Emerald
#50C878
Color Values
Color Meaning
Emerald represents growth, renewal, and prosperity. It's associated with balance, harmony, and abundance. Emerald is a vibrant, rich green that symbolizes new beginnings.
Learn more on WikipediaFrequently Asked Questions About Emerald
What two colors make emerald?
Emerald is made by mixing green with a small amount of blue and a tiny bit of yellow. The result is a rich, jewel-toned green resembling the emerald gemstone.
What's the difference between emerald and forest green?
Emerald is brighter and more jewel-toned with blue undertones, while forest green is darker and more earthy with brown influence.
How do you make light emerald?
Light emerald is made by mixing emerald with white, or by mixing green with small amounts of blue and white.
The History of Emerald
Emerald green takes its name from the precious gemstone — beryl colored by traces of chromium and vanadium. Emerald mines in the ancient world were located primarily in Egypt (Cleopatra's Mines, still visited today) and later in Colombia after the Spanish conquest of the Americas. The Egyptians associated emerald with fertility and rebirth, and Cleopatra was famous for her love of emeralds. Emerald green as a synthetic pigment was 'Paris green' (copper acetoarsenite), introduced in the 1800s as an extraordinarily vivid green paint — used by Impressionists including Monet and Cézanne. Unfortunately, Paris green was highly toxic (it was also used as a pesticide and rat poison), and many 19th-century objects colored with it are now considered hazardous. Modern emerald pigments are safe — chromium oxide green provides the stable alternative. Pantone named Emerald its 2013 Color of the Year, citing its 'lively, radiant, lush quality.'
Cultural Significance
Emerald green carries rich cultural associations across numerous traditions. In Irish culture, 'The Emerald Isle' is one of Ireland's most enduring epithets — the rich green of its rain-drenched landscape defined a national color identity. In Islamic art and architecture, green (particularly emerald and jade greens) is the color of paradise — the dome of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina is traditionally green. In European heraldry, green (vert) was less common than red, blue, and gold, making emerald-green coats of arms particularly striking. In the Wizard of Oz (1939), the Emerald City created a cultural association between emerald green and magical magnificence. In contemporary luxury design, emerald is positioned as the most opulent of greens — used for velvet upholstery, jewel-box interiors, and premium packaging.
Color Psychology
Emerald is psychologically the most powerful and commanding green — it combines green's association with nature, vitality, and growth with the richness and depth of a precious gemstone. Research shows emerald environments feel simultaneously energizing and sophisticated — they have the life-affirming quality of green without the casual associations of lighter greens. Emerald is strongly associated with prosperity and abundance across many cultures, and marketing research confirms it triggers premium product associations. Unlike the calming quality of sage or the clinical freshness of mint, emerald feels opulent and intentional. Emerald in interior design creates dramatic, jewel-box spaces that feel intimate and enveloping — a smaller room in emerald velvet or paint can feel like the most impressive room in a house.
Design Tips for Emerald
Emerald (#059669 or #047857) is one of the most dramatic and rewarding colors to use. For web design, Tailwind's emerald-600 (#059669) and emerald-700 (#047857) provide excellent WCAG AA contrast. Classic emerald pairings: emerald with gold for the most opulent combination; emerald with white for crisp botanical freshness; emerald with blush pink for unexpected romantic contrast; emerald with black for jewel-box drama. In interior design, emerald green is the defining color of maximalist-opulent interiors — emerald velvet sofas, dark green kitchen cabinets (Farrow & Ball Viridian, Calke Green), and emerald tiles are iconic choices. For branding, emerald projects luxury, prosperity, and sophisticated taste — effective for high-end hospitality, jewelry, and premium food brands. Emerald used in small doses (green plants, single cushion, logo accent) has enormous visual impact without overwhelming a neutral scheme.