The choice was between making jewelry or moccasins, and happily for us all, destiny was paved when Kerry stopped for a hitchhiker in 1970 Santa Barbara, who asked the defining question: “Do you know anyone who can help me with my jewelry business?”

Flash forward to 2025 when Kerry will be celebrating 50 years of business in Carmel-by-the-Sea! Still designing custom jewelry and featuring Italian-made treasures, he works alongside fellow creatives, Deborah, his wife of over 30 years who serves as the Managing Director, and their son, Bhaj, a GIA Graduate Gemmologist who oversees all facets of the operations, and carries the family business into the next generation.  

What makes Kerry Lee jewelry remarkable, is what’s at the heart of the operations: first, art and relationships; second, business. More important than earnings for the Lees is quality gemstones and craftsmanship, is singularity and beauty in wearable luxury, and is service that transcends the transactional for the jewels of trust and friendship.