Taxco Silver Bracelets

93 items

Explore NOVICA's Taxco Bracelets Collection. High in the Sierra Madre Mountains, Taxco silversmiths made gifts for the Aztec gods long before the Spaniards arrived; but it took the persistent vision of American architect William Spratling, credited with fathering the modern Mexican silver movement, to put Taxco on the jewelry collector's map. Spratling's vision lives on in the amazing handcrafted silver bracelets created by talented Taxco Jewelry artisans.

The Village Council

Your answers straight from the village experts

+ - What makes a women’s bracelet eco-friendly?

Artisans the world over utilize the natural materials at their disposal to create beautiful, sustainable jewelry. Wood, bamboo and dried gourds. Coconut shells, rattan and terra-cotta. Even natural grasses lend themselves to a jeweler's creativity while art glass beads and pendants can be made from discarded bottles. Some artisans reclaim precious silver from photographic negatives. Colorful magazine pages can become tightly-rolled beads protected by a coat of varnish. Always creative, artists craft their bracelets out of innovative, eco-conscious materials.

+ - How do I know if my bracelet is handmade?

Handmade women's bracelets each have their own unique characteristics. Color, texture, size and design all vary. Often, the technique alone will tell you, for example, hand-knotted, braided or woven bracelets. Leather bracelets with cutout motifs or embossing are usually crafted by hand.Thai jewelry by Karen silversmiths shows hand-stamped geometric or floral motifs and beads are usually made of fine silver, which is more malleable than sterling. Similarly, filigree jewelry is a meticulous handcrafted process. Most bracelets with natural, sustainable or recycled materials are handmade. Even some of the most sophisticated and modern gold and silver may be signed by the artist who made it.The most common indicator that a bracelet is handmade is the detailed and intricate design. Novica artisans demonstrate their techniques in the many videos on www.novica.com youll find the links on their product descriptions and also on the artisan bio page.

+ - What bracelet-making techniques have been passed down through generations?

Traditional bracelet-making techniques have been passed down over generations around the world. Women's bracelets in gold and silver are usually crafted with the lost wax technique. The image is sculpted in wax and enveloped in a mold materia. As molten gold or silver is poured into the mold, the wax image melts and the metal takes its place. However coiling fine strands of metal results in Andean filigree jewelry. Balinese artistry applies polished spirals and tendrils as well as tiny globes known as jawan to sleek silver jewelry. And a few contemporary artisans even weave or crochet the slender silver strands.Jade was highly prized by the Maya and still has an important place in modern Guatemalan jewelry. Amber from the rich mines in southern Mexico adorns the women's bracelets, necklaces, and earrings of the area. Macrame and beading are popular everywhere for boho style. And West Africas handmade beadwork is renowned the world over.

+ - Do any women’s bracelets have particular cultural significance?

women's bracelets carried immense cultural significance in ancient times and they still do. In Perus pre-Hispanic societies, gold represented the sun, and jewelry indicated social status and identity, as it also did among the Maya of Mexico and Central America. In India, bangles or kangans showed a woman was married and are a part of the 16 adornments customarily worn by a Hindu bride. Traditional West African beads are a sign of cultural identity. Each one has a meaning and tells a story.Today, women's bracelets are still culturally significant. In India, jewelry often depicts religious symbols and meditative mantras. Balinese bracelets may also depict dragons, thought to be the protectors of the gods, or the Hindu Barong deity, also a protection symbol. Motifs stamped into Karen hill tribe silver encourage living in harmony with nature. The hand-knotted bracelets of Guatemala symbolize friendship but evolved from a silent protest for loved ones missing during the country's armed conflict. Today, friends each tie a bracelet on the others arm and make a wish. The bracelet is worn until it wears out and falls off so the wish will come true.

+ - What are the most popular materials to make women’s bracelets?

Silver, gold, brass and copper have been popular for thousands of years and are often set with colorful gemstones. Artisans in different regions of the world take advantage of unique local resources, such as Brazilian golden grass, leather and coconut shell from Thailand, and carved bone jewelry from Bali. Intricate openwork carving, known as jali, can be seen in bangles from India. West Africa has a long tradition of beadwork, with beautiful beads made from recycled glass and even plastic becoming popular in recent years.

Featured Reviews

Sterling silver cuff bracelet, 'Skeletal Matador Dance'

Kathryn

Jun 23, 2017

Exquisite

The details on this bracelet are amazing. I can't wait to wear it with the other matador and flamenco jewelry I have by Maria Belen Nilson. Her work is fantastic.

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Sterling silver bangle bracelet, 'Six Beads'

Therese

Oct 5, 2019

A Favorite

This is one of my favorite ravelets. Made well and look fabulous with all my other pieces gfrom Novica

Beautiful

Fair Trade Silver Jewelry

Quality

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Lapis lazuli cuff bracelet, 'Rectangular Blue'

Michele

May 12, 2021

Exquisite work. I'm thrilled

This exceptional silver bangle is so beautiful and light . The lapis lazuli just pops out from the silver. The Taxco silversmith who designed this item is gifted ??. I'm so happy ??. It was my mother's day gift from my family. Sonia, thank you so much sweet pea. I love it.

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Featured Artist

Graeme and Philip Watson Handcrafted sterling silver jewelry

(66)

"Creating elegant and accessible jewelry has always attracted me, and embellishing someone with a personal touch is marvelous."

Latest Update"We have known you only a short time. But from the beginning, we loved the opportunity to show our jewelry and to make Taxco's... read more

More useful facts

Taxco Silver Bracelets

The artistic energy that reigns over the Mexican village of Taxco has captured the imagination of jewelry smiths from other regions in Mexico and across the globe. NOVICA artisans Alon Diller, Maria Belen Nilson and Guillermo Arregui now call Taxco their home, and they could not be happier living and creating among the company of such talent. Their designs honor the legacy inherent to Taxco sterling silver bracelets, while local artisan Oscar Figueroa continues to impress with bold designs and unique artistic harmony. Figueroa’s Taxco sterling silver cuff bracelet, ‘Taxco Melody’ combines hammered textures with aesthetic elegance for a celebration of Taxco's legacy. Israeli transplant Alon Diller says he traveled all over Mexico before someone told him about Taxco, “the jewelry capital of the world.” Diller never looked back. Find his and other artisans’ creations in our fabulous collection of authentic Taxco silver bracelets for women.