Larimar

What Is Larimar?

Larimar is a rare blue stone found only in the Dominican Republic. It's a form of the mineral pectolite that has only been known outside its home country since the early twentieth century.

Colour

Whereas normal pectolite conatins calcium, in larimar this is largely replaced by cobalt giving the stone its distinctive blue hue. Depending on the exact chemical composition larimar can have a range of colours varying from the well known light blue through to deeper shades, sometimes with a green tinge.

None of the other known sources of pectolite have this cobalt blue coloration, so the supply of larimar is limited. The stone is mined from volcanic shafts so the colour is sometimes described as "volcanic blue". Prices tend to be higher the deeper the blue colour, although this can fade over time if exposed to excessive light and heat.

Meaning

Larimar has been given various poetic names, usually associated with the sea - examples include Caribbean stone, dolphin stone and even Atlantis stone. The name larimar is a contraction of the name Larissa (daughter of Miguel Mendez who brought the stone to the world's attention) and mar for sea. In folklore larimar has traditionally been associated with healing.

You can buy larimar jewelry in a variety of forms including bracelets, rings and earrings. The stones are often set in silver to offset and enhance their blue colour.