How the Molina Family Blends History, Modernity, and Timeless Design

Nearly a century ago, a quiet mountain town in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, became the epicenter of a global jewelry revolution. When the silver boom transformed Taxco into an international benchmark for artisanal design, it wasn’t just because of the region’s rich mineral wealth—it was because of the visionary hands that shaped it.

During those golden years, legendary workshops like Las Delicias and Los Castillo served as training grounds for the next generation of master artisans. Among them was a 10-year-old boy who arrived in Taxco with nothing but determination. He started at the very bottom as a “zorrita” (the nickname given in Taxco to young apprentices, which literally translates to "little fox", to describe their role as sharp, clever observers in the workshop), absorbing the meticulous techniques, patience, and artistic discipline of the maestros of his time. By the age of 20, he decided to venture out, leave the workshop of Los Castillo that raised him, and found his own family legacy.

That boy was the late Don Salatiel Molina, and the legacy he built continues to shape the world of authentic Mexican silver today.

A Multi-Generational Silver Dynasty

Over the decades, the landscape of Taxco silver underwent profound transformations. As global markets evolved, the industry shifted; while many of the grand, historic foundational workshops eventually disappeared, they made way for a new era of specialized family lineages. This transition happened because master silversmiths—much like Don Salatiel had done decades prior—took their own paths, bringing the elite knowledge of the golden era into independent family-run spaces.

Today, the workshop founded by Don Salatiel Molina remains fully active and thriving. Currently led by the family’s third generation—brothers Marco and Salatiel Molina—the Molina workshop has achieved something exceptional: modernizing to remain globally competitive without losing a single ounce of its soul.

The secret to the Molina family's success lies in their ability to integrate contemporary technological tools, while ensuring that every single piece is still assembled, finished, and detailed by hand in Taxco. Using techniques passed down directly from their father and grandfather, this balance between tradition and innovation keeps their work alive as a direct connection to the golden age of Taxco silversmithing.

How to Read Taxco Silver Hallmarks: Decoding "TM-90"

For collectors and enthusiasts, the true value of vintage and contemporary Taxco silver resides not just in its luster, but in the history stamped onto the metal.

In its origins, pieces leaving Don Salatiel’s workshop bore a hallmark stamp featuring the brand "D’Molina", the silver purity grade (such as .925), and "Mexico." However, the Mexican silver hallmarking system underwent a massive shift in the early 1980s. The iconic "eagle stamp" used for decades was replaced by a legal alphanumeric registry system consisting of a block of letters followed by a short sequence of numbers.

If you are trying to identify authentic Taxco silver jewelry, this chart shows exactly how to decode the current Mexican alphanumeric hallmark system using the Molina family's official "TM-90" stamp as an example:

Pro Tip for Collectors: If you find a piece of silver stamped with TM-90, you are holding an authentic creation made by the Molina family workshop after the 1980 legal registry shift.

Because this new system made individual workshop names more diffuse, the Molina family took steps to preserve their maker's identity. From 1980 onward, they paired their historic D’Molina brand alongside the official legal identifier "TM-90", "Mex", and the silver purity grade.

On their contemporary production, in addition to the legally required official stamps, the Molina workshop incorporates a stylized "M" alongside the silver grade. This subtle, elegant gesture keeps the workshop’s unique signature alive on all modern creations large enough to bear it.

The Iconic Articulated Fishbone Necklace

One of the most representative and highly sought-after designs from the Molina workshop is an articulated sterling silver set renowned for its complexity and fluid movement: The Fishbone Necklace, Bracelet, and Earrings Suite.

Estimated to have originated in the 1990s when Don Salatiel had fully consolidated his independent workshop, this design remains a favorite among collectors of classic Taxco silver jewelry. The necklace is meticulously composed of approximately 70 articulated elements that form the structure of an intricate fish skeleton spine. This technical, sculptural masterpiece allows the heavy silver piece to sit comfortably and drape naturally against the neck, resisting the passage of time with pure architectural precision.

Living Tradition: The Lost-Wax Casting Process

The fishbone design is just one of many iconic concepts safeguarded by the Molina family. Their classic heritage collection also features beautifully detailed jaguars, owls, hummingbirds, and hedgehogs, all marked with the workshop’s signature hallmarks and silver purity guarantees.

To bring these lifelike figures to life while preserving the exact proportions of their historic designs, the artisans use the ancestral technique of lost-wax casting (fundición a la cera perdida), utilizing their vast, decades-old library of original workshop molds:

• The Master Mold: While a new design is initially carved by hand out of wax to create a silver "master," the workshop protects this original piece by encasing it in a dense, vulcanized rubber mold. The Molina family holds a massive stock of these historical molds, allowing them to instantly recreate any design from their multi-generational catalog.

• Injecting the Wax: Liquid wax is injected under pressure into the master rubber mold. Once it cools and the mold is pulled apart, it leaves behind a perfect, identical wax replica of the original jewelry piece.

• Building the "Wax Tree" (El Árbol): These individual wax replicas are carefully welded by hand onto a central wax rod called a sprue. This creates a tree-like structure, setting up the exact pathways through which the molten silver will flow.

• The Vacuum Investment: The wax tree is placed inside a steel cylinder (flask) and covered in a high-heat liquid plaster called investment. The flask is placed into a vacuum chamber to completely draw out trapped air bubbles, ensuring the plaster tightly hugs every micro-detail of the wax shapes.

• The Burnout Process: The plaster mold is placed inside a high-temperature kiln. As the heat rises, the wax melts and drains out through the sprue channels like water from a sponge. Any microscopic film left behind is completely vaporized into gas, which escapes through the naturally porous plaster. This leaves behind a flawless, completely hollow cavity with zero residue remaining—hence the term "lost wax."

• The Molten Pour: Sterling silver is melted in a crucible. Using a casting machine, the liquid metal is forced down the main sprue channel, filling all the nooks and crannies left behind by the vaporized wax tree in a matter of seconds.

• Hand-Finishing: The raw silver pieces are cut from the central sprue tree and handed over to the master artisans to be meticulously filed, detailed, assembled, and polished entirely by hand.

A Vision for the Future: Contemporary Mexican Silver Design

While the Molina family deeply honors roots stretching back over five decades, they also design with the contemporary woman in mind.

You do not need to rely solely on traditional Mexican folklore motifs to appreciate the excellence of Taxco silver work. The Molina family’s modern collections include geometric, fluid, and architectural forms designed for a sleek, versatile, and elegant aesthetic. These high-end jewelry pieces are created for individuals who value heritage, quality, and the story behind what they wear over passing fast-fashion trends. They are jewels conceived as durable objects with distinct presence and character, destined to face the passage of time with distinction.

Nueve Sterling: Your Direct Bridge to the Molina Workshop

Everything above is the Molina family's story. Here's mine, and why it matters for you.

When you choose a curated piece of Taxco silver through Nueve Sterling, the story doesn’t end with a website click—it continues with you.

Because I believe every high-end jewelry piece should carry a deep personal connection, my curation process is entirely direct. Before placing an order, if you want to discuss a specific fit, ask questions, or adjust a design, my door is always open. I want you to connect with me directly so we can make sure the piece is perfect for you.

Thanks to my Mexican heritage and the deep, trusted relationships I have personally cultivated with the workshops over the last 15 years, I am able to do something truly extraordinary: I can connect with the artisans directly to co-create your custom jewelry.

If you love an iconic heritage design—such as the celebrated fishbone necklace—but require a custom length tailored specifically to your measurements, my direct line to the Molinas makes it possible. Through this personal relationship, a classic design transforms from a regular item ordered online, into a living jewel with a unique story to tell.

With Nueve Sterling, Taxco is closer than it seems. You don't need to travel thousands of miles to touch the enduring history of Mexican silversmithing. As your curator, I serve as a firm, trusted bridge between the master artisans' hands and yours, bringing the very soul of authentic Taxco sterling silver straight to your door, no matter where you are.

Born in Mexico City but based in Alberta, Canada, my reach goes far beyond local borders. My roots and deep personal relationships will always belong to Mexico and the artisans of Taxco. Yet, having lived in different countries, I carry a global perspective that allows me to bridge cultures seamlessly. Proudly operating in my native Spanish, proficient in English, and capable of communicating in French, I make it my personal mission to dismantle geographic and linguistic barriers—connecting this incredible, historic small town directly to the rest of the world, and to everyone who appreciates true art, heritage, and timeless design.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the TM-90 stamp mean?

T stands for Taxco, M for the Molina family name, and 90 marks their registration order among "M" workshops/artisans in the region's legal registry.

How can I identify authentic Molina family Taxco silver?

Look for the TM-90 registry stamp, often alongside the historic D'Molina brand, "Mex," and a purity grade like .925. Larger modern pieces may also carry a stylized "M" signature mark.

What is lost-wax casting?

An ancient metal-casting process where a wax replica of a design is encased in plaster, melted away in a kiln, and the resulting hollow cavity is filled with molten silver—reproducing every detail with precision.

Can I get custom-sized Taxco silver jewelry through Nueve Sterling?

Yes. Thanks to my direct relationships with specialized workshops and award-winning master artisans throughout Taxco, I'm able to work closely with the creators to customize your jewelry.