MOLDAVITE AND LARIMAR

I have found some beautiful pieces for the shop. Moldavite and Larimar are not as common as some of the other semi-precious stones used in jewellery. So when I'm curating I always get so excited by unusual finds. The two are very different from one another but each has an allure of it's own.

Moldavite is a member of the Tektite group of natural glasses formed by interplanetary collisions. (The Greek word tektos, means "molten,"). Tektites are glassy mixtures of minerals with an amorphous crystal structure. Moldavite is a deep forest green and is the only variety suitable for cutting and faceting as a gem. Found only in the area previously known as Czechoslovakia, Moldavite is named for the Moldau River (called the Vltava in Czech). While scientists differ in theories regarding Moldavite's origin, nearly all agree its formation coincides with the crash of a large meteorite approximately 14.8 million years ago in what is now the Bohemian plateau. Moldavite is a favoured crystal for aiding meditation and balancing the heart chakra.

Larimar, also called "Stefilia's Stone", is a rare blue variety of the mineral pectolite which is found only in one location in the entire world - the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean. The blue colour is due to traces of copper. Larimar's color can range from very light blue to greenish blue, and from medium sky blue to 'volcanic blue', similar to turquoise. It rarely forms in solid colours; most stones exhibit the characteristic white circular marbling patterns. The soft, soothing blues and calming turquoise with the white streaky pattern resembles the play of sunlight on water. The energy of this stone is the embodiment of the Caribbean sea and sky. It brings the ancient wisdom of Atlantis and the healing power of dolphins to harmonize the body and soul.