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How to Identify Larimar

Knowing the difference between genuine larimar gemstones and reconstituted larimar is vital when purchasing a piece of the stone or jewelry for your collection. No one wants to spend money on something to find out later it is not what they thought it was. Larimar is a rare gemstone, also known as blue pectolite. It is found in a mountainous region of the Dominican Republic and can be found in the Caribbean Sea as rainfall has knocked some pieces loose and carried them into the water. There are reconstituted pieces on the market, but there are easy-to-spot characteristics to watch for.

Things You'll Need

Magnifying glass

Instructions

- 1
  Examine the larimar gemstone by rubbing it with your fingers and noticing the texture. It should be smooth to the touch. Reconstituted larimar is made by crushing up scraps of larimar and low-end gemstone pieces and grinding them into a material that is combined with special epoxy and sometimes dye. This is allowed to compress and harden, and then slabbed and cut as pure larimar would be.
- 2
  Look closely at the color of the gemstone using a magnifying glass. Larimar will be solid in color or have some milky white coloring mixed in. It will not have black specks or lines in the surface. If the piece you are examining does have black specks, be cautious as it might be made from the crush method as described in Step 1.
- 3
  Use common sense when trying to identify genuine larimar. If a piece or product you are about to buy seems too good to be true, it probably is. Because of the difficulty in mining larimar, the price point for it is high. A reputable jeweler will be able to check a specimen to determine the authenticity.

Rock Collecting