Larimar
Larimar is considered the only true gemstone of the Caribbean Basin. Larimar mirrors the Caribbean Sea with its various shades of cerulean blues and turquoise greens. The stone has been discovered in only one place in the world. In 1974, American Peace Corps volunteer Norman O’Reilly and local geologist Miguel Mendez became enamored with the blue stones they’d found near the summit of a volcanic mountain range straddling the southwestern side of Hispaniola near Barahona province. Different specimens varied in shade from cerulean blues to turquoise greens, but no matter what the shade, the exact same colors can be found somewhere in the nearby seas.

The two men needed a name for their find, so Mendez combined his daughter’s name Larisa with the Spanish word for “sea” and came up with the jewel called Larimar. He then found artisans to craft jewelry by vigorously polishing the stones to bring out their complexity and color.—a small mine near the summit of a volcanic mountain range straddling the southwestern side of Hispaniola near Barahona province. Besides its rarity, Larimar is also valued for its romantic hues and alleged spiritual powers. The stone is said to enhance emotional harmony and facilitate control of the emotions without repressing them. And, it’s supposedly connected to the world’s energies as they’re manifested in the sea and sky. Therefore, legend has it that the gem is excellent for both men and women looking to balance different elements in their lives.

Many places on the island sell Larimar. The Casa Verde gift shop and factory in Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone is a fun place to shop and visit. The little courtyard bar area is also a great place to stop in for an iced tea after a tour of the Cathedral. Also check out the nearby Casa de Bastidas gift shop on Calle Las Damas. Definiately shop the local stores and stay away from the hotel gift shops.

Amber
The Dominican Republic boasts the most sought after deposits of amber in the world, especially the blue and purple varieties not found in the Baltic mines regions that also export mine the semi-precious jewel. Amber is formed over millions of years and often contains the fossils of tiny leaves or insects collected within the resin before it hardened to stone. This adds drastically to the value because of the rarity, but most tourists prefer amber without the fossils. For them, there are many places to purchase it throughout the island.

The shops with some of the best selections are the colorful amber museums in Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo. They also offer exhibits describing the history of amber creation and extraction, along with samples of the prized fossilized pieces. Look for the brighter yellow stones to wear in summer and the more bronze-colored stones for fall and winter. Also, the stuff grows on you. Christopher Columbus became so enamored with amber that he eventually placed more emphasis on discovering it than the gold and silver for which he originally came.

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