Uncovering Larimar

Nestled in the mountains of the Dominican Republic, in one of the country’s poorest regions, lies the world's only larimar mine, a striking blue semiprecious stone unique to the country. Larimar has become an important source of income for the local community and a popular souvenir for tourists, sold in glitzy stores in Santo Domingo and on the roadsides of Bahoruco, but the deep blue and white volcanic gemstone has grown into much more. In 2011, larimar was declared the national stone of the Dominican Republic and in 2018, National Larimar Day was established.

Now the stone has transformed into one of the Caribbean country’s biggest industries. According to the Dominican government, the export of larimar has tripled in one year, from approximately 95,480 pounds in 2024 to 291,340 pounds in 2025.

With huge global demand for larimar, the Dominican government has worked furiously to protect the industry including banning the export of raw, unpolished stones and obtaining legal protection from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which was granted in July 2025.