Some ancient Mexicans were expert metal smiths and jewellers, as museum exhibits show. The Spanish fever for Mexico's gold and silver led to indigenous people being banned from working those metals for a time during the colonial period, during which European styles of jewellery predominated.

Indigenous artisanship was revived in the 20^th century however, most famously in central Mexico by the American William Spratling, who initiated a silver-craft industry that now supplies more than 300 shops in Taxco. Silver is more widely available than gold in  Mexico, earrings are particularly popular.

For gold, Guanajuato and Oaxaca are two good places to look. The town of Igualá close to Taxco is a former gold mine. Today, it is very popular for its gold shops, like Taxco is for its silver boutiques.