César Cuevas

Julio César Ortíz was born on December 13, 1978 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, but has lived all his life in Taxco, Guerrero. His personal history and the history of his family are closely related to the craft of silversmithing and to the history of Taxco.

His uncle, an artisan from Oaxaca, like other members of the family, while working in Mexico City, discovered the possibility of working in Taxco in the workshops of William Spratling, a very important figure in the history of Mexican silversmithing. Thanks to his uncle’s successful career, he was able to bring the whole family to Taxco, including César’s mother.

From an early age, Cesar was surrounded by the atmosphere and sounds of the silversmith’s workshop. At the age of 15, he began working as his uncle’s assistant and learned to do the simplest jobs, such as washing pieces and getting materials. Over time, he gained skills and began to work on more complex tasks, such as bending, sanding and polishing. At the age of 19 or 20, he began to create his own pieces of jewelry.

The ​“Talud-Tablero” collection features jewelry made in 950 silver and 925 silver, which have a matte silver frame. At first glance, you can appreciate the level of mastery and time required for its manufacture.

César Cuevas’ jewelry collection stands out for its use of the main material, silver, which can be reused in new designs without losing its value. This makes it an ideal choice for circular production, since in its meticulous creation process, the metal is subjected to a cycle of casting, rolling and re-casting to achieve the perfect blend in each piece.

In addition, the creation of these jewels involves a minimal, or even zero, use of chemicals. This aspect, in addition to enhancing the handcrafted quality of each piece of jewelry, reflects a commitment to the environment.

César Cuevas creates his pieces in his home-workshop located in Taxco (Mexico).

Taxco, is a town known for the production of silver jewelry. In this setting, César Cuevas creates his pieces with silver purchased at the large local market in Taxco.

César Cuevas, does not use animal materials in his jewelry creations.

Among the materials he uses are 950 silver and 925 silver.This choice of materials reflects Cesar’s dedication to an animal-friendly approach to his artistic practice.

César Cuevas’ pieces are handmade. He does not use molds as in the casting technique, for example. Each element is made by hand, reserving the use of machinery only in the stages of lamination and polishing.

The main techniques used in the creation of his ​“Talud-Tablero” collection are fretwork, cardboarding, riveting and welding. These choices result in the uniqueness of each work, because, even in the details that make up the jewel, small variations can be appreciated. It is precisely this characteristic that makes the jewels of his ​“Talud-Tablero” collection unique pieces.

Often, it is difficult to determine the origin of the silver. César Cuevas, acquires these elements locally, specifically in the market of Taxco de Alarcón, Mexico, renowned for the excellence of its silver jewelry.