Filigrana oaxaqueña has lived in Oaxaca for nearly five centuries — and in a large hoop, it commands a room.
These large coral hoop earrings are the bold expression of one of Mexico's most demanding jewelry traditions. The silversmith who made them spent hours coiling and soldering hand-twisted sterling wire into the intricate filigree cage that holds the coral stone — then repeated the process for the second earring. At 3 inches long and 2 inches wide, they make a genuine statement. The warm coral tones work with the bright sterling silver in a color pairing that Oaxacan jewelers have been refining since well before the 20th century.
About Oaxacan filigree
Filigrana oaxaqueña arrived in Oaxaca via Spanish silversmiths in the 1500s and was absorbed into local craft tradition so completely that it became one of the city's signature art forms. Only a handful of family workshops in Oaxaca's historic jewelry quarter still practice it at this level. Each piece is built one hair-thin wire at a time — twisted, coiled, and soldered into lace-like patterns that require extraordinary patience and skill. There is no machine equivalent of this technique.
Materials & craftsmanship
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Metal: Sterling silver (.925)
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Stone: Genuine coral
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Technique: Hand-twisted Oaxacan filigree (filigrana oaxaqueña)
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Style: Large hoop earring
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Origin: Oaxaca, Mexico
Dimensions
- Length: 3.0 inches (7.6 cm)
- Width: 2.0 inches (5.1 cm)
- Weight: 9 g / 0.32 oz
Styling
Three inches of Oaxacan filigree deserves a clean canvas. With a white or cream blouse, the coral and sterling combination reads warm and confident. With a black dress, the same earrings become the entire focal point — the rest of the outfit recedes and these do the work. The 9-gram weight means they wear lightly despite their generous size.
Care
Keep dry. Store in a soft anti-tarnish pouch. Polish silver gently with a silver cloth. Never expose coral to chemicals, perfume, lotion, or prolonged direct sunlight — coral is porous and absorbs what it contacts.
Frequently asked questions
Is the coral genuine?
Yes — genuine coral, hand-set by the Oaxacan silversmith. Not synthetic, dyed, or reconstituted.
Are these sterling silver?
Yes — .925 sterling silver, the international standard for fine silver jewelry.
Are large filigree earrings heavy to wear?
Despite their 3-inch size, these weigh only 9 grams — filigree is almost entirely open structure and air. They are remarkably lightweight for their visual impact.
Will the filigree bend or break?
Filigree is delicate — it is built from very fine wire. Treat these with the same care you would give to fine lace: avoid crushing, catching on fabric, or storing under pressure. With proper care, they will last for generations.
