Federico

Federico Jimenez Caballero is an acclaimed Southwest jewelry designer of Mixtec (Ñuu Savi) descent, originally from the small Oaxacan village of Tututepec, Mexico. He now resides in Southern California where he has been making jewelry for many years.

Federico is also a world renowned authority on Mexican silver, Pre-Columbian and Mixtec jewelry. He became interested in Meso-American art in his late teens when he and his father uncovered a pre-Columbian Mixtec Indian pectoral chest plate buried under their house. With the sudden ownership of the ancient pectoral, his appetite for antiquities grew, sending him scurrying from village to village in search of more. In addition to jewelry, he also started collecting Meso-American Indian costumes. His private collection includes pieces from the contemporary, colonial, and pre-Columbian periods. 

Federico has organized exhibitions and acquires items for institutions such as UCLA Museum of Cultural History and the National Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe. He displays many pieces of his jewelry in the Anthropological Museum in Mexico City.

This reverence for Indigenous heritage is reflected throughout Federico’s work. His offerings blend timeless elegance with artisanal craftsmanship, resulting in show-stopping beauty. Living and working in the Los Angeles area, Federico is a popular designer of the entertainment crowd. His jewelry has been worn by stars such as Christie Brinkley, Elle McPherson, and Ali McGraw. Federico’s jewelry is bold and full of life. His pieces have a distinct look of their own. Wear these beautiful pieces with your best suit or with chambray and denim. You’ll love them.