Hand-Forged Fine Jewelry | Rooted in Big Sur

A 1960s Big Sur legacy, hand-fabricated today by Carrie Armstrong & Ali A Lee

Explore Collection
Pick Box. Hand-forged custom gold rings by Big Sur jewelry maker Carrie Armstrong and Ali Lee

Handmade by  

Carrie Armstrong

&

Ali A Lee

Our Story
Carrie Armstrong Necklace
Carrie Armstrong gold ring with diamonds
Close-up of a person's hand wearing a ring with a large, transparent, rounded gemstone or glass piece.
Close-up of a person's hand wearing a silver ring with a large green gemstone, along with other rings with red and green gemstones.
Close-up of a woman's face, showing her left eye, nose, and lips, with short dark hair and a dark blue blazer, wearing a long, dangling earring with multiple colorful beads and a large green gemstone at the end.
Close-up of a person's hand wearing a silver ring decorated with multicolored gemstones in various sizes and shapes.

Studio Life

Carrie Armstrong

View fullsize “It’s only too big if it’s on the other lady,” as J. Cotter @drcotterpin put it. So true, so true! . . #studiojewelry #authenticjewelry #turquoiscollection #bigsurgoldsmiths #karlleebigsur
View fullsize A sultry citrine at dusk hour is a beautiful thing. Deeply moving with dense color and clear depth. CITRINE/ 22K GOLD / STERLING SILVER . . #oneofakindjewellery #studiojewelry #ringgoals #carriearmstrongdesign #bigsurgoldsmiths
View fullsize Turquoise big love style. Old stone, contemporary setting. A Big Sur classic all the way. . . Newly listed. #bigsurgoldsmiths #carriearmstrongdesign #turquoisecollection #timelessstyle #originaljewelry
View fullsize A stone that tells a story of time, minerals creating beautiful patterns, nature is cool. This dendritic agate pendant is a statement of unique beauty, destined to become a deeply personal item. I will have this pendant at my booth in downtown Ashl
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View fullsize One of my favorite aspects of tourmalines is that they simply won’t be, “ Put in a box” when it comes to coloring. They often present themselves in multi tones and the color range encompasses the in between shades. This particular t
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View fullsize Gem drops to honor one’s self by. I absolutely love that women often don’t wait for others to select pieces for them, but make the choice for themselves. Whether you’re looking to gift something truly unique for a someone you love,
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View fullsize Golden beryl, a.k.a. Heliodor is the sister stone of aquamarine, emerald, morganite, goshenite, and a few other that belong to the beryl gem family. The vibrancy of this ring brings joy and depth to the wide offerings of the beryl gemstones. This pa
View fullsize An uplifting trio of color in this grouping of classic Big Sur rings. Hand forged one at a time with focus on the gemstones, refined craftsmanship, materials, and minimal lasting design. . . #lessismore #timelessdesign #bigsurgoldsmiths #studioje
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View fullsize Looking for magic in the everyday movements? This blue chalcedony classic will do. Luminous with warm and cool tones, it uplifts the senses time and time again. . . #bigsurgoldsmiths #beautyintheeveryday #studiojewelry #carriearmstrongdesign #b
View fullsize Setting the days intention like… Make it a beautiful one. . . OLD STOCK TURQUOISES/ BIG SUR CLASSICS . . #bigsurgoldsmiths #carriearmstrongdesign #turquoisecollection #studiojewelry #turquoiselove
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FINE JEWELRY MADE TO BE WORN

Shop Available Work
Number 8 Turquoise Solitaire Ring in Platinum & 22k Gold Number 8 Turquoise Solitaire Ring in Platinum & 22k Gold
Number 8 Turquoise Solitaire Ring in Platinum & 22k Gold
$3,800.00

A 5 carat Number 8 Mine turquoise from the Karl Lee gem collection — old stock, pre-1950s, from a mine that no longer exists. The stone is sky blue with golden spiderweb matrix, the kind of material that becomes harder to find every year. Set in a 22 karat gold bezel on a platinum 950 base and band, with two 2mm brilliant white diamonds placed with restraint. The platinum isn't a decorative choice — against this stone, its cool neutrality lets the turquoise read at full strength.

Hand forged. Every surface finished by hand in the studio.

One of a kind.

Materials Platinum 950 base and band · 22k gold bezel · 5ct Number 8 Mine turquoise, Karl Lee Gem Collection · 2 × 2mm brilliant white diamonds

Dimensions Top: 13.7mm · Gem height: 6mm · Band width: 4.5mm · Size 8

Green Tourmaline Big Sur Classic Ring Green Tourmaline Big Sur Classic Ring
Green Tourmaline Big Sur Classic Ring
$1,425.00

22K studio milled gold setting, sterling silver base and band, Chrome green tourmaline 9 carat weight

  • Ring size 7.5

  • 0.66” ( 16.75mm ) vertical

  • 0.70” ( 17.8mm ) horizontal

  • 0.28” ( 7.15mm ) gem height

  • 0.20” ( 5mm ) band width

  • Form fitting band shape

  • Hand fabricated by Ali

  • Individually crafted one of a kind

Our story began on Partington Ridge in Big Sur, where our family's goldsmithing tradition first took shape in the 1960s. Raised in the studio among raw metals and lapidary tools, we carry that heritage forward today at the bench. As a dedicated two-person studio, we remain true makers, never outsourcing, casting in bulk, or using assembly lines. We forge the gold, cut the gems, and set every stone by hand, honoring a lifelong commitment to unrepeatable studio craft.

Collection of handmade one-of-a-kind gemstone rings by Big Sur Goldsmiths.

Studio Notes

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Mixed metal classics by Carrie Armstrong: moonstone, citrine, bloodstone, ruby in 22K gold and silver
Aquamarine Classic by Carrie Armstrong
Carrie Armstrong Cuff with green tourmaline, 22K gold and silver with patina
Carrie Armstrong golden beryl sugarloafs and custom in 22K Gold