What is Larimar and where does it come from?
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Larimar or blue pectolite is an extremely rare precious gemstone. It has been found only in one location: a mountainous, relatively inaccessible area in the province of Barahona in the Dominican Republic.
Larimar comes in a wide variety of colors ranging from gentle greens to the deepest blue. The patterns created during the cooling process give Larimar its unique appearance, with so much variation that no two pieces are alike. The exact process that formed larimar is unknown, but it is obviously due to the unique composition of the minerals in the area.
Larimar got its name from a Peace Corps volunteer in 1974. He combined his daughter’s name “Larissa” with “mar,” the Spanish word for the ocean (because of its blueish color), and named it “Larimar.”
One should consider themselves lucky to own Larimar jewelry as this is not a mainstream gemstone and is rare to find. Mined by hand from only one place in the world, this Dominican Republic stone is one of the natures’ rarest treasures.
Larimar meaning and properties
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It is said that this gemstone assists in generating feelings of relaxation and calmness; hence it is also called a ‘worry stone.’ Larimar’s color leads to its connection with water and is considered an ideal stone that helps stress-related imbalances, general anxiety and panic attacks. Larimar works by bringing balance and harmony with your energies to achieve overall calm, relaxation and unity within oneself. The true meaning of Larimar can be obtained from its association with the throat chakra, promoting its powers and healing ability, especially when the gemstone is worn as a necklace.
How is Larimar mined?
Larimar mining is considered “artisan mining”, meaning that it is small scale and informal, carried out by individuals or small groups using minimal machinery and equipment. It is a major driver of community development, by providing jobs and ensuring profits for local villagers in the surrounding region.
The surface area of the Larimar deposits are thought to cover less than a single square mile. The available quantity of Larimar is unknown, but what is known is that the surface area has been mined out, so now the shafts are chasing the Larimar deposit deep into the mountain.
How to take care of Larimar?
Although some pectolite stones, especially Larimar, are considered hard gemstones, their hardness range (4.5 to 5) makes it susceptible to scratches. Accidental shocks or mild impacts can fracture or chip a part of the gemstone. It is recommended not to use harsh cleaners or abrasives as these can scratch the surface, thereby degrading its quality. Larimar can be cleaned with water and a silver polishing cloth, or diluted mild dish soap and warm water. Also, never use an ultrasonic cleaner as it can largely damage the gemstone. Ensure that your Larimar stone doesn’t come in contact with chemicals present in household detergents, cosmetics, hairsprays, and even perfumes.
Larimar stone value:
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Depending on its grade, natural Larimar stone can be incredibly expensive. Green or red spots, brown splotches, or other colors due to chemical imperfections visible on the surface make it look incredibly beautiful. However, it’s the flawless sea-blue Larimar stone that fetches the highest prices.
Being one of the most beautiful and rare gemstones on the planet, Larimar has only ever been found in one, very small area in the mountains of the Dominican Republic, and over the last decade, has become one of the most sought after semi-precious gemstones in the world.
As the Larimar mines continue to chase the deposit even deeper, the difficulty and cost to extract the stone will naturally increase. So it seems safe to say, that unless a new deposit is found, Larimar is most likely to increase in value.
How to spot fake Larimar
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Due to its rarity, Larimar is no stranger to fakes bearing its name. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when recognizing fake from real stones. The first and most obvious way to recognize a real stone from plastic or resin is heat: a stone will always be cool to the touch. Plastic will take the temperature of the environment they are in. A common test to recognize plastic from stone is to put a needle by a flame, then press it on the stone. If it is resin, it will melt against the needle. Fire and heat will have no effect on stone. This is commonly called the "Lighter test". Plastic “Larimar” is also pretty easy to spot in a side by side comparison. Plastic Larimar will tend to have a uniform color and display consistent and repeating patterns.
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Some of our pieces contain Dominican Amber, which is considered the finest Amber in the world. Thanks to the clarity and high concentration of fossil inclusions, Dominican Amber is highly sought after by collectors and scientists as well.
The North coastline of the country produces the clearest and oldest Amber in the world. This Dominican precious stone earned worldwide fame in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, which was inspired from Dominican Amber pieces containing prehistoric inserts.