Home to sparkling blue seas, stunning beaches and exotic tropical vistas, the Caribbean dazzles with its outward beauty. But two of the countries found here also have their own brand of “inner beauty”: semi-precious stones found nowhere else in the world.

larimar

Found only in a remote area of ​​the Dominican Republic, the same volcanic forces that created the island forged this exquisite gem. The hot gases pushed the molten material up the volcano’s vents, causing its minerals to crystallize and create the stone’s unique properties. Over the eons, erosion caused pieces of stone to break off, carrying them into the Bahoruco River, where they fell against rocks and other debris. When the stones reached the end of the river at the beach, this polishing action revealed the marbled shades of navy blue, green and white for which larimar is now appreciated.

Although the date of their discovery is unknown, it is likely that the inhabitants came across the blue stones washed up on the beach more than a century ago. They may have later traced their origins to the mountains. By 1916, at least one person knew where to find it: a Barahona parish priest, who applied for the right to establish a mining operation. However, his application was never approved and Larimar remained shrouded in mystery for years to come.

In fact, it continued to go unnoticed by the world at large until 1974, when geologist Miguel Méndez and Peace Corps volunteer Norman Rilling found some of the stones on the beach. They followed the stream up the mountain and finally reached Los Chupaderos, where most of the larimar is mined today. Miguel Méndez named the stone by combining his daughter’s name, “Larissa”, with “mar”, the Spanish word for sea.

Scientifically, Larimar is blue pectolite. Although other types of pectolite exist in locations around the world, larimar is unique to the lush Bahoruco mountain range. Copper gives it its characteristic blues and greens, with blue stones being considered more valuable. Also, some stones contain red, brown or gray tones. Due to its coloration, it is sometimes confused with turquoise or blue jade.

Due to claims that the Dominican Republic was the ancient site of Atlantis, symbolized by dolphins, some people call Larimar “the stone of Atlantis” or “the stone of the dolphin”. According to folklore, larimar helps relieve stress, radiates healing energy, aids communication, and enlightens the mind.

With all the enthusiasm for Larimar, there is even a Larimar Museum in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. Housed in a well-restored historic building, the museum contains exhibits about the gem and a shop with handmade Larimar jewelry.

Although larimar is most often sold as jewelry, it is also available in sculptures and polished slabs. Only buy jewelry from reputable stores because blue glass has occasionally been passed off as Larimar. Stores in the Dominican Republic have the widest selection, of course, but Larimar can also be found in a small number of stores in other countries.

caymanite

Also restricted to a small area, Caymanite is found only in the Cayman Islands in the East End of Grand Cayman and the cliff on Cayman Brac. As with Larimar, volcanic activity formed the semi-precious stone. When the volcanic ash fell on the rocks below, it formed sediments. Over time, those sediments hardened into rocks, creating a type of dolomite. Because the mineral content of each layer is different, the color of each layer varies. On polished stones, this creates bands of colors in earth tones: browns, yellows, and whites.

Due to Caymanite’s hardness, cutting wheels and grinders need diamond tips to cut and polish it. Artists who want to create pieces from stones spend a lot of time and effort learning how to work with them.

In addition to jewelry pieces, caymanite is also used in sculptures, objects such as card holders, and is used in inlaid tabletops. Like the Larimar, its distribution is small, so it is rarely found outside the Cayman Islands.

Travelers can take home a true piece of the islands with Larimar and Caymanite items. And those lucky enough to find Larimar elsewhere can enjoy its soothing ocean tones without having to travel to the tropics.