A truly unique & truly Canadian gemstone,
Ammolite is one of the worlds few biogenic gemstones mined in Canada that is made of fossilized Nacre of ancient ammonites, consisting primarily of aragonite. It displays an opal-like iridescence and was recognized as an official gemstone by the World Jewellery Confederation in 1981. Commercial mining of ammolite began in the same year, and ammolite was also recently designated as the official gemstone of Alberta in 2022.
Originating 71 Million years ago. The result of tectonic pressure and mineralization formed the colourful ammolite gemstone that is almost exclusively mined by Korite. Discovered in 1906 by the Geological Survey of Canada, Korite’s founder had heard of Ammolite and was fascinated by its history, rarity and cultural significance. Indigenous Canadians refer to Ammolite as the “Buffalo Stone”, others refer to Ammolite as the “Energy Stone”, “Spirit Stone” or “7 Colour Prosperity Stone”.
Ammolite is a unique gemstone with a wide range of colors and patterns. Its iridescence is caused by the interference of light waves on the layers of aragonite, and the colors can vary from reds and greens to blues and violets. The patterns can also range from solid colors to intricate designs resembling flames, watercolor paintings, or even stained glass.
KORITE discovers and hand cuts the Ammolite gem to maximize the bright colours that are unique to each gem. Multiple layers of the natural gemstone material create a beautiful array of colour. This rare, natural expression of the spectacular gem is believed to awaken positive energy with its joyful beauty and ancient heritage. Read more about Ammolite’s significance in Feng Shui.
Since 1979 KORITE has set the global standard for ammolite gemstones and jewellery. As an industry leading Canadian jewellery brand inspiring the world with the rarity and beauty of Canada’s gemstone. Every KORITE piece is ethically mined and handcrafted by skilled artisans to create luxuriously Canadian treasures for the bold and adventurous.
Designed by nature and refined by KORITE. Luxuriously Canadian Ammolite for the world.
KORITE is the leader in the ammolite industry, setting gemstone grading standards since 1979.
Ammolite comes in four grades: AAA, AA, A and standard. The grades are based on the gem’s brilliance and variety of colour and clarity. AAA and AA account for only 3-12% of Korite’s annual production.
If you’d like to read more about Ammolite from the Gemological Institute of America, click here. This article describes the history of Ammolite as a gem material and the geologic setting of the main producing mines; offers an explanation for the formation of Ammolite and the origin of its colour (i.e., iridescence caused by an interference phenomenon) and; presents production data and gemological properties.
KORITE owns and operates the world’s largest commercial Ammolite mine located in
Alberta’s Bearpaw formation.
Millions of years of tectonic pressure created this beautiful gem from the fossilized remains
of the ammonites that were buried here millions of years ago.
An ammonite is the actual fossil and Ammolite is the gemstone that is cut from the fossil.
Ammolite is typically mined at depths around 71 Million years or more.
Ammolite’s luminous qualities rival the black opal for color and fire.
After mining, the layers of soil are carefully replaced in the order they were removed. The native grasses are then replanted and the natural environment is restored during the
reclamation process. KORITE's responsible practice proudly set new environmental standards in
the Ammolite mining and reclamation process.
KORITE’s Ammolite products are available direct on KORITE.com and on T-Mall. They are also available internationally through our partners at fine jewelers, gift shops, and art galleries in more than 25 countries around the world.
Every piece of KORITE jewellery comes with a lifetime guarantee.
KORITE produces two types of gemstones:
1. Ammolite Naturals: These stones have a hardness of 3.5 on the Moh’s scale, like that of a penny, and are discovered and polished with minimal treatment. These gemstones can be used for pendants and earrings only.
2. Ammolite Triplets: These gemstones are calibrated to a precise size to fit in jewellery settings and are covered with a quartz crystal cap increasing its hardness to 7+ on the Moh’s scale; like that of a steel nail. This increases the stones durability and makes it ideal for all categories of jewellery.
A natural Ammolite stone does not have a quartz cap or a protective backing. It is a 100%
Ammolite stone just as they are discovered in the earth. These stones are simply polished and
naturally stabilized. Natural stones are often priced at a premium to triplets as they contain much more Ammolite than a triplet does and are rarer than a triplet. This is also true of natural Opals vs Opal triplets.
Natural stones are often sold as collector pieces or set in pendants and earrings only. The
hardness of the stone makes it difficult to set in rings and bracelets as there is a higher chance of damage.
In 1981, Ammolite was awarded official gem status by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO).
KORITE is the world leader as it wholly owns its source of supply and has strict quality controls that set the standard in the Ammolite industry. All KORITE jewelry has a "Certificate of Authenticity" attesting to the highest levels of quality and craftsmanship.
KORITE is a member of Canadian Jewellers Association, the Jewelers Board of Trade, and the
American Gem Trade Association.
The Buffalo Stone is a fossilized sea creature called a baculite that is highly regarded by the Blackfoot Peoples of Southern Alberta for its unique properties. It is also known as ammolite, a rare gemstone found exclusively in Alberta and highly valued for its bright and iridescent colors. The shape of the septa walls of the Buffalo Stone is uneven, and as it weathers, it can resemble the shape of a buffalo with four legs and a big chin, just like a buffalo. Buffalo Stones are commonly found without color due to erosion, but rare cases of Aragonite layers forming on the outside of these fossils create the shimmering and colorful ammolite gemstones.
While Buffalo Stones are commonly found without color due to erosion, the rare cases in which Aragonite layers have formed on the outside of these fossils create the vibrant and shimmering ammolite gemstones. KORITE is one of the few companies in the world that specializes in the mining and production of ammolite gemstones. KORITE's expertise in the extraction and cutting of these rare gemstones has made them highly sought after by collectors and jewelry enthusiasts around the world. As a result, ammolite is considered one of the world's rarest and most valuable gemstones, prized for its beauty and unique geological origins.
