turkos

Turkos, or turquoise, is both a color and a gemstone, and the term is used in several languages to describe a blue‑green hue as well as the mineral from which the color derives. In Swedish, turkos refers to the color turquoise and to the gemstone itself, while in English the color is called turquoise and the stone turquoise as well.

The name turquoise derives historically from the Turkish stone trade route to Europe; the French term turquois(e) and the English turquoise reflect this origin. The gemstone turquoise is a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum, with the chemical composition approximately CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O. It is typically opaque with a waxy to silky luster and a Mohs hardness around 5–6, making it relatively soft for jewelry. Variations in color are influenced by copper and iron content, resulting in hues ranging from sky‑blue to blue‑green and sometimes with brown or black matrix.

Turkos as a color is typically positioned between blue and green, often described as bright and lively. In digital and print contexts it is commonly represented by shades near hex codes such as #40E0D0 or #30D5C8, though actual pigment and display can vary. The color is distinct from teal (generally darker and more green) and cyan (more blue), yet all three share a blue‑green character.

Historically, turquoise has been valued as a gemstone for thousands of years, appearing in Egyptian, Persian, Chinese, and Native American art and jewelry. Today it remains widely used in fashion, design, branding, and interior decor, where it is associated with calm, clarity, and a touch of exoticism.