Testimonials
“I’ve known Mario since the early 90s. In those early days we used him mainly for sizings and repairs. When I started designing my line of gold and diamond jewelry he was the goldsmith who made it happen. He is a talented technician, but his major strength to me is that he could listen to me and translate what I wanted into a finished piece of jewelry. He understood my aesthetic and produced it… not so easy sometimes!”
— Karen Melfi, Owner of Karen Melfi Collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico
“Mr. Chavez crafted a stunningly beautiful belt buckle from solid 18 karat gold suitable for a 1.5-inch leather belt. It features the Lone Star of Texas against a background of hammered gold. The razor edged, five-ray star rises about four millimeters from the background and is especially noticeable when the rays catch the light. It’s a hefty slab of gold that will endure forever. Other Santa Fe jewelers who build custom jewelry wanted several thousand dollars more to do the same job in 14 karat gold. That made the selection of MCDJ the obvious choice. I should add one more thing that sealed the deal for me: Mr. Chavez’s reputation within the Santa Fe jewelry and business community is unimpeachable. References don’t just recommend him, they voluntarily praise the quality of his work as well as vouch for his sound business practices. These endorsements come from other retailers in Santa Fe who’ve known him for years and who commission him to do custom work. Mr. Chavez and his skilled team of craftspeople get my enthusiastic and highest recommendation.
— Tom Grimes, PhD, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
“I love you guys! You can fix anything! No job too big or too small. You sized a wide bracelet for my small wrist that everyone else said could not be done because all the stones would fall out. None have come loose since you sized it.
I brought in a ring I have had for more than 30 years and you matched the style and stones to create original, matching earrings and a pendant that I love. My husband loves them and requests me to wear them!
One of my favorite things Mario has made for me is from an ancient Spanish coin we designed into an original pendant surrounded by tiny freshwater pearls. It is two-sided so each side of the coin can be featured. It always draws comment and admiration.
Sean rebuilt my diamond 5-stone ring which was in danger of dropped stones and now it is gorgeous and better than new!
I brought in a silver bracelet I love and have had more than 30 years when it lost one of the matched turquoise stones. Mario matched the stone so you would never know which is the newer stone!
I had two lovely rings which I wanted to create into a matched pendant and ring set. You would never know that pendant was first a ring. Mario did a superb job!
I brought Mario three old handmade copper plates from my mom that I wanted to hang on my wall. He added hangers and straightened them out so they look stunning now.”
— Janet M., Collector, Northern New Mexico
“Nothing has been impossible to do, and it has been the most fun to collaborate on pieces and choose gemstones.”
“Alongside the expert repair work and one-of-a-kind jewelry he has made for me, we have developed a true and deep friendship.”
“He is able to transform my ideas into wearable pieces of art…”
“Their professionalism and attention to detail is above and beyond my expectations.”
“I first met Mario when a local Santa Fe-an dealer recommended him for jewelry repair. What started as a simple ring sizing has turned into a great working relationship. Over the years I have developed a high level of trust and confidence in his artistic abilities. His workmanship and design skills are impeccable. He is able to transform my ideas into wearable pieces of art. I always refer friends and family to Mario Chavez Designer Jewelry, Mario and his staff are the best anywhere!
— Annette S., Collector, East Texas
“Chipeta Trading Company has been using Mario Chavez Designer Jewelry for many years! Their professionalism and attention to detail is above and beyond my expectations. I am so grateful to be associated with this talented team of artisans. I highly recommend them for any jewelry repair or custom design jewelry work.”
— Don Siegel, Chipeta Trading Company, Santa Fe, New Mexico
“There are jewelers who work with metal and stone, and there are artists who are one with the metal and stone. Mario Chavez is the latter - an artist whose creativity is boundless. His work is ethereal, sublime, significant and timeless. He is special; his work is special. And his staff is right there at his side - amazing.”
— Pele Saubers, Sales, Santa Fe Dry Goods; Collector, Santa Fe, New Mexico
“Mario Chavez and his talented son Sean have been our jewelers for over a dozen years here in Santa Fe. My husband and I first went to him on the recommendation of Jed Foutz of Shiprock Gallery, in order to get some antique Navajo silver and turquoise rings re-sized. Since then, we have consistently had pieces of our jewelry being re-worked, repaired, re-sized, fabricated and created by this wonderful team. Our eclectic tastes and collectors’ sensibilities have presented Mario and Sean with everything from Native American silver pieces to 17th Century bodice jewels to Georgian memento-mori and Victorian beetles. Nothing has been impossible to do, and it has been the most fun to collaborate on pieces and choose gemstones. Having a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry created from something old and something new, by Mario and Sean, is just the best!
— Jennifer Laing and Mason Wagner, Collectors, Santa Fe, New Mexico
“I am a longtime collector of Native American jewelry, as well as a jewelry designer myself. Many years ago, while visiting Santa Fe, I purchased a Native American historic cuff that was in need of some delicate repair work. Local galleries owners told me that Mario Chavez was “the man for the job.”
My cuff was repaired quickly and impeccably restored. I was instantly impressed by Mario’s professionalism and the hum of his staff working in his studio. Since that first meeting, Mario and Sean, his son, have repaired, designed and implemented more pieces than I can count.
I live in New York City and we have been mailing parcels back and forth with Mario for years. Alongside the expert repair work and one-of-a-kind jewelry he has made for me, we have developed a true and deep friendship.
Thank you Mario and Sean for always going the distance and never, ever disappointing!”
— Laura Osinoff, Collector and Friend, New York City, NY