Hand Forged Originals
FINE JEWELRY OUR FAMILY STUDIO EST - 1964 BIG SUR
ART. ADORNMENT. JEWELRY.
Carrie Armstrong Design
&
Ali A Lee
Big Sur Goldsmiths is a family studio-gallery founded in Big Sur in 1964. Karl Lee started the work, and Carrie and Ali carry it on. Each piece is one of a kind, made by hand, and meant to be worn for a lifetime.
Colombian emerald in 22k and 18k gold, an oval cabochon on a ring of two golds milled in our studio. I fabricated it by hand and gave it a brushed finish, and it is one of a kind.
22K & 18k studio milled yellow golds, Colombian emerald (minor oil only) oval cabochon 8.25 tcw.
Ring size 7.5 (minor up size is possible, but it cannot be sized down)
.64” (16.2mm) vertical
.54” (13.77mm) horizontal
.37” (9.5mm) gem height
.23” (5.9mm) band width
Singular studio crafted
Fabricated by Ali
Brush finish texture
Made by our hands in our mountain studio in the USA. One of one: once it sells, it will not be made again. Returns accepted within 15 days of delivery if the piece hasn’t been damaged. Rings can often be sized up and only very rarely down. If you need a different size, we’d be glad to make you a similar piece in your size.
We can also send video or more photos of the piece.
I’m available by phone or email if you have any questions.
To The Gallery
22k gold, nothing else. Hand tooled and satin brush finished. The ear wire is 22k gold throughout.
The surface carries the mark of the tool directly. Nothing cast, nothing fabricated by machine. The form is the work. Nearly an inch wide.
Drop 1.6" (40.8mm)
Width 0.89" (22.5mm)
Forged by Carrie
One of a kind.
Made by our hands in our mountain studio in the USA. One of one: once it sells, it will not be made again. Returns accepted within 15 days of delivery if the piece hasn’t been damaged.
We can also send video or more photos of the piece.
I’m available by phone or email if you have any questions.
Fossilized coral, an oval cabochon, 18 carats, in a 22k gold setting on sterling silver.
Ring size 8.5
1.10” (28.7mm) vertical
0.75” (19.2mm) horizontal
0.28” (7.1mm) gem height
0.47” (12mm) band width
Form fitted band shape
Hand fabricated by Ali
Individually crafted studio piece
Made by our hands in our mountain studio in the USA. One of one: once it sells, it will not be made again. Returns accepted within 15 days of delivery if the piece hasn’t been damaged. Rings can often be sized up and only very rarely down. If you need a different size, we’d be glad to make you a similar piece in your size.
We can also send video or more photos of the piece.
I’m available by phone or email if you have any questions.
“Some of the U.S. master goldsmiths/jewelers I have had the good fortune to meet through IG include Ali and Carrie of @bigsurgoldsmiths”
Legacy - Big Sur Roots
Our story begins in 1964 at Esalen, when the human potential movement was just getting started. What is now called the Art Barn was the first studio: pottery, painting, sculpture, jewelry. Ali's father, Karl Lee, made his first work there. Later he moved to Henry Miller's old cabin on Partington Ridge, and that is where the work and the raising of a family began in earnest. Ali was born and raised up there, above the Pacific, among raw metals and lapidary tools, with the surf going all day.
Today Carrie and Ali carry on Karl's work in the mountains of Ashland, Oregon. Two people, one studio. We alloy our own gold. We set stones we have gathered and cut over many years. Every piece is one of a kind, designed and made by hand, start to finish, right here. Nothing goes out. Nothing comes off a line. We have a lifelong commitment to jewelry as art, and we keep it.
KARL LEE
1960’s STUDIO -The Esalen “Art Barn”
Big Sur Classics
Karl began hand forging these Big Sur Classics in the 1970s at his studio on Partington Ridge, above the coast, where Ali was born and raised. The first ones went mostly to neighbors and to the Phoenix Shop at Nepenthe.
Carrie and Ali still make them the same way. Each month we make a few in 22k gold and silver, set with a cabochon from the collection to honor this tradition.
Original Work
Please stay in touch. We always have interesting work in the studio and welcome inquiries.
ContactWhere to see our work
We are often asked where to see our work in Big Sur and the answer is:
The Phoenix Shop at Nepenthe
has carried our work since the beginning. If you are visiting Big Sur please stop by this iconic Highway 1 landmark to experience our one-of-a-kind work in person.
Visit the Phoenix ShopWe are a studio of two, not a large business. Our work is very limited production, so we offer it in only a few other galleries that we love.
