Hand Forged Originals
A legacy established in 1964 in Big Sur, hand-fabricated today by Carrie Armstrong & Ali A Lee.
We specialize in custom fine jewelry made using 22k gold, platinum, Unusual & rare gemstones.
Handmade
by
Carrie Armstrong
&
Ali A Lee
Studio Life
Carrie Armstrong
FINE JEWELRY MADE TO BE WORN
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
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.
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
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.
Our story began in 1964 at the Esalen Institute Art Barn, where Ali's father, Karl Lee, began the studio and first shaped our family's goldsmithing tradition. He later moved to Partington Ridge, to a space previously occupied by the writer Henry Miller, and made it his home and studio. Ali was raised in that studio among raw metals and lapidary tools. Today we continue Karl's original handmade tradition at the bench in Ashland, Oregon. As a dedicated two-person studio, every piece is hand fabricated in our studio, never outsourced, never mass-cast or made on an assembly line. We forge the gold, cut the gems, and set every stone by hand, honoring a lifelong commitment to unrepeatable studio craft.
Studio Notes
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