Amber & Larimar

Amber

The Dominican Republic boasts the largest reserve of amber. In fact the Dominican Republic has the amber dating back to an amazing 25 to 26 million years old. The amber here is best known for its clarity and quality.

Amber is not a stone as you would assume, it is in fact made from petrified sap from trees that have been around some 50 million years ago. Amber varies in its color and depth ranging from almost transparent amber hues to a deep red with the rarest and most expensive color being blue, although you would expect this to be blue in color, it is called ‘blue’ because of its fluorescence when exposed to ultra violet. The rarest amber are those with pieces of insects or plant life within the stone.

Did you know: Amber also is said to have medicinal properties, years ago it was mixed in powder form with honey to ward off asthma, gout and the black plague! Sailors also used amber to protect them in the seas from sea creatures and used as talisman to ward off evil spirits.

There are museums in Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata where not only can you gaze at its natural beauty but you can also purchase pieces. In and around the Dominican Republic there are also many tourists areas who sell amber.

Larimar

Larimar is thought to originate from volcanoes but little research has been gathered to verify this. Mining of this pretty stone is found in the southwestern part of the island, but availability is good, most tourists areas will have Larimar.

Larimar is a pretty semi precious stone found only in the Domican Republic. The color is a lighter shade than other turquoise, the stone itself is made from pectolite with colors ranging from intense blue to green blue. The lightest stone is often the most expensive, usually these stones are set in gold, whereas the cheaper colors and contrasts are set in silver.

Did you know: Larimar is linked with Dominican folklore which is aid to enhance peace and tranquility, this is most likely to be because of its similarity to the colors of the sea which evokes tranquility. That said, folklore claims to allow the wearer to see things from another perspective.

Ladies, don’t leave your larimar jewelery in the sunlight as its actually photosensitive and will lose its color in time if left in the sun.