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AMMOLITE INFORMATION
Ammonite refers to the fossilized
remains of a shelled creature that swam in the shallow sea that
covered most of western Canada 75 million years ago, from the
Palaeozoic to the end of the Cretaceous era. Its modern relative is
the nautilus
The name "ammonite" is derived from
the ancient Egyptian god Ammon, who considered them to be divine. He
is represented by the head of a ram with twisted spiral horns,
reminiscent of the twisted shells of the ammonite.
Ammonite fossils are found around
the world, but southern Alberta is the only location where the
opal-like shell is preserved in abundance, and is currently quarried
along the St. Mary River near the City of Lethbridge, Alberta
Ammonite gem refers to the gem
material created from the fossilized and mineralized shell of
ammonite. The “Ammolite” is a registered trade name of gemstones
created from ammonite shell.
Ammolite was officially
recognized as a gemstone in 1981 by the International Confederation
of Jewellery in Paris
The iridescent look or “play of
colour” is created by the layers of aragonite that reflect and
refract light, causing a prism effect.
Due to its fragile nature,
ammonite gem is most commonly created as triplets. That is, a thin
layer of gem material placed between a clear synthetic spinel top
for hardness and durability and a backing of matrix. Aurora Canadian
Jewellery deals mostly in ammolite triplets as the natural stones
are considered too fragile for jewellery purposes.
Grading of
Ammolite
The quality of ammolite is
divided into three basic grades
AA
-stones that display an intense multitude of colours,
primarily red, green and blue
-extremely rare, as only about 5% of production is deemed AA
A+
A
-stones having less intensity and greater uniformity of
colour. The most sellable grade
A-
B
-stones having flat, uniform colour
-most of the production is B quality
Each ammolite stone in the Aurora
Canadian Jewellery Collection is selected by our Graduate Gemologist
(GIA) and guaranteed to be Grade “A” or better. The Collection consists of
pendants, rings, and tie bars in 14kt or 18kt gold
Guarantee
Each piece is meticulously
handcrafted by our master goldsmiths and is unconditionally
guaranteed against manufacturing defects for five years from date of
purchase. Ammolite carries a lifetime guarantee against stone
separation
Displaying
Ammolite
Display in a well lit area,
preferably in direct halogen or incandescent light
Ammolite shows best on a soft
light background, tan or beige is recommended. Dark colours, black
in particular, are not recommended
Display should be slightly tilted
(30 degrees) towards the front to enhance colour play
Care of
Ammolite Jewellery
Use mild liquid dish detergent or
pearl cleaner under warm water. A soft toothbrush may be used.
Gently pat dry with a soft cloth
Avoid water (remove ring when
washing hands) and high temperatures (do not leave jewellery close
to hot lamp or in direct sunlight)
Ultrasonic cleaner is not
recommended
Selling
Points for Ammolite Jewellery
·Ammolite (“opal-like”) stone
is a very rare gemstone of limited supply
·Ammolite is unique to Canada.
Only mined in Southern Alberta
·Each stone is different (*the
ammolite is natural stone so no two stones are the same*)
·Over 75 million years old, during
the time of the dinosaurs
·Excellent conversation piece
·Unique and original design and
excellent quality of finish
·Five Year unconditional guarantee
against faulty workmanship, lifetime guarantee against stone
separation
Selling points:
 |
Unique
jewellery created from 75 million year old fossils |
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Quality
jewellery in solid 14 or 18kt gold |
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Reminiscent
of Australian black opal |
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Life-time
guarantee |
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Ideal
gift or memento of North America |
What is Auroralite™?
Auroralite™
is a new ornamental stone created from the finest ammonite fossils.
Using a patented process, gem quality portions of the fossilized
shell are reconstructed to create stunning jewellery displaying a
rainbow of colors.
What is the difference between
Ammolite and Auroralite™?
Ammolite
is a registered trade name of gemstones created from ammonite shell.
Typically, Ammolite gem is made from one large section of the
fossil, whereas Auroralite™ is a mosaic of the best quality shell
fragments.
What is an ammonite?
Ammonite
is the fossilized remains of a shelled sea creature that lived in
the inland seas that covered much of North America 75 million years
ago, a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Where are ammonites found?
Ammonites
are now extinct, but their fossils have been found all over the
world. However, only ammonites from southern Alberta, Canada have
the well-preserved, colourful shells required for jewellery.
What type of gold is used in the
setting?
Auroralite™
is set in solid 14 or 18kt gold. 18kt gold is 75 percent pure gold,
the highest purity standard for jewellery, and is highly resistant
to discolouring or tarnishing. 14kt gold is slightly lower at 58.5%.
What is your guarantee?
Each
Auroralite™ stone carries an unconditional lifetime-guarantee
against separation.
What is the best way to display
Auroralite™?
Auroralite™
shows best on a light background (white or light cream) and at a
30-degree angle tilted towards the front. Ample lighting is key
Should I allow the customer to wear
Auroralite™?
It
depends on your store policy, but generally speaking, allowing a
customer to wear Auroralite™ is a powerful selling technique. It allows them to see for
themselves how beautiful it looks and prompts them to purchase.
How should I clean my Auroralite™?
A
simple way is to use liquid dish soap, thoroughly lather with finger
and rinse under warm tap water. Then pat dry with a lint free cloth.
Ultrasonic cleaning is NOT recommended.
COIN JEWELLERY
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Purest,
investment grade gold/platinum coin in the world. |
|
Year
2002 mintage. |
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Valuable
memento of Canadian experience or an ideal gift surely to be
appreciated. |
What is the significance of the
Maple Leaf gold coin?
With
a purity of 99.99% (24
karat), guaranteed by the Government of Canada, the Canadian Maple
Leaf gold coin is recognized world over as the leading investment
grade coin.
Who makes the gold/platinum
coins?
The
coins are minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, and then set into
handcrafted jewellery by Aurora Canadian Jewellery.
I see you have 1/20, 1/10, Ľ,
˝ and 1 ounce coins. What
are their equivalent weights in grams?
1
ounce is roughly 31.1 grams, so the weights are as follows:
1/10 oz is 3.11g
˝ oz is 15.55g
How do I care for and clean my
Aurora Canadian gold coin pendant?
As
with all fine jewellery, your Aurora Canadian gold coin pendant
should be worn with care. Your piece should also be stored
separately from other jewellery, as pure gold is relatively soft and
could be scratched. To clean, simply apply a small amount of liquid
dish soap and lather with fingers under warm tap water. Rinse and pat dry with a
soft, lint free cloth.
What
is the Maple Leaf Platinum Coin?
The coin, minted by the
Royal Canadian Mint, is solid platinum and 99.95 percent pure,
making the Maple Leaf an investment grade coin. Platinum is the
rarest of precious metals, far scarcer than gold. Platinum is
increasingly popular as jewellery, but is also an important metal
for industry and high technology.
Is
Platinum more expensive that gold?
Yes, the scarcity of
Platinum is far greater than gold.
At current market values
(Feb. 2002), Platinum is valued about 50 percent greater than
gold.
Where is
Platinum mined?
The major producers of
Platinum in the order of output are Russia, South Africa and Canada.
What
is the coin frame made of?
The coin frame is
handcrafted in solid 14 or 18kt gold.
The attached SKU label should indicate the karatage.
Please
explain the guarantee
Aurora Canadian Jewellery
guarantees the coin frame against faulty workmanship for five years
from the date of purchase. The
Government of Canada guarantees the coins for purity and weight.
Selling Points:
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Authentic
Canadian diamonds mined in the Northwest Territories of
Canada. |
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Diamonds
of superior fire and brilliance from the richest diamond mine
discovered in recent history. |
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Diamonds
set in solid 14 or 18kt gold. |
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Complete
with 14 or 18kt Italian gold chain, which uniquely adjusts in
length. |
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New for 2002! Premium Oak packaging
complete with educational CD Rom |
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Five-year
guarantee on gold diamond setting. |
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are “Aurora
Canadian Diamonds™”?
Aurora
Canadian Diamonds™ are a leading brand of jewellery featuring
genuine diamonds from the Northwest Territories of Canada
What is the quality of your
diamonds?
The
average quality of the collection is S.I. clarity and I to J color.
We
consider this rating as the best combination for value and quality.
Each diamond is polished to
European standards for superior fire and brilliance.
What is your guarantee?
Aurora
Canadian Diamonds™ are unconditionally guaranteed against faulty
workmanship for 5 years.
What is the karat of gold?
The
setting is solid 14 or 18kt gold and is complete with an Italian
made chain, also in solid 14 or 18kt gold. The chain is unique
in that its length is adjustable from 18 inches to 16 inches.18kt
gold is 75% pure gold, the highest purity standard for jewellery, so
it will never discolour or peal. 14kt is slightly lower at 58.5%
pure gold.
How should the diamonds be
displayed?
A
diamond requires good lighting to show its brilliance and fire.
How should my Aurora Canadian
Diamond be cleaned?
A
simple way is to use liquid dish soap and brush with a soft
toothbrush under warm tap water, then pat dry with a lint free
cloth. Ultrasonic cleaning is also recommended, however check with
manufacturer specifications, as intensities may vary.
Gold
is a precious metal that has been valued throughout history for its
luxurious beauty and investment potential.
Due
to its relative softness, gold must be combined with other metals
(called alloys) before crafted into jewellery. These alloys include
silver, copper, nickel and zinc. Various combinations of these
alloys result in different tones of gold.
Here
is a scale, which illustrates how gold “karat” corresponds to
purity.
24
karat is 24/24 or 100 percent pure gold
18
karat is 18/24 or 75.0 percent pure gold
14
karat is 14/24 or 58.5 percent pure gold
Federal
law strictly regulates the purity standard of gold jewelry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “tri-colour” gold?
Tri-colour
gold refers to gold settings, which have three different tones of
gold, typically yellow, white and rose gold.
I’m familiar with yellow gold, but white gold and
rose gold? Are they real gold?
Absolutely!
For instance, 18kt white gold is 75 percent pure gold, but the other
25 percent is a mixture of nickel and silver, giving the gold a
white tone. The same is true for 18kt rose gold, but the alloy
mixture includes copper to give a reddish tone.
Why is gold so expensive?
The price of gold is determined by world supply and
demand, which can fluctuate from one minute to the next. It is a
reflection of the value investors and government banks place on gold
given world economic and political conditions |
