Dillon Carr of Jade Coast Jewelry. Photo by Kathleen Stout
By Kathleen Stout
For some it may draw to mind images of imperial empires or ancient Mesoamerican culture, but for the true local it calls to mind many a day trip to Big Sur for the Jade Fest or for the the quest, if you are one of the lucky ones. It could be said the test to know if you’ve “caught the fever” is if even the mention of this stone brings out a pressing need to get in the car and drive north.
Explorations, often intended as a quick day trip, turn to overnight adventures with flashlights in hand bundled up in your best woolies only to wake up in the morning exhausted and ready to search again.
Like so many miracles in our lives, you must experience it to understand it. The enthusiasm for this elusive verdant gem has led some to risk their lives, climbing down ropes or diving into the sea, adventures that could easily lead to certain death.
For others, we await the gift of their precious explorations and creations.
There are the remarkable ones. The ones who took a chance on art, who put in the years and the footwork to see their dream become a reality and, in all actuality, it’s not just the local ones., their history dates back thousands of years.
Dillon Carr of Jade Coast Jewelry is one of these remarkable ones. The ones who took a chance on art, who put in the years and the footwork to see their dream stone develop into his life’s work. From carving to cutting to his masterful silversmithing, Dillon has truly come into his own.
Not all rock hunting is a waste of time, some find their life’s work.

A Wyoming Jade ring set in 22k gold and sterling silver available at Jade Coast Jewelry on Etsy.
Photo from Jade Coast Jewlery
Originally working in the trades, Dillon often found himself up the Big Sur coast while working for Potter Plumbing. He was lucky enough to have the time after work to hit the hot spots and search for the green gold. It was his boss, Justin Smith, who first purchased lapidary equipment, sparking a desire in Dillon to learn carving, which eventually evolved into learning to silversmith after he realized there was an opportunity to turn his love of the hunt into an income.
“The hunt was a big part of it, for me,” Carr said.
Whether it’s finding, carving, sculpting, or creating treasured amulets, Jade is a stone whose allure never fails to entice even the modest collector. Those hunters who develop a kinship with the majestic green stones often devote their life to seeking them out, cutting, and presenting them, whether that be sculpture, jewelry, or simple ornamentation.
Locally, we have our beloved grandfathers of Jade: Dick Horan, Richard Jordan, Joshua Talbot, and Kenny Comello have paved the way for a next generation of craftsman and have been willing to share secrets and suggestions along the way.
For Dillon, joining ranks with these pioneers of Jade was not through chance alone but through years of sweat equity, He didn’t know it in the beginning, as it was, for a long time, “just a hobby.”
“It first started with polishing and drilling stones, and realizing, ‘Hey I could sell this stuff,’” he said. “It was then I started my own journey into art.”
It paid off. He is now considered a fine artist by his peers and is entirely self-supporting.
Old timers were a great resource. He bought used equipment, taught himself with You Tube videos, and watched master jewelers like Richard Jordan create wax casts.
“I was able to visualize that and apply it to my own work,” said Dillon.
Don’t ever think it was easy.
When asked how he would describe his friend Jordan, he describes his friend and mentor’s work as “museum” quality work. Indeed, this writer purchased a beloved Jordan design, a silver abalone shell with a surfer perched inside, that I gave as a gift, long ago.
Dillon still collects his own pieces, amassing them from different places. He also buys from local collectors such as Talbot, a talented fine artist in his own right. He dives for his treasures and has himself developed a love story with Jade.
Enlisting the help of other artists helps Dillon fuse his creativity with those in the community and creates a family of artists. Asked about the quality of his Instagram photos and the difficulties artists often have marketing their work and he revealed his secret.
“I like to hire other artists who are good at that,” he said with a smile.
Dillon is now moving into a niche market designing wedding bands. He has also started working with opal and other “romantic” jewels.
“I’ve started to really love working on wedding sets. It allows me to have a connection and conversation with my customers,” he explained.
His jewelry speaks of an exceptional sense of simplicity and nuance, shaping the stones into settings of silver and gold to create timeless amulets — treasured pieces for their owners to cherish for years to come. He is inspired by Art Noveau and Art Deco; it is apparent in his elegant creations.
Twelve years in, and Dillon has made quite the name for himself in the circle of fine jewelers on the Central Coast. Attending Jade Festival and other local markets, he has found his place among the few that have made the love of Jade and jewelry making their skilled trade.
Twelve years in, Dillon is one of the few artisans who has taken his love of this imperial gem and shaped it into his art and his livelihood designing custom bespoke pieces that he sells to individuals and at markets and festivals.
“It doesn’t happen overnight,” he said. “It’s a process of constant change.”
Let his be an inspiration to you, whatever your fever is.
Dillon Carr can be reached on his Instagram @jadecoastjewelry