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Bonnot Paris22/9/2026
Teal Sapphire: Colour, Origins and Price per Carat | Bonnot Paris
François Deprez
July 6, 2026
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5 min read
Bonnot Paris · The Journal of Precious Stones 2026
Sapphire teal
What iron and titanium do to colour, six real stones from green to blue, their origins, and per-carat prices 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 five years, teal sapphire has gone from being a dealer’s curiosity to the most requested stone in our workshop. Yet it has neither a proper name, nor a controlled designation, nor a price 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 actually cost—with figures from our own stock rather than a convenient price range.
01
The chemistry
What teal really is
Pure corundum is colourless. Its colour comes from trace impurities—just 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, which is particularly effective at absorbing light. Depending on the natural proportions of the two, the same designation can encompass forest green, deep duck-egg blue or a lagoon hue.
There are two practical consequences, and they matter more than theory. The first: the colour is almost never uniform. Many teals display zoning—bluer or greener growth zones—which the cutter balances during 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 view each teal in daylight, then in a room lit in the evening. If the colour collapses, the stone does not make it into the catalogue. This is the only test that matters — and no screen can replace it, yours no more than ours.
02
The colour chart
Six real teals, from green to blue
Six stones from our display cases, arranged from the green side to the blue side. Each is a teal, and none resembles its neighbour: that is the whole point.
green sideblue side
#99C091Green teal
Round, 1.53 ct
Frankly green, with just enough blue. A teal of the undergrowth rather than the ocean.
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 earth, without any intervention.
744 €
#186696Blue teal
Radiant, 1.11 ct
The blue side of teal, saturated and crisp. A shade away, one would call it a blue sapphire.
1 248 €
Loose stones, prices observed 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 name can cover two vastly 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 everything we buy in teal comes from Madagascar. It is the deposit that made 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 argument based on rarity. Madagascar is an active deposit, volumes exist, and above all teal carries no prestige premium — the one the market grants to Ceylon blue or Burmese ruby, which can sometimes have 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 limit of the analysis. And a beautiful Madagascar stone surpasses an average Ceylon stone — always in that order.
04
Budget
Price per carat, the figures at hand
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 bracket is indicated, so that you know what each line is worth.
| 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 |
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. It is from 3 carats onwards that it enters another world — doubling compared with the one-carat size. 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 preceding range. Only three stones, and more restrained colours: that is the explanation. It says exactly what should be remembered — at these weights, the individual colour matters more than the carat weight.
The two extremes cannot be compared. The stone at €6,110/ct is a 10.20 ct cushion: a collector’s stone, beyond the reach of an ordinary engagement-ring setting. We left it in the table for the sake of honesty, not as a benchmark.
What we would recommend
The best presence-to-budget ratio for teal lies between 1.4 and 1.8 carats : the stone sits beautifully on a ring finger, the colour has enough 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 setting work. Sapphire pricing in detail →
05
Treatment
Heated or unheated
Teal has a privilege shared by few colours: unheated remains accessible. For Ceylon blue, the absence of heating multiplies the price — by around two at 1.5 carats, by three at around 2.5 on our purchasing markets. For teal, the difference is far more contained, and a significant share of our stock has never seen a furnace.
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 gem.
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 and lively teal will bring you pleasure every morning. Colour first, certificate second — and always the certificate. Heated or unheated sapphire →
06
The neighbouring shades
Green, bi-colour: where teal ends
Teal has two immediate neighbours, and confusing them is costly — in one direction as in the other. 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 perceives a blue component, the stone leaves teal for pure green. Long overlooked, this family is returning in teal’s wake — and remains markedly less contested.
Bi-colour
When the zones remain visible
Same chemical origin, opposite aesthetic: two distinctly separate colour zones in the same gemstone, which the lapidary chose to preserve rather than cut around. Where teal blends hues, bi-colour displays them.
In practical terms: if you like the green side of this palette, take a look at green sapphire engagement rings before deciding — this is often where the stone one was 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 look at: they embrace what teal seeks to blend.
07
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 draws its appearance towards green. The metal for floral and vintage settings. | Green teals |
| White gold | A crisp contrast that brings out saturation and the blue component. | Blue teals |
| Platinum | Naturally cool whiteness, with no rhodium plating to renew. Secures important stones. | Balanced teals |
| Rose gold | Complementary to green: it creates a strong contrast, sometimes too strong. To be tried with the stone in hand. | To be considered case by case |
The question we are asked most often remains: will it stand the test of time? 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 does better.
The useful comparison lies elsewhere. An emerald engagement ring, between 7.5 and 8 and almost always threaded with inclusions, requires a setting that protects the stone’s corners and a little care in daily movements. Teal requires no such thing: this is one of its least discussed, and most compelling, advantages.
01
Hardness 9/10
Only diamond and another corundum can scratch it. Everyday wear without reservation.
02
No cleavage
Good toughness, no planes of weakness. A violent impact on the points should still be avoided.
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; iron and titanium together turn it blue: depending on the natural proportion of each, the same term encompasses forest green, deep duck-egg blue or a lagoon hue. “Teal” is not a standardised colour, but a range.
How much does a teal sapphire cost per carat?
In our stock in September 2026: from €660 to €1,150/ct at around one carat, from €1,210 to €1,730/ct at 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 share from Sri Lanka. This also explains the price: these are active deposits, and teal does not yet command the reputation premium of Ceylon blue.
Should you choose an unheated teal?
Teal is one of the rare families in which unheated stones remain accessible: many of these stones have undergone no treatment, and the premium remains modest below 2 carats. It is a collector’s criterion, not an obligation — 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 leans towards green. The boundary is not standardised: two dealers may classify the same stone differently. If you are drawn to the green side, compare it with green sapphire engagement rings before deciding.
What is the difference from a bi-colour sapphire?
Teal blends blue and green into a single, even hue. A bi-colour sapphire visibly separates two areas of colour within the same gemstone — 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 resilience 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 for teal, where video reveals what a photograph conceals. We film each stone under several types of lighting, on a neutral hand and without colour retouching, then provide follow-up via WhatsApp or email until the jewellery is delivered. Book a video appointment →
Teal and its neighbouring hues, set in rings
Teal sapphire ringsGreen sapphire ringsBi-colour sapphire ringsBlue sapphire ringsRuby ringsEmerald rings
Each family has its own engagement ring collection. For loose stones — those featured in this guide, to be set as you wish — everything can be explored from the sapphire.
Set in rings
Does a teal catch your eye?
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.
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François Deprez
Founder of Bonnot Paris
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