Sapphire colours: the complete shade guide
François Deprez5/8/2026
Teal Sapphire: The Rising Star of Modern Fine Jewellery
François Deprez
July 6, 2026
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5 min read
Bonnot Paris · The Precious Stone Journal 2026
The Teal Sapphire: the rising star of modern jewellery
Colour, origins, nuances, price — everything you need to know before choosing a blue-green sapphire, by our coloured stone dealers.
Neither quite blue, nor quite green: the teal sapphire has won over contemporary jewellery with its elusive colour, poised between deep ocean and shifting forest. In just a few years, it has moved from collector's curiosity to the number-one choice for brides seeking a stone unlike any other.
As a coloured stone dealer — and the only French house to hold ICA membership (International Colored Gemstone Association) — we source our sapphires directly at origin, through our offices in Sri Lanka and Bangkok. Here is our complete guide to understanding, evaluating and choosing a teal sapphire with confidence.
01
At a glance
One stone, two souls
The teal sapphire belongs to the same family as blue sapphire and ruby, and reaches a hardness of 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale. Its blue-green colour arises from the combined presence of iron and titanium. But "teal" is not a single shade: it is an entire spectrum, sliding from peacock blue to lagoon green. Understanding where your stone sits on that axis is already understanding the essentials.
Blue pole
Ocean & Peacock
When blue holds sway, the teal evokes the depths of the sea and the plumage of a peacock. A more classic shade, close to blue sapphire yet animated by a breath of green that brings it to life. The choice for those who favour understated elegance.
Green pole
Lagoon & Forest
When green gains the upper hand, the teal becomes a tropical lagoon or a sun-dappled woodland. Rarer, more assertive, it captivates those seeking a stone that is decidedly singular, far from the beaten path.
Our position
There is no such thing as an objectively "good" teal. The most sought-after shade — the famous "mermaid", a 50/50 balance between blue and green — is not necessarily the one that will suit you. The best teal sapphire is the one whose colour speaks to you, seen in natural light. This guide gives you the tools to compare what is truly comparable.
02
The essentials
Understanding the teal sapphire in three minutes
The teal sapphire is, above all, a sapphire: the same mineral species as the blue sapphire, corundum (aluminium oxide), distinguished only by its colour. Its name comes from the English word teal — a duck whose plumage displays that same deep blue-green. Where the blue sapphire owes its hue to iron and titanium, the teal is born of a particular balance of those same elements, tipping the colour toward green.
Its hardness of 9/10 makes it one of the most durable stones in existence, second only to the diamond. In practical terms: it does not scratch on contact with everyday objects, withstands knocks and is unaffected by water — a decisive advantage for an engagement ring worn every day, far more so than an emerald, which is more fragile. Another distinctive trait: the teal sapphire is often pleochroic, meaning it can reveal slightly different nuances depending on the angle — a little more blue from one side, a little more green from the other. Far from being a flaw, this interplay of light is part of its charm.
Did you know
The teal sapphire is a modern alternative to the diamond and to the classic blue sapphire alike. Its unique colour and relative accessibility have made it, over just a few seasons, one of the most sought-after stones in contemporary fine jewellery — without ever forsaking the nobility and resilience that have defined the sapphire's reputation for centuries.
03
The geography of the teal sapphire
The origins that make the difference
Unlike the blue sapphire, the teal has no "Kashmir". Here, it is not so much the prestige of origin that matters as the colour signature it imparts to the stone. Four major regions dominate the market.
Sri Lanka — Ceylon
The luminous teal
"The island of gems" yields some of the most luminous and transparent teals, with a brilliant crystal. Balanced blue-green hues that appeal to lovers of vivid stones. A portion are heat-treated.
Madagascar
Accessible balance
A recent, abundant and varied source. Madagascar produces vibrant, well-balanced teals at particularly accessible prices. Often the best value for money on the market.
Montana — United States
The connoisseur's favourite
Soft, earthy, slightly grey teals with a highly sought-after "mossy" character — and frequently unheated. An origin that commands a premium, particularly in the United States.
Australia, Nigeria & Tanzania
The deeper tones
Australia, rich in iron, produces darker, decidedly green teals that form the backbone of much of the commercial teal market. Nigeria and Tanzania contribute deep, saturated "petrol" hues.
The word "teal" — a market term
Unlike the ruby's "pigeon's blood", "teal" is not a strict laboratory designation: it is a name the market invented to describe a balanced blue-green. Sub-designations such as "mermaid", "lagoon" or "peacock" belong to the language of commerce, not to any fixed standard. Which is why it matters to look at the stone itself, in daylight, rather than the label attached to it.
04
Evaluating a stone
The 4 criteria that determine the price
As with any sapphire, the value of a teal stone is read through a handful of key criteria. Here, however, one additional factor comes into play: the precise balance between blue and green, which takes precedence over almost everything else.
01
Colour & balance
The defining criterion. A vivid, well-saturated, harmonious blue-green — neither too dark nor veering towards grey — commands the highest value. The 50/50 "mermaid" balance is the most sought-after, though personal preference always has the final word.
02
Clarity
Teal sapphires often carry a few discreet natural inclusions that simply authenticate the stone. A teal that appears perfectly clean yet is priced very low should raise suspicion: synthetic material is a real possibility.
03
Cut
A well-considered cut revives colour and brilliance, and manages the stone's natural colour shift to present the desired hue to the eye. The cutter must weigh retained weight against the most beautiful colour.
04
Weight (carat)
Fine teal sapphires remain rare in larger sizes. Above 2 carats, the price per carat rises sharply, especially for unheated stones with a perfect colour balance.
The Bonnot Paris guarantee
Every teal sapphire we offer is accompanied by an independent laboratory certificate (SSEF, GRS, ICA, Bellerophon…) attesting to its origin, treatment and characteristics. Our direct sourcing, with no intermediaries, ensures you receive the stone at its true market price.
05
Treatment
Heated or unheated teal sapphire?
Heating is an age-old treatment, carried out at very high temperatures to intensify colour and improve transparency. It is a time-honoured, stable process that is internationally accepted provided it is declared on the certificate. The majority of teal sapphires on the market are heated — Australian stones in particular, which tend to be darker in their rough state.
An unheated teal sapphire ("no heat" or "NH" on the certificate) retains all of its natural characteristics. Rarer by nature, it commands a premium of roughly 30 to 50 % at equivalent quality — a premium that grows all the more pronounced when the colour is exceptional. Montana, and a portion of the output from Ceylon and Madagascar, offer some magnificent examples.
Our commitment
Bonnot Paris offers both options — heated and unheated — always with complete transparency. We do not, however, offer any sapphire treated with beryllium or lead glass, nor any synthetic stone: such processes alter the very nature of the gem and have no place in a piece of true distinction.
06
Budget
How much does a teal sapphire cost?
The good news: the teal sapphire remains more accessible than royal blue sapphire or padparadscha. Its price depends on colour balance, clarity, origin and treatment. The benchmarks below are expressed as price per carat for a fine-quality stone.
€600 – €1,200
per carat · entry level
per carat · entry level
Heated Madagascar or Australia, fine quality, ~1 carat.
The best entry point into a genuine certified teal sapphire.
€1,200 – €3,000
per carat · fine quality
per carat · fine quality
"Mermaid" balance, 1 to 2 carats, vivid colour and careful clarity.
The ideal balance for an exceptional ring.
€3,000 – €8,000
per carat · gem quality
per carat · gem quality
Unheated Ceylon or Montana, > 2 carats, perfect balance, certificated.
A rare, collector-grade stone.
To put these figures in perspective: a gem-quality Kashmir blue sapphire can command tens of thousands of euros per carat at auction, with records exceeding one million. The teal, by contrast, offers the same mineral nobility, the same hardness and a colour far rarer in everyday life — for a fraction of the price. This is precisely what makes it the rising star of modern jewellery.
The Bonnot Paris approach
Through our direct sourcing from our offices in Sri Lanka and Bangkok, you pay the true value of the stone — not the successive margins of three or four intermediaries. For a given budget, you gain access to quality that is generally superior to what traditional resellers can offer.
07
Not to be confused
Teal, green or parti-colour? How to tell them apart
The term "teal" covers a family of blue-green hues that are easily confused. Some are magnificent sapphires in their own right; others belong to entirely different stone species. Here is how to navigate them.
| Stone | What sets it apart | Hardness |
|---|---|---|
| Teal sapphire | Corundum Blue and green blended in balance throughout the stone, with an even, homogeneous hue. | 9 / 10 |
| Green sapphire | The same mineral, but the colour has shifted toward a dominant green, often less saturated. Commercial demand is more limited than for teal. | 9 / 10 |
| Parti-colour sapphire | A polychromatic corundum displaying distinct colour zones (for example, a blue area and a green area) visible to the naked eye. | 9 / 10 |
| Tourmaline (indicolite) | A different mineral species entirely. Beautiful blue-green tones are possible, but it is less hard and more fragile than sapphire. | 7 – 7.5 |
The timeless classic
The blue sapphire
For those who love corundum but prefer the depth of a pure blue over the blue-green of teal. The absolute reference in fine jewellery, a symbol of fidelity and wisdom — also available set in a blue sapphire engagement ring.
The pink-orange rarity
The padparadscha
The other coloured sapphire captivating contemporary jewellery: a delicate, exceptionally rare pink-orange, for those who seek a warm hue as singular as teal — also available as a padparadscha sapphire engagement ring.
08
Inspiration
The teal sapphire as an engagement ring
The teal's colour lends itself to every jewellery style, from the most classic to the most contemporary. Here are four bespoke creations built around unheated teal sapphires from Madagascar, offered as a source of inspiration.
Daisy style
The daisy
A 2.03 ct teal sapphire encircled by a double halo: a first ring of mauve sapphires, then a crown of round diamonds arranged in a flower shape. Romantic and colourful.
Floral style
The floral
An oval teal set in claws, surrounded by round and marquise F/VS diamonds tracing petals, on yellow gold that warms the blue-green tones. Feminine and luminous.
Art deco style
The art deco
A 1.07 ct teal in a closed octagonal setting pavé-set with F/VS diamonds, on white gold. A geometry inspired by the 1920s, modern and graphic.
Solitaire style
The solitaire
A 1.53 ct oval teal in a bezel setting, on yellow gold, in complete purity. The stone alone, protected and magnified, with nothing to distract from it. Timeless.
Bespoke
Each of these rings is a unique piece, fashioned by hand around a directly sourced stone. You may draw inspiration from them to imagine your own: we transpose the spirit of a design without ever reproducing it identically. Discover bespoke creation →
09
Frequently asked questions
Everything you want to know about teal sapphire
What is a teal sapphire?
It is a natural sapphire whose colour blends blue and green in a subtle balance, evoking lagoons and forests. It belongs to the same family as the ruby, and its hue comes from the combined presence of iron and titanium. Its name comes from the English word teal, the common teal, a duck with blue-green plumage.
Is a teal sapphire suitable for an engagement ring?
Absolutely. With a hardness of 9/10, a teal sapphire withstands daily wear with ease. Its blue-green colour offers a modern and personal alternative to both the diamond and the classic blue sapphire — an ideal choice for an engagement ring unlike any other.
Where do the finest teal sapphires come from?
Sri Lanka (luminous, transparent teals), Madagascar (balanced and accessible), Montana (soft, earthy, often unheated) and Australia (darker and greener). Nigeria and Tanzania round out the more recent sources. Bonnot Paris sources directly from its offices in Sri Lanka and Bangkok.
Teal, green sapphire or parti-colour: what is the difference?
Teal blends blue and green in a smooth, even balance. The green sapphire has shifted to a distinctly green dominance. Parti-colour, by contrast, displays distinct colour zones visible to the naked eye. Three different looks from a single gemstone species.
How much does a teal sapphire cost?
Expect roughly €600 to €1,200 per carat for a good-quality heated teal (~1 ct), €1,200 to €3,000 per carat for a fine balanced stone of 1 to 2 carats, and €3,000 to €8,000 per carat for an exceptional unheated stone above 2 carats. It remains more accessible than royal blue sapphire or padparadscha.
How can you tell a genuine teal sapphire from a fake?
Three safeguards: a certificate from an independent laboratory (SSEF, GRS, GIA, ICA), examination under a 10× loupe which reveals natural inclusions absent in synthetics, and purchasing from a trusted professional — a stone dealer and jeweller who is a member of the ICA. Be wary of any teal that looks too transparent, too perfect and too inexpensive.
Ready to choose your teal sapphire?
Meet our experts to discover a selection of certified teal sapphires, sourced directly in Sri Lanka and Madagascar — or envision with us a fully bespoke creation.
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François Deprez
Founder of Bonnot Paris
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