Larimar Heart Pendant

I met this supplier at the 2023 Honolulu Crystal Show.  It was the first year for this show and so it was very small and mostly third-party wholesalers without a direct connection to the mines or polishing factories.  I spent virtually my entire time at the show at just one booth, talking with a husband and wife team selling gorgeous Larimar.  The husband was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and his father has been polishing Larimar since the mines opened in the 1970s.  The family runs a small polishing factory and has deep ties to the Larimar mining community. Exporting and selling is handled by the son who lives in the United States.

His wife is Colombian and used to work in corporate human resources before she got involved with the family business.  She was very happy and open to talking with me about ethical concerns.  She was even quick to pull out her phone and show me photos and videos so I could see for myself.  She told me that she’s the one who’s been pushing for more safety at the factory, especially masks and better ventilation.  She proudly said that all the polishers now wear masks.  The only exception is her semi-retired father-in-law, because he does whatever he wants.  I was happy to make a large purchase and I intend to use them exclusively for Larimar moving forward.