Where Does Larimar Come From?
Larimar is a gemstone that is unique to the mountains on the southern coastline of the Dominican Republic.
It’s a breathtaking stone that comes in all of ocean colors, with shades of light blue, green-blue, deep blue, and intense white marbling like sea foam.
The mining process for larimar is highly selective and delicate, as the gemstone is found in very small quantities and can be easily damaged during the extraction process.
Why is Larimar So Rare?
Because it can only be found in one place in the whole world: Larimar is unique to a small patch of land on an island in the Caribbean.
Larimar is largely composed of pectolite (which is an acid silicate of calcium and sodium). Of course, pectolite is found in many areas of the world, but Larimar is so special because it has a unique volcanic blue coloring due to the large quantity of copper in its composition.
This area used to be extremely volcanic, and it was this volcanic activity, combined with the unique compounds in the soil, that generated the perfect conditions for the creation of Larimar.
Can You Find Larimar in Any Other Country?
No. The composition of Larimar is unique to our country.
And beware: It´s illegal to export Larimar in its raw state out of the Dominican Republic.
If you come across someone outside of the Dominican Republic who tells you they are cutting the stones themselves, they are either purchasing the stones illegally or, more likely, lying to you.
Why The Name Larimar?
Larimar was named so by the person that first identified it as a distinct stone (Mr. Miguel Méndez). He decided to name it after his daughter, Larissa. He combined the beginning of her name with the Spanish word for sea, mar, likely due to finding the first stone on a beach.
Is Larimar Always Blue?
It is most commonly found in the sky-blue shade with white marbling you likely fell in love with, but it is sometimes found in other variations of blue and green, even with red spots and brown strikes, depending on the individual minerals where the Larimar formed.
However, the more intense the blue and the more marbling a stone has the purer and rarer it is, so the Larimar you’ll find will likely be an intense light blue with white marbling.
Larimar's unique color and rarity make it a highly sought-after gemstone for jewelry. It is often used in rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, and can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes. The stone is highly versatile, and its blue color pairs well with both gold and silver settings, making it a popular choice for both casual and formal jewelry.