Jewelry is a highly valued type of accessory popular in the world. While many view it as a fashion item, some also consider it an excellent form of investment that has retained its profitability over time. This is why many think of fine jewelry as a premium giftable item that anyone would appreciate, especially when they’re embellished with precious gemstones.
In the past few decades, several newly discovered gemstones have risen in popularity. Among them is ammolite—a rare gem that’s characterized by having multiple iridescent colors of a unique variety. This gemstone, also called korite or calcentine, has a distinct origin making it an exciting and valuable addition to any jewelry.
Since ammolite has just been discovered recently, many people are curious to find out more about it and why having this precious stone can be a worthy investment for anyone to make. If you’d like to find out more about ammolite jewelry, here are a few details you can take note of.
It Came from Fossils
Ammolite is an organic gemstone from aragonite shell material found on fossilized ammonite. Ammonites are prehistoric mollusks belonging to the Cephalopoda class that existed more than 200 million years ago during the Jurassic period. These predatory marine creatures are characterized by tentacles similar to octopuses and hard shells of various sizes and shapes. Some of them grew a little less than an inch, while others were as large as nine feet wide.
When ammonites became extinct 66 million years ago, their remains were fossilized at the bottom of the ocean. Their shells turned into stone-like materials that are now recognized as gemstones.
It is One of the Rarest Gemstones in the World
Jewelry-quality ammolite gemstones are only found in Alberta. It was recognized as the official gemstone of the said province in 2004. This is because while ammonite sea creatures have lived in different parts of the world, only the fossils found in Southern Alberta, Canada, have been turned into gemstones due to their jewelry-grade quality. Those that came from other sources, on the other hand, were found to be less vibrant or too fragile to use.
It is Recently Discovered
Ammolite is one of the few gemstones discovered in the world in the past few decades. As such, it’s only recently that it was recognized in the global jewelry industry. It was officially recognized as a gemstone by the World Jewelry Confederation or CIBJO (Confédération International pour la Bijouterie) in 1981—20 years after it was first introduced to the world market.
It is Believed to be a Powerful Gem
The discovery of ammolite is attributed to the Niitsitapi, also known as Blackfoot Indians. They are a group of indigenous people from Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Montana who had used the iridescent ammonite fossils hundreds of years before they became known. The Blackfoot Indians called the fossilized materials “Iniskim,” which meant “buffalo stone,” and it’s widely believed that the natives used them as religious talismans for their hunting ceremonies.
In other parts of the globe, ammolite is a powerful gemstone in feng shui. Many believe that the beautiful colors of ammolite jewelry attract energy, creativity, wisdom, and health. Moreover, it’s considered an ancient stone that has absorbed intense positive energy or Chi from the cores of the earth and powerful insight from the universe.
Its Color Variety & Meaning
Many ammolite gems come in a combination of red and green colors, with other shades adding to the variety. However, those in blue or violet are rare and more valuable.
In feng shui, ammolite is widely regarded as a prosperity stone. The variety of colors signifies the balance between the five elements of nature: wood, water, metal, fire, and earth. Many associate ammolite gems with healing, wealth, and luck because of the energies brought by their vibrant colors.
Conclusion
Ammolite jewelry has continued to gain popularity because of its unique history and characteristics. However, there have been concerns about the sustainability of this fossilized gem because of the undetermined amount of gem-grade ammolite available. Apart from this, some believe that the challenging production requirements may threaten its distribution.
On the other hand, the demand for this precious gem is expected to rise exponentially. Thus, many industry experts believe that the gem will become more valuable in time. This is why investing in one may be an excellent way to take advantage of the potential profits it may bring in the future.
