Stabilization
Much (not necessarily all) ammolite is micaceous - it flakes and cleaves like mica. Because of this, ammolite is stabilized. Stabilization is an accepted treatment that has no negative impact on the gem. It may enhance the gem slightly, by making it less directional.

Stabilization is done by forcing epoxy into the layers under pressure. This cements the layers together and creates a stable stone that can be used for jewelry.

Virtually all ammolite on the market has been stabilized.

Most professional lapidaries will not add any coating to the stabilized ammolite, but will just give it a final polish to show it off to its best advantage.

Polish Coating
Natural stones may have a layer of opticon, to give a higher polish to the surface.

Acrylic/Resin Coating
A clear coat is often used to protect ammonite fossils that have an outer layer of ammolite. The clear coat reflects UV rays and protects the color from fading over time and prolonged exposure to light.

Different in purpose from the above, coatings may also be used to maintain a wet look on lower quality ammolite, to improve its color.

I have also seen a layer of automotive clear coat put on a natural stone, to give it a smooth surface. (The lapidary did not want to grind that stone down to a smooth surface, as it would have taken off some of the color layers he was trying to preserve.)

These coatings are not desirable for stones to be made into jewelry, as you do not know how the coatings will hold up to the jewelry making process. Wire jewelry is probably the most suitable method for making these stones into jewelry - but if the end of a wire or tip of a pliers touches the surface, it should not cause bubbles or flakes like a coat of bad nail polish.

Blackening
When triplets (or un-capped doublets) are made, the new matrix that the ammolite is to be placed on is often made as black as possible, to intensify the colors of the ammolite. This can be done by dying the new matrix or by mixing lampblack into the epoxy.

Different effects can also be achieved by painting the matrix with a color other than black.

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