Aztec Jewelry–Page 2

Discover our collection of Aztec jewelry in 18k gold or solid silver, designed and handcrafted in our Mexican jewelry workshop. If you are looking for authentic Aztec jewelry, then you are in the right place. We are a Mexican jewelry workshop located in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, and we offer unique Aztec jewelry designs for men and women. 

Aztec jewelry fascinates with its raw beauty, symbolic richness, and deep connection to the Mesoamerican spiritual universe. More than mere adornment, each piece embodied a sacred message for the Aztecs. Through gold, jade, turquoise, and precious feathers, the goldsmiths of the time created true treasures, reflections of their cosmogony.

Of course, we can change any design presented here or customize your idea of Aztec jewelry, get in touch with us to share with us the details of your project.

Artisanal Manufacturing

All the designs of Aztec jewelry offered in our collection are handcrafted in our workshop. As you have certainly noticed, we do not resell junk or mass-produced jewelry. This implies a lead time to manufacture our jewelry, check it in the section: Handcrafted Jewelry, on the product page.

We master all stages of manufacturing our Aztec gold jewelry in our jewelry workshop, from the creation of digital CAD models, the 3D printing process, the lost wax casting process, the work on the jeweler's bench of 18-karat gold, as well as the setting of our precious stones and diamonds, thus allowing us to guarantee the quality of our jewelry.

The fascinating History of Aztec Jewelry

Among the Aztecs, jewelry held a central place in social, and religious life. The more precious jewelry an individual wore, the more they displayed their rank, or their closeness to the gods. Rulers, priests, and warriors adorned themselves with elaborate ornaments to assert their power and honor spiritual forces. 

As religion was very important and the society strictly hierarchized, Aztec jewelry reflected this social organization. Almost all the jewelry found by archeologists had a spiritual meaning, with designs referring to gods or Aztec mythology. Check this post about Aztec symbols. Aztec jewelry can be interpreted from a devotion point of view, the metal used, the stones, and the patterns represented had a spiritual meaning, and had a social ranking function for their society.

The most impressive Aztec jewelry pieces we know about are:

• The serpent labret wit articulated tongue (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)
• The double headed serpent (British Museum, London)
• The Moctezuma headdress (Weltmuseum Wien (World Museum), Vienna, Austria)

Aztec Jewelry Making

The materials used bear witness to the richness and craftsmanship of the Aztecs. Gold, considered the sweat of the sun, was highly prized. Precious stones like jade symbolized life and eternity, while turquoise evoked water, the sky, and fertility. Rare seashells, carved bones, and shimmering feathers, especially from the quetzal, completed these unique creations. Precious materials used by Aztecs centuries ago are different from nowadays. All our Aztec jewelry is made with sterling silver, 18k gold and natural jade or turquoise stones.

The ancient manufacturing techniques of the Aztecs still impress today:

• Hammering gold sheets to shape pendants and diadems.

• Granulation (soldering tiny gold beads) to meticulously decorate surfaces.

• Inlaying fine stones into symbolic motifs.

Aztec goldsmithing was so refined that even the Spanish conquistadors were amazed, sending many jewels to Europe, where they were sadly melted down for their metal.

Sacred Symbols in Aztec Jewelry

Aztec jewelry was far more than decorative art; it served as a powerful medium to convey sacred symbols and cosmic beliefs. Each piece carried profound spiritual meaning, connecting the wearer to divine forces. The serpent, often associated with Quetzalcoatl, symbolized life, rebirth, and wisdom. Eagles represented the sun and bravery, embodying the spirit of warriors destined for the heavens. Jaguars, revered for their strength and nocturnal power, were linked to the underworld and the night sky.

Other common motifs included the sun disk, a reference to cosmic cycles and the gods' eternal struggle to sustain life, and spirals, representing the flow of energy and the connection between earth and sky. Precious materials like jade and turquoise enhanced these symbols, adding layers of meaning tied to water, fertility, and immortality. Through their jewelry, the Aztecs wore their beliefs, aspirations, and reverence for the universe close to their hearts.

Ancient Aztec Jewelry

Aztecs wore a lot of jewelry as it was a way to show their social rank and status to others. Mayas and Aztecs were skilled in craftmanship to work precious metals and they were using a lot of jewelry specific to their culture as lip and nose plugs, Masks, Pectoral necklaces, headdresses, and bells. More than a decorative function, jewelry was a manner to celebrate the gods and represent them in beautiful artifacts. Aztec jewelry has always had a spiritual meaning and social function.

Aztecs already used solid silver and solid gold for the making of jewelry. Jade and turquoise stone were the most precious gems used and reserved for the elite. For Aztec, Jade was the most precious of all gems and represented eternal love. Lower-class Aztec would wear obsidian jewelry.

Custom Aztec Jewelry

Obviously, we do not pretend to offer all the Aztec jewelry that is possible as the Aztec art is to extend to be resumed in our jewelry designs. As we can design and produce any type or design of jewelry, feel free to contact us to share your own Aztec jewelry design or ancient Aztec artifact as an inspiration to make your custom jewelry design.