Larimar is only found in a limited deposit in the Dominican Republic. Its lovely sea-blue color is reminiscent of the Caribbean seas. Introducing stunning pieces of new Larimar jewelry that capture the essence of this unique gem.
The first Larimar mine was discovered in the Dominican Republic in 1916 by a priest, Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes de Loren, from the Barahona parish, in the southwest of the island.
At that time, the stone was not known or valued. Consequently, the Dominican Ministry of Mining denied it the permission to operate the mine. As a result, the stone and the mine fell into oblivion.
It was not until 1976 that a certain Miguel Méndez, a craftsman, learned of the existence of that stone.
Helped by Norman Rilling, a geologist friend of the Peace Corps, they searched for the blue stone. They began to extract it, eventually inspiring the creation of beautiful new Larimar jewelry.
At first they named it “Travelina”. However, Miguel Méndez decided name it “Larimar” in homage to his own daughter.
By associating the nickname “Lari”, of his daughter Larissa, with the word “mar” (“sea” in Spanish) due to its intense blue color, he formed the name. This name today describes the beautiful blue stone recognized as the gem with the color of the Caribbean Sea.
In the past, the Larimar, which did not yet have its official name, could be easily found on Bahoruco beach, a few kilometers from Barahona.
In fact, local children used to have fun collecting Larimar pebbles. The Bahoruco River dragged and deposited them on the beach in bottles, to sell them to visitors.
The mines upstream of the river have been operating since 1976. It is a mountainous region, very humid and exuberant.
The exploitation of Larimar is difficult and dangerous; the mines are always deeper. Their access is difficult due to the steep and slippery terrain. Everything About Larimar – Marahlago Jewelry
