Silver.  México is one of the world’s leading producers of silver, and you can find beautiful examples of the silversmith’s work all over town.  There are three common varieties of ‘silver’ sold here: 

(1) “alpaca” or “German silver” which is a silvery-white alloy of copper, zinc.  This is what you are most likely to encounter as "silver" on the beaches and sometimes in shops.

(2) “plata esterlina” or “sterling silver” which is a mixture of 925 parts silver and 75 parts copper.  It must, following British law and tradition, be marked 0.925 or 92.5% (the same thing).

(3) “plata fina” or “fine silver” which is usually about 97% pure but far too soft for practical use and usually available only in jewelry supply shops.

Sanborn's Centro has a long tradition of beautiful sterling serving pieces, and the prices are fair and fixed.  Linda de Taxco, just across the street, also has a wide selection of somewhat lighter pieces.  “Margarita’s” in the basement of the Oviedo Building between Sanborn’s and the Zócalo has a wide selection of silver, handicrafts and fine gold jewelry.  You can rely on the quality, but if you see something you like it’s probably a good idea to bargain hard.

Handicrafts.  The gift shop in Fort San Diego has some fine pieces as well as books and art prints.  The government Family Development Agency (D.I.F.) operates the "Casa de Cultura" in a little park just about a block from the tall blue "Oceanic 2000" building, and they have very nice work.  Better quality handicrafts are also featured in the gift shop associated with El Jaguar Restaurant, across from the golf club towards the eastern end of the Bay.  Sanborn's Centro carries a small but good selection of handicrafts. 

Little lacquered boxes from Olinalá ("Place of earquakes") are made of rare linaloe wood, left unfinished inside to reveal a fine, delicate fragrance.  Look for "stains" in the white wood, for this is where the aromatic oil is concentrated.