Inside TEOKARI, a Jewellery Studio in San Miguel de Allende

There is something rather special about finding a place where people are still willing to share what they know, where the emphasis is on learning a craft rather than simply buying the finished product.

Tucked behind a yellow metal gate in the San Antonio neighbourhood of San Miguel de Allende, TEOKARI Studio Joyero is one such place.

Photograph from Inside TEOKARI, a Jewellery Studio in San Miguel de Allende

Run by Alejandra and Jesús Villaverde, it is a working jewellery studio and teaching space.

My introduction to TEOKARI came through my daughter Olivia, who traveled all the way from New Zealand to spend a month studying jewellery making with Jesús. She already had some experience and wasn't looking for a general introduction. She wanted to learn specific techniques, including doming and prong stone setting, and to develop a much deeper understanding of the traditional processes involved in making jewellery.

She found exactly what she was looking for.

Alejandra and Jesús Villaverde with their daughter and my daughter Olivia in the center

Jesús is a jeweller and goldsmith who trained at Mexico's National Institute of Fine Arts, completing a three-year course in Jewellery and Goldsmithing after his introductory studies. He also previously taught jewellery at the Instituto Allende, where he shared his knowledge of traditional metalworking and stone-setting techniques.

Now, together with Alejandra, he is concentrating on their own studio and teaching, opening up their workshop to people who want to learn, whether for an afternoon or a much longer stay.

What makes the experience different is the depth of knowledge being shared. This isn't simply a class where you choose a stone, follow a few instructions, and leave with a ring. Jesús is an old-school craftsman who believes in understanding the process from the very beginning.

My daughter learned to make her own silver sheets, working through the stages of preparing and shaping the metal. Instead of being handed ready-made components, she learned to make each element of her pieces herself. From preparing the silver to forming, soldering, setting, and finishing, she was encouraged to understand how everything comes together.

It is this willingness to teach the whole process that makes the studio so valuable, particularly for anyone who wants to develop their own skills rather than simply complete a one-off project.

The studio accommodates different levels of interest and experience. You can book a short beginner class of around three hours and make a silver ring, perhaps set with a Mexican opal, or spend a week learning more involved techniques. For those wanting a more sustained period of study, longer courses can be arranged.

There are also workbenches available to rent by the day, week or month, making it possible to bring your own projects and work independently while having access to the space and the knowledge of the people around you.

During my daughter's month there, people were constantly coming and going. Some were there for a short workshop, others for a week or longer, and some had returned to continue developing their skills. It created a lovely, informal atmosphere, with people from different parts of the world sharing a common interest. English is spoken, so you don't need to be fluent in Spanish to take part.

And then there are Alejandra and Jesús themselves. They are genuinely lovely people, generous with their time and knowledge, and clearly passionate about what they do. There is no sense of guarding techniques or keeping the good stuff to themselves. They seem to understand that the best way to preserve a craft is to pass it on.

That spirit of sharing is perhaps what I liked most about TEOKARI.

The name means Creaciones con Espíritu, or Creations with Spirit. Their own jewellery and creative work draws on Mexican traditions and materials, interpreted through a contemporary eye.

San Miguel has no shortage of beautiful shops, galleries and places to buy things. But occasionally the most rewarding discovery is somewhere you can actually learn to make something yourself and to build a community around a shared interest, even if it's just for a day.

If you have an interest in jewellery, silversmithing or simply the pleasure of working with your hands, TEOKARI is well worth seeking out. Whether you have three hours, a week or a month to spare, there is something here to learn.

And you might just leave with a little more than a piece of jewellery.