Larimar is a gemstone characteristic of the Dominican Republic, known for its blue tones and its connection to Barahona. Its history combines the search for a deposit with the artisanal work that made it known in jewelry.
A name inspired by the sea
Miguel Méndez gave this gemstone the name Larimar, combining two words with a special meaning:
LARI, for Larisa, his daughter.
MAR, for the color of the ocean and the beaches where the first specimens were found.
An early account in 1916
On November 22, 1916, Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes reported the existence of a stone with bluish-green tones along the Bahoruco River. This account is part of the history of larimar, before it received its current name and became known in jewelry.
From the beaches to jewelry
According to the historical account that inspires this page, the local inhabitants were already collecting and selling larimar before 1974, although it was not yet used as a gemstone.
That year, Miguel Méndez and Norman Rilling, a Peace Corps volunteer, bought several pounds of the raw mineral to explore its possibilities in Dominican craftsmanship. The first specimens were machine-polished and set in jewelry. Seeing the result, Méndez recognized the potential of larimar. Thus began a new chapter for this gemstone.
The search for the deposit
The story tells that, when larimar was no longer found on the beaches, Rilling suggested following the river to find its source. Before leaving the country, he shared the idea with Méndez, who undertook the search accompanied by local people.
After a long search, they found a small deposit high in the mountains, about 6 or 7 km from the beach. The larimar mining area is located in the mountains of Barahona, in the vicinity of Los Chupaderos and Los Checheses.
What is larimar?
It is a variety of pectolite, a mineral in the silicate group.
Its chemical formula is Ca2NaSi3O8(OH).
The colors of larimar
Its colors range from deep blue to pale blue and light blue, with white areas and greenish tones. The color variations and the patterns of the gemstone give each piece its own unique appearance.
National Gemstone of the Dominican Republic
On November 4, 2011, through Law No. 296-11, larimar was declared the National Gemstone of the Dominican Republic.
In addition, Law No. 17-18 of 2018 established November 22 as National Larimar Day. The date commemorates Miguel Domingo Fuertes's report in 1916 and celebrates the connection between this gemstone and the country.
Larimar at Lumar Caribe
At Lumar Caribe, that story continues with the gemstones we choose for our jewelry. We work with larimar cut by our suppliers and select the pieces for their tones, patterns, shapes, and sizes.
The beads and chips offer us different ways to combine and create. Each design seeks to give the gemstone space so that its colors and details are the stars.
We choose larimar for its beauty and its origin in the Dominican Republic. A gemstone with a story that deserves to be told, without the need to attribute magical powers or promises to it.
References: Law No. 296-11 and Law No. 17-18.