Visiting a Local Artisan in San Miguel de Allende

A few days ago I spent part of my day visiting a local artisan here in San Miguel de Allende. I’d been looking for someone new to collaborate with on making pendants for my designs. Most of my production is currently done by craftsmen in Turkey and Bali, but I always like to explore local talent wherever I am.

The artisan I visited has a small workshop with a team of about five people, each working at their own station. He showed me the different steps in his process — from casting and setting stones to wire wrapping and shaping metal. He also works with other materials like leather, which opened up some interesting ideas for future designs.

We talked about capabilities, turnaround times, and the types of molds he can make for pendants. He also showed me some of his own designs, which gave me a good sense of his style and range. Seeing how other designers approach their work is always inspiring and helps me think of new directions for my own pieces.

Every so often, I visit different workshops like this — sometimes in Mexico, other times abroad — to find the right craftspeople for specific pieces. Each location has its strengths depending on the materials and techniques involved, and I enjoy matching the right project with the right maker.

Days like this are a reminder that jewelry design is as much about collaboration as it is creativity. Meeting the people behind the work adds another layer of meaning to the pieces that eventually make their way to you.