Discovered in 1916 by Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes Loren and then rediscovered in 1974 by a member of the US Peace Corp, larimar is a stunning and rare variety of pectolite found mainly in the Dominican Republic. With its mottled blue colors that give it the effect of tropical ocean water, larimar is a must have when visiting the Caribbean.
Larimar is part of the monoclinic crystal system, meaning it is the second least symmetrical of the crystal systems and looks uneven and asymmetrical in the rough. Larimar comes in a variety of colors from white, light blue, sky blue, green-blue, to volcanic blue. When purchasing larimar one wants to look for the darkest colored gemstone, the volcanic blue variety. One should avoid purchasing white or green because these colors are considered low in quality.
Larimar is rated as a 4.5 to 5 on the moh’s hardness scale, making it a soft gemstone and therefore will not wear well in rings. However, if it is set in a pair of earrings or in a necklace, its wearability will be very good. Larimar should avoid coming in contact with detergents, bleach, chlorine, hairspray, and perfume which can cause damage to the gemstone. To prevent larimar from being scratched, one should store the gemstone in a separate compartment from other jewelry. To avoid color fading, larimar should not be exposed to sunlight for long periods of time. When cleaning larimar, one should use mild soapy water and a soft brush.
When visiting the Caribbean, one should take advantage of the vast abundance of larimar.
The lack of availability elsewhere makes it a very difficult gemstone to obtain in loose form.