The Dominican Republic is one of the best places in the world to
enjoy the Caribbean. Regarded as the "Caribbeans best kept
secret", the Dominican
shop for souvenirs. Specifically, you can visit the Dominican
Republic and purchase two types of stones: larimar and amber. You can
purchase these types of
Amber
In a gist, amber is just tree sap. The only difference is that the
sap got hard and stayed in the same state for millions of years. It
has become a gem and
although it's not as expensive as diamonds,
amber shares a distinct characteristic: they can be called gems but
they are not minerals. Although this type
of gem can be found around the world, the
Dominican Republic is well known for its variety. The reason for this
large amount of amber
is due to the weather. Because of tropical
conditions, fossilization is rapid in this country.
The popularity of amber increased in the 90s when this particular
mineral was used in the movie "Jurassic Park". Stephen
Spielberg (the director) was in
the Dominican Republic and was so
amazed by this particular gem that he included it in this movie.
Because of that movie, amber sales have increased five fold.
Larimar
Amber may be found around the world but only in the Dominican
Republic can you find Larimar. This is a beautiful gem that comes in
an ocean blue color.
It is believed that this particular gem was
formed through volcanic activities in the past along with other
minerals found in the Dominican Republic. Although
larimar has been in existence for thousands of years, it
was only in the mid 70s that the gem was given its name.
Larimar is
the combination of “Larissa,” which is the daughter of the first
person who explored this gem, Miguel Mendez. "Lari" was
used and "mar" was
added to note the color of the gem.
Although at first this was not the official name of the gem, everyone
started using this name. Mining is still on going but
many believe
that the gem will eventually become depleted. Because of this
uncertainty, it is very likely that the price of larimar will
increase, potentially
making it a great investment.
Avoiding Counterfeits
Amber and larimar are increasingly becoming more expensive because
of the demand and short supply. Because of this situation, the
possibility of purchasing
a counterfeit is very high if you're not
careful. Fortunately, there are places in Santo Domingo where tourists and
locals can visit to purchase the authentic
amber and larimar. The
Larimar and Amber Museum is located in Santo Domingo and they sell
authentic jewelry of larimar and amber. Tourists can also tour
these
museums so that they can learn more about these great gems. They may
be a bit expensive compared to the street jewelry, but you can be
assured
that they are authentic.
Where to Find Amber and Larimar During Your Dominican Adult Getaway