August 21, 2026 | Bahoruco, Barahona, Dominican Republic

On Friday, August 21, 2026, the heart of the Dominican Larimar community came together in Bahoruco, Barahona, for an important event dedicated to one of the Dominican Republic's greatest natural treasures.

Organized by the Ministry of Energy and Mines of the Dominican Republic, the Feria de Venta Directa Mineros–Artesanos Larimar 2026 brought miners, artisans, jewelers, designers, workshops, and Dominican brands together at the Escuela Museo Taller de Larimar.

Mauna Vibes was proud to be there.

For us, this was more than an opportunity to acquire beautiful Larimar. It was an opportunity to return to the source, meet the people behind the stone, strengthen relationships with local miners and artisans, and support the communities whose knowledge and craftsmanship keep the Larimar tradition alive.

Connecting the Larimar Community

One of the principal objectives of the fair was beautifully simple: bring the people who extract Larimar closer to the people who transform it.

Rather than separating miners, lapidaries, artisans, designers, jewelers, and brands into different parts of the supply chain, the event created a space where they could meet directly, exchange knowledge, build relationships, and purchase Larimar at its source.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines described the initiative as a way to strengthen the Larimar value chain, promote fair commerce, support the economy of southern Dominican communities, and facilitate direct access to raw material for artisans, jewelers, and designers.

For a stone so closely tied to one particular region and its people, those relationships matter.

A Timely Conversation About Larimar

The fair also arrived during an important national conversation about the future of Larimar.

In recent months, sectors of the Dominican artisan community have expressed concerns about access to quality Larimar and the amount of material entering international markets.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines has responded that exports are not creating a shortage for Dominican artisans. According to figures released by the Ministry in July 2026, approximately 60% of Larimar production remains in the Dominican Republic, while approximately 40% is destined for international markets.

The Ministry has further stated that first- and second-category Larimar, including highly desirable intense blue material, is prioritized for Dominican workshops and artisans.

Whatever one’s perspective on this evolving conversation, the fair represented something extremely positive: dialogue and direct connection.

Creating opportunities for miners, artisans, designers, jewelers, and Dominican businesses to meet one another can help build a healthier, more transparent and sustainable future for the stone.

From the Mine to the Artisan’s Hands

Larimar is unlike almost any other gemstone in the world.

Its story begins in the mountains of Barahona in the Dominican Republic, where miners undertake the difficult work of bringing this extraordinary blue stone from the earth.

But extraction is only the beginning.

A rough piece of Larimar may then pass through the hands of cutters, polishers, silversmiths, jewelers and designers before becoming the finished piece someone eventually wears.

Behind every authentic piece is therefore a chain of human skill.

The miner recognizes the material. The lapidary studies the stone before deciding how to cut it. The artisan reveals its color and pattern. The silversmith creates a setting around its natural form. And finally, a piece that began beneath the mountains of Barahona travels into the world carrying a small part of the Dominican Republic with it.

Why Direct Sourcing Matters to Mauna Vibes

At Mauna Vibes, supporting Dominican miners and artisans has always been central to the way we work.

Whenever possible, we source our Larimar directly within the Dominican Republic and collaborate with local artisans, lapidaries and silversmiths to create our pieces.

For us, authenticity means more than verifying that a stone is genuine Larimar. It also means respecting its origin, people and craftsmanship.

Buying and producing locally helps circulate economic activity within Dominican communities. It supports the miners who extract the stone, the artisans who have spent years developing their craft, and the small workshops that transform rough Larimar into jewelry and art.

It also allows us to maintain a closer relationship with our materials and the people who work with them.

Preserving Dominican Craftsmanship

Larimar is not simply a beautiful blue gemstone. It is part of the cultural and economic heritage of the Dominican Republic.

The stone has a protected Denomination of Origin, an increasingly important tool for safeguarding the identity and authenticity of Larimar and strengthening the value created around it.

For Mauna Vibes, preserving Larimar means preserving more than the mineral itself. It means preserving the knowledge of the miner who recognizes promising material underground. It means preserving the hands of the artisan who understands how to orient a stone to reveal its blues, whites, greens, volcanic patterns and natural inclusions. It means preserving Dominican jewelry-making traditions.

And it means ensuring that as Larimar becomes increasingly recognized around the world, the communities at its origin remain an essential part of its story.

Our Experience in Bahoruco

Being present in Bahoruco gave us the opportunity to connect directly with miners and artisans, see newly available material, exchange ideas, and continue developing relationships with people working at the very beginning of the Larimar journey.

These are relationships we value deeply.

Every piece of rough Larimar has possibilities hidden inside it. Some stones reveal brilliant Caribbean blues. Others contain white volcanic patterns, green-blue tones, red or dark matrix, unusual formations or beautiful natural inclusions.

Part of the art is knowing that no two stones will ever be exactly alike. That individuality is precisely what makes natural Larimar so special.

A Stronger Future for Dominican Larimar

We are encouraged to see initiatives that bring different members of the Larimar community together.

The future of Larimar should include strong miners, thriving local artisans, responsible businesses, knowledgeable designers, fair opportunities for communities in Barahona, and customers around the world who understand the true origin and value of the stone they are purchasing.

Events such as the 2026 Miners–Artisans Larimar Fair create opportunities for those relationships to grow.

For Mauna Vibes, being present was both a business opportunity and a reaffirmation of what we believe:

The beauty of Larimar begins with the land, but its story belongs equally to the Dominican people who bring that beauty to life.

We are proud to support local miners, Dominican artisans and traditional craftsmanship, and we look forward to continuing to share authentic Larimar from its homeland with collectors and jewelry lovers around the world.

Every Piece You Purchase Makes a Difference

When you choose Mauna Vibes, you are not simply buying a beautiful piece of jewelry or a rare gemstone. Every purchase directly supports Dominican miners, local artisans, and the preservation of traditional Larimar craftsmanship in the communities of Barahona.

Your support helps keep this extraordinary tradition alive — from the mine, through the artisan’s hands, and into the world.

Discover Our Larimar Collection

Explore authentic Dominican Larimar selected at its source and transformed through the skill of local artisans. Every piece celebrates the extraordinary variations that make genuine Larimar unique.

• Larimar Necklaces & Pendants — Handcrafted sterling silver pendants and necklaces featuring genuine Dominican Larimar
• Larimar Silver Bracelets — Elegant bracelets in 925 sterling silver with authentic Larimar stones
• Larimar Earrings — Beautiful earrings showcasing the ocean blues of Dominican Larimar
• Larimar Rings — Stunning rings in sterling silver with one-of-a-kind Larimar stones
• Larimar Raw Stones, Slabs & Freeforms — Natural Larimar specimens for collectors, healers, and gemstone lovers

From Barahona, Dominican Republic, to the world — preserving the origin, supporting the hands behind the craft, and sharing the natural beauty of Larimar.