Stone Mania

Larimar is also known as blue pectolite and is only found on the island of Hispaniola in the Dominican Republic.  The larimar mine is found is located in a remote mountainous region and it's unsure quite how much is left or whether it is even accessible to be mined.  As a result few people have ever seen larimar and it is unlikely to ever become widespread.

Larimar comes in a wide variety of colours varying from gentle greens to the deepest of blues.  It has been called the gemstone of the Caribbean not only because of its source, but also because its colours perfectly mimic the variation of the colours of the sea.  Larimar is an extremely hard and durable gemstone and so is perfect for use in jewellery.

The first official record of larimar was made in 1916 but it is likely that it was known by the Taíno Indians who inhabited the islands for a thousand years before Christopher Columbus arrived in the new world.  This record came about when a Spanish missionary was in the area looking for gold and other precious resources which could be traded.  He found the larimar mine and requested access but this was declined and he was subsequently sent back to Spain.  No further information on the mine or larimar can be found until the mid 1950's, at which time it came to light that the inhabitants of a small fishing village were collecting small fragments of a blue gemstone that was being washed up onto the beach.  It took a further 20 years before anyone took enough interest to investigate further.

An artist from a nearby village had been using larimar for his work and when he needed more than could be found on the beach, he started making enquiries into its source. The artist named this magnificent gemstone which is known as larimar after his daughter, LARIssa and the Spanish word for 'sea' MAR.

Larimar is highly sought after by crystal healers and they were the first people to fully appreciate its rarity and value.  Larimar is believed to combine the energy of the heavens with the energy of the oceans, this means it helps combine our thoughts (air) with our emotions (water).  Larimar is associated with the region around the throat and so is supposed to enhance ones communication skills, in particular it aids communication with sea creatures hence is often referred to as the dolphin stone.

Larimar is highly energetic and can help to dislodge energy blocks.  It can increase natural energy whilst helping to dispel negative energy.  It is said that it has the ability to draw ones soul mate to the wearer and can help to support them during times of transformation and change.  Larimar is a very calming gemstone bringing the wearer serenity and peace.

Whilst there is still a large amount of low to medium quality larimar available on the market, finer quality gemstones are becoming extremely rare and can be very expensive.

Larimar is graded 5 to 7 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness.

The following links offer further reading on larimar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larimar
http://www.larimarmuseum.com/

Click here to view our exclusive collection of larimar pendants