The silversmith workshops near the central mosque and in the alleys of the old city produce the most celebrated jewellery of the Sahara. The Croix d'Agadez — a geometric silver pendant — has been made here by Tuareg craftspeople for centuries, and the authentic handmade versions are very different from the machine-stamped copies that flood the tourist market. Watch a silversmith work and you'll understand why the good pieces cost what they do.
To buy genuine silverwork, go to the workshops in the old city rather than the market stalls. Ask to see the jeweller working — the best ones will demonstrate their craft. Prices depend entirely on the weight of silver and the complexity of the work. Don't pay market-stall prices for what are presented as handmade pieces; the real thing costs more and looks different. The silversmiths near the Grande Mosquée are generally the most reputable.