Larimar Freeform · 36×17 mm

Freeform larimar cabochon measuring 36×17×5 mm, featuring the characteristic turquoise blue palette and white veins of this unique mineral. An exclusive piece from the Dominican Republic, the world's only known source of larimar.

Item Details

This specific piece

The background of this piece is a medium-high intensity turquoise blue with white veins that draw a seascape on the cabochon's face. The veins are not straight lines but irregular curves that branch and intersect, following the cleavage planes of pectolite and the contours of the mineral fibers. The visual effect changes with the viewing angle: from the front, it shows the dominant blue; at an angle, the white veins catch the light and contrast with the background.

Larimar in mineralogy

Larimar is a blue variety of pectolite, a sodium and calcium inosilicate. The blue color, which can vary from light, almost white blue to intense sky blue, comes from copper ions (Cu²⁺) that partially substitute calcium in the crystal structure. Common pectolite is white or gray; only in the Los Chupaderos region, near Barahona (Quisqueya, Dominican Republic), is the variety with enough copper to produce the blue found. The deposit forms in pockets of volcanic basalt infiltrated by hydrothermal fluids rich in copper, calcium, and sodium. Extraction is artisanal and small-scale, which limits the availability of high-quality pieces.

What setting it works for

• Pendant with 925 silver bezel — the elongated shape and blue of larimar are a perfect combination.
• Statement ring with high protection bezel — the low hardness (4.5-5 Mohs) makes a bezel essential.
• Wire wrap with silver wire — the freeform shape is especially versatile in wire wrap because.

Larimar in lapidary tradition

Larimar was rediscovered in 1974 by Miguel Méndez and American Peace Corps volunteer Norman Rilling on a beach in Barahona province. Méndez named it by combining "Larissa" (his daughter) and "mar" (sea), due to the mineral's marine color. Although pectolite had been known since the 19th century, the blue variety from the Dominican Republic was not mineralogically documented until that year. The Taíno people, a pre-Columbian Caribbean indigenous group, already knew the mineral and called it the "blue stone of the sea"; some archaeologists have found fragments in Taíno settlements. In crystal tradition, larimar is associated with oceanic serenity and the ability to calm an overactive mind — a stone, according to tradition, that helps find one's own rhythm when the environment demands too much.

The symbolic properties attributed to minerals belong to cultural and historical traditions. They are shared for educational purposes, not as medical advice or a substitute for professional care.

How to recognize genuine larimar

Authentic larimar has a blue color with white veins that follow planes of pectolite fibers oriented in different directions, creating irregular and organic patterns. The density is high (2.85 g/cm³) for its size — a piece of larimar weighs noticeably more than a resin imitation of the same size. Under magnification, the characteristic fibrous texture of pectolite can be seen. Imitations of dyed turquoise (bluish howlite or magnesite) do not have the fibrous texture of larimar, and the color tends to be more homogeneous and less deep. Green larimar (with more copper) or very pale blue exists naturally; it does not indicate dye.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it genuine larimar or dyed pectolite?

It is natural blue pectolite (larimar) without dye treatment. The color comes from copper ions in the crystal structure.

Why is the hardness low?

Pectolite has a hardness of 4.5-5 Mohs, lower than quartz (7) but comparable to apatite.

Is it color-treated?

No detectable treatment. Larimar's blue is inherent to the mineralogy of pectolite with copper.