blue, the absence of heating multiplies the price — roughly by two at around 1.5 carats, by three at around 2.5 on our purchasing markets. In teal, the difference is much more contained, and a significant proportion of our stock has never seen an oven.
That said, a word of caution. Heating is a traditional, stable and accepted treatment, declared on the certificate: it reveals a colour already present in the stone. The vast majority of sapphires on the market are heated, including very beautiful stones. What we refuse are beryllium, lead glass and irradiation — processes that artificially alter the gemstone.
The order of priorities
Never let the words “unheated” take precedence over colour. An unheated but dull teal will remain a dull teal all its life; a heated, lively teal will delight you every morning. Colour first, certificate second — and the certificate always. Heated or unheated sapphire →
06
The neighbouring hues
Green, bi-colour: where teal ends
Teal has two immediate neighbours, and confusing them is costly — in either direction. No boundary is standardised: these are market conventions, which two dealers may apply differently to the same stone.
Green
When blue disappears
Iron without titanium, in a different proportion. As soon as the eye no longer reads a blue component, the stone leaves teal behind for true green. Long overlooked, this family is returning in teal’s wake — and remains far less sought-after.
Bi-colour
When the zones remain visible
The same chemical origin, the opposite aesthetic: two distinctly separated colour zones within the same gem, which the cutter chose to preserve rather than cut around. Where teal blends shades together, bi-colour displays them.
In practical terms: if you like the green side of this palette, look at green sapphire engagement rings before deciding — this is often where the stone you were looking for can be found, at a gentler price. And if it was the zoning of a teal that appealed to you rather than its colour, then it is bi-colour sapphire engagement rings that you should explore: they embrace what teal seeks to blend.
07
The setting
Setting it in a ring
Once the stone has been chosen, two decisions remain: the metal, which changes how the colour is perceived, and the setting, which determines its presence on the finger.
| Metal | What it does to teal | For which side |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow gold | Warms the stone and shifts its appearance towards green. The metal of floral and vintage settings. | Green teals |
| White gold | A sharp contrast that brings out saturation and the blue component. | Blue teals |
| Platinum | Naturally cool whiteness, with no rhodium plating to renew. A secure choice for important stones. | Balanced teals |
| Rose gold | Complementary to green: it creates a strong contrast, sometimes too strong. Try it with the stone in hand. | To be considered case by case |
There remains the question we are asked most often: does it hold up? Yes, without reservation. Teal is a corundum, exactly like blue sapphire and ruby: 9 on the Mohs scale, excellent toughness, no cleavage planes. A ruby engagement ring and a teal sapphire ring withstand everyday wear in the same way—only diamond performs better.
The useful comparison lies elsewhere. An emerald engagement ring, between 7.5 and 8 and almost always crossed by inclusions, requires a setting that protects the stone’s corners and some care in daily movements. Teal requires nothing of the sort: this is one of its least discussed advantages, and one of its strongest.
01
Hardness 9/10
Only diamond and another corundum can scratch it. Suitable for everyday wear without reservation.
02
No cleavage
Good toughness, no fracture planes. A violent impact should still be avoided on the points.
03
Care
Warm water, mild soap, a soft brush once a month. Ultrasonic cleaning is possible in the workshop.
04
Inspection
Setting checked every two years, or after an impact. Complimentary for life with us.
08
Frequently asked questions
Teal sapphire, your questions
What is a teal sapphire?
A sapphire whose colour lies between blue and green, in a uniform hue. Iron alone turns corundum green, while the iron-titanium pairing turns it blue: depending on the natural proportion of the two, the same term may encompass forest green, deep teal blue or a lagoon hue. “Teal” is not a standardised colour; it is a range.
How much does a teal sapphire cost per carat?
In our stock in September 2026: from €660 to €1,150/ct around one carat, from €1,210 to €1,730/ct around 1.5 carats, and around €2,120 to €2,230/ct at 3 carats. The price per carat is not linear—it rises sharply beyond 2.5 carats—and the individual colour matters more than the weight range.
Where do teal sapphires come from?
Overwhelmingly from Madagascar, with a smaller proportion from Sri Lanka. This also explains the price: these are active deposits, and teal does not yet command the prestige premium of Ceylon blue.
Should you choose an unheated teal?
Teal is one of the rare colour families in which unheated stones remain accessible: many of these gems have undergone no treatment, and the premium remains modest below 2 carats. It is a collector’s criterion, not a requirement — and it should never take precedence over colour.
What is the difference from a green sapphire?
It is a matter of proportion and perception. Teal retains a visible blue component; green sapphire clearly tips towards green. The boundary is not standardised: two dealers may classify the same stone differently. If you are drawn to the green side, compare with green sapphire engagement rings before deciding.
What is the difference from a bi-colour sapphire?
Teal blends blue and green into a single, uniform hue. Bi-colour sapphire visibly separates two areas of colour within the same gem — zoned growth that the lapidary has chosen to preserve. Two opposing aesthetics from the same mineral family, and two distinct collections: bi-colour sapphire engagement rings on one side, teal sapphire rings on the other.
Can a teal sapphire be worn every day?
Yes, without reservation: hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, excellent toughness, no cleavage plane. It has the same durability as a blue sapphire or a ruby engagement ring, and considerably more than an emerald engagement ring, which requires a protective setting.
Can you choose your stone remotely?
Yes, and this is particularly true of teal, where video reveals what a photograph conceals. We film each stone under several lighting conditions, on a neutral hand and without colour retouching, then provide follow-up via WhatsApp or email until the jewellery is handed over. Book a video appointment →
Teal and its neighbours, set in rings
Teal sapphire ringsGreen sapphire ringsBi-colour sapphire ringsBlue sapphire ringsRuby ringsEmerald rings
Each family has its own collection of engagement rings. For loose stones — those in this guide, to be set as you wish — everything can be explored from the sapphire.
Set in rings
Does a teal stop you in your tracks?
Every stone in this guide is available and can be set in Paris in 18-carat gold or platinum, designed with you. Videos under several lighting conditions before any commitment.
Share this post
François Deprez
Founder of Bonnot Paris
