Citrine Ring - Focal Point

Artisan Organization: Ezequiel Tapia

Country: Mexico

“Hello! I am Ezequiel Tapia. Since I was a child, I always liked spending time in my father's lapidary workshop in Taxco de Alarcón. There were several years of learning in his workshop, learning various techniques including embossing, which is the oldest technique in jewelry and goldsmithing. And as time went by, I would take courses on new trends.

“The first time I made a piece of jewelry with rock crystals and silver, which I sold as charms or pendants, I realized my inclination was to make jewelry. Like most boys, however, after finishing high school, I left my town to continue my studies as an industrial mechanical engineer. When I finished I decided to associate with a friend in an industrial maintenance company, without neglecting my interest in starting my own business. The production and sales of jewelry, however, didn't get off to a good start, and I decided to quit.

“I returned to Taxco de Alarcón with the initiative of making jewelry combined with stones. Then I learned to work in goldsmithing, because my father was dedicated to making sculptures. Without a doubt, I like to create pieces that cause amazement for those who see them. My dream is to make our products known in various parts of the world, consolidate my business, and continue creating original and quality pieces. Carrying out this art has become a family tradition.

“Nature, flowers, textures, glaciers, the desert and the dunes are my influences when creating. I also find inspiration in contemporary, pre-Hispanic and Egyptian architectural elements. I am passionate about creating my own collections. Thanks to how easy it is to work with, I work mainly with 925 silver that I can obtain from suppliers in Taxco. Sometimes I combine it with 14k gold, semi-precious stones and pearls from local suppliers. When I conceive an idea, I put it on paper and then make prototypes to review their functionality.

“Always working with perseverance has helped me to consolidate my work, and working with my family makes it more pleasant. I have had to adapt to a new routine in which I try to give my parents a good quality of life, because their health has deteriorated over time. However, I have the help of my wife in administration and my sister-in-law in quality control, and that has been a great help. We want our art to continue contributing to the economy of our community, providing jobs and generating work for the workshops that support us when our orders exceed our capacity.”"