MAURICIO SERRANO

In Mexico City sitting atop Chapultepec Hill is the regal Castillo de Chapultepec (Castle of Chapultepec); a structure built during the Colonial Period.

It currently serves as the location of the Mexican National Museum of History. Mexico is also the home of featured jewelry designer Mauricio Serrano.

Exposed at young age to the artistry of silversmithing and woodwork you could say that Serrano's career as a jewelry designer was a given.

His family has been a fixture in the jewelry industry for four decades, and Serrano's passion for creating stunning trinkets of silver began at age 16.

Serrano's creative influences are extensive ranging from the fashion designs of Alexander McQueen and Tom Ford to the literature of Pablo Neruda, and the artistic prowess of painter Frida Kahlo. Nature, with its seemingly limitless array of textures and colors, also serve as inspiration for Serrano's elegant and exotic designs.

The focal point in all of his collections, even the edgier ox skull pieces, is clean lines and clean arrangement of materials. He incorporates the arabesque-like detailing of the sterling silver pieces form his Vida Collection within a clean, sculptural outline.

Even when combining several materials, like tropical wood, leather, silver, or quartz, he keeps the overall design layered where each material is represented. His collections also prominently feature items composed of a beautiful, deep brown wood that is either unadorned or offset by a single gemstone; the inclusion provides a nicely understated tribal feel.

Exercising his industrial degree, received from Mexico City's Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey Campus, Serrano's jewelry is sold in Germany, Spain, England, and the United States. His wares have been featured in such publications as Modern Jeweler, JCK Luxury, and Trends.

Serrano has designed exclusive pieces to raise funds for the Red Cross, and the Ellen West Foundation, an organization established to assist in the fight against eating disorders.
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Photo 1 (top right): Tropical Wood Arrow Pendant with White Gold and Tahitian Black Pearl Accents
Photo 2 (bottom left): Sterling Silver Link Necklace with Hoops, Tusk, and Turquoise