aw me and my cousin Lydia before my uncles wedding!

There are several factors typically used to grade the stone, with color and patterning being the primary ones:

Color – the deeper, "volcanic" blues are considered to be "best".

Patterning – the richer, more interesting, the better.

Luster - is it glossy?

Luminosity - does it seem to "glow" or have an inner light?

Clarity - is it free of obvious defects? (Pits, cracks, carbon deposits, etc.)

Translucence - can light pass thru a portion of the stone?

Chatoyance - a luminous band with a silky luster (like that typical of cat's-eye).

There is no one particular factor that determines the grade; it is a combination of factors. The depth of color alone may not "make or break" the grade; the pattern and luminosity may bring up the grade of a stone whose color may not be as deep as others.

If so much larimar on Ebay is "AAA," why is there such a difference in price?

While the term "AAA Larimar" is bandied about quite freely on Ebay, in actuality, most larimar identified on Ebay as "AAA" is not even close to AAA Larimar.

How do I know the Larimar I see on Ebay is really "AAA" grade?

Unfortunately, you don’t. In fact, if the listing says it’s "AAA" then one thing is certain – it’s probably NOT!

Many unscrupulous (or unknowledgeable) sellers list practically every stone they sell as AAA. On Ebay, "AAA Larimar" has become a marketing term, rather than a true "grade." This does a disservice not only to Ebay customers, but to the stone itself.

But while true AAA larimar is not inexpensive, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get good, high-quality larimar.

With larimar, perhaps more than with any other gemstone, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some prefer the very light blues of larimar, others prefer larimar stones that tend towards the green, and while others prefer larimar with mineral spots, some prefer larimar with no patterning at all.

In actuality, stones like those mentioned above cannot be classified as AAA larimar (or probably even AA larimar). But, when selecting larimar, the stone should speak to you. The stone you like the most is the stone that's right for you, regardless of its grading or perceived quality.