Taxco Silver Buying Guide: Hallmarks, the Saturday Market and Spratling’s Legacy

Photo: Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones from México D. F., México / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0); destination context image.

Jet Set LatAM · Fashion Shopping Guides

Taxco climbs a steep hillside in Guerrero, all white houses, red tile roofs and the pink stone towers of the church of Santa Prisca. Silver was mined here from the sixteenth century, but Taxco became a design capital only in 1929, when American architect William Spratling opened a workshop and trained local artisans to create modern silver jewelry inspired by pre-Hispanic art. Today hundreds of silversmiths work in and around town. Here is how to buy well.

Read the stamp: .925, maker’s marks and the alpaca trap

• .925 means sterling silver: 92.5% pure silver. Look for it on every piece; anything stamped lower, or not stamped at all, is not sterling.
• Maker’s marks. Mexican silver is typically stamped with the workshop’s registration mark — a letter-and-number code, often beginning with T for Taxco — plus “Mexico” and 925. Older pieces may carry an eagle assay mark.
• Alpaca is not silver. In Mexico, alpaca means nickel silver, an alloy with no silver in it. It is cheaper, legitimate if labeled, and often sold beside sterling. Ask, and check the stamp.
• Magnet test. Silver is not magnetic; if a magnet sticks, the piece is not solid silver.

Where to shop: workshops, shops and the Saturday market

The center around Santa Prisca and the Plaza Borda is lined with silver shops, from tourist trinkets to serious design. For the best quality, look for workshops where you can see pieces being made and for houses that continue the Spratling-era design tradition. The Saturday silver market, a large weekly tianguis de plata aimed largely at wholesale buyers, is the place for volume and bargains — arrive early and compare.

For context, visit the Museo Guillermo Spratling, behind Santa Prisca, which displays his collection of pre-Hispanic art. Every year, the National Silver Fair (Feria Nacional de la Plata), held around late November and early December, brings competitions, exhibitions and the best silversmiths in Mexico to town.

Prices and bargaining

Silver is often priced partly by weight, with design and workmanship on top. Ask the weight and the price per gram, compare shops and bargain politely — especially for several pieces. Designer and signed pieces command more and are worth it for exceptional work. Keep receipts with the maker’s details.

Planning the trip

Taxco is roughly three hours by road from Mexico City; you can visit in a long day, but staying the night lets you enjoy the evening light on the hillside. Wear flat shoes for the steep cobbled streets and use the town’s small taxis to get around. Before you go, read our guide to Mexican jewelry designers in Mexico City; after, add a stop in San Miguel de Allende for hand-dyed fashion and folk art.

Shop Mexican silver and jewelry

Taxco silver and silver jewelry from our ShopMy edit:

• Margot de Taxco vintage enamel cufflinks — mid-century Taxco design by a Spratling-era master
• Hammered sterling silver cuff — in the spirit of Taxco’s hand-hammered silver
• Mercedes Salazar earrings — Latin American statement jewelry
• Packing cubes — to keep small purchases organized

Flying in? Compare flights with LATAM Airlines ↗

Frequently asked questions

Is Taxco silver real?

Genuine Taxco sterling silver is stamped .925, usually with a maker’s registration mark and “Mexico”. Pieces labeled alpaca are nickel silver and contain no silver.

When is the silver market in Taxco?

Taxco’s large silver market, the tianguis de plata, takes place on Saturdays and is aimed largely at wholesale buyers.

When is the National Silver Fair in Taxco?

The Feria Nacional de la Plata is held each year around late November and early December.

How far is Taxco from Mexico City?

About three hours by road, which makes it a long day trip or an easy overnight.

Keep reading

• San Miguel de Allende Shopping Guide
• What to Wear to a Destination Wedding in Latin America
• What to Buy in Latin America
• Mexican Fashion Designers to Know

See all our Latin America fashion shopping guides →

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