Ammolite
Gemstone
Gemstone
KORITE is the leader in the Ammolite industry, setting gemstone grading standards since 1979.
Ammolite is graded based on its brilliance, colour variety, and clarity, with four grades: AAA, AA, A, and Standard. The highest grades, AAA and AA, make up only about 3–5% of KORITE’s annual production, highlighting their rarity and beauty.
To learn more about the history, geology, formation, and gemological properties of Ammolite, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) offers an excellent overview here.
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.
In Blackfoot tradition, Ammolite is also revered as Iniskim, also known as the Buffalo Stone—a sacred talisman believed to bring good fortune, protection, and abundance. This name reflects its deep connection to the land and the spiritual significance it holds for Indigenous peoples of the Canadian Rockies.
Discover the beautiful origins of Ammolite below.
Over 71 million years ago, beneath the prehistoric seas of what is now Alberta, tectonic forces and time transformed fossilized ammonite shells into one of the rarest gemstones on earth: Ammolite. Prized for its vivid colours, intricate patterns, and deep cultural meaning, Ammolite is truly nature’s masterpiece.