From the Upper Cretaceous (75-72 million years ago), the 23-inch specimen of Placenticeras meeki displaying exceptional iridescence of deep blues, purples and pinks, in addition to the reds, greens, yellows and oranges to both sides typically associated with this species, supported upright on custom stand.
the ammonite 23 x 19¹⁄₂ x 2in. (58.5 x 49.5 x 5cm.)

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
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Lot Essay

The opal like iridescence of these ammonites from Alberta, Canada has been termed ammolite, and since 1981 has had the status of a gemstone. The shimmering, metallic colours were caused by the combination of millions of years of compression and the mineralization of iron, copper and silica which precipitated from volcanic ash. The opalescent layers of colour are particularly prized in the Chinese philosophical system of Feng-Shui.
The ammonites are a group of molluscs that lived in the seas from the mid-Devonian (approximately 400 million years ago) to the end of the Cretaceous (65 million years ago). The sequence of events that famously killed off the dinosaurs also drove the ammonites to extinction.
The present specimen is not only one of the largest examples to be offered by Christie's in recent years, its preserved shell also features extraordinary polychromy across the shell - especially blues and purples - that are usually found only as trace elements in similar specimens.