Winter 2023

chased several for gifts and personal use. One piece the artist is particularly proud of is the cross he designed for Pope John Paul II. He was granted a personal audience with the pope, and framed photos of the occasion are on the wall behind the showcase. Behind the showroom is a workroom con- taining every tool imaginable for crafting metal and gemstone jewelry. It’s clearly all business here and it’s where jeweler Giovanni Lo Gelfo translates Kocek’s designs into 3D reality. As office manager, Michelle Johnson oversees oper- ations and sales. Fully 65% of the pieces on offer are designed by Kocek; the remainder are main- ly from European makers. “They must meet my standards,” he says. “Quality and price have always been top priorities to me.” Kirkor Kocek is indeed a fine jewelry designer who has found his niche in life and loves every moment. But he is also a fiercely loyal man. Over the years he has brought family members and many of his jewelry school friends to the U.S. and set them up in businesses or with other jewelers. Combined with his inestimable design skills and business acumen, it’s this personality trait that has been fundamental to the fact that Kocek’s is the oldest Carmel business continuously run by the same proprietor. And he’s not done yet. Kocek Jeweler, Inc. is located on San Carlos between Ocean and Seventh in Carmel. For more information, visit www.kocekjeweler.com or call 831/624-8485. Behind the showroom is a workroom containing every tool imaginable for crafting metal and gemstone jewelry. It’s clearly all business here and it’s where jeweler Giovanni Lo Gelfo translates Kocek’s designs into 3D reality. Kocek in 2012, posing in the workroom—where the magic happens! Always welcoming and with a truly joyful spirit, it is no wonder Kirkor Kocek's business has flourished since he opened his first Carmel location 50 years ago. 138 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 3 One of Kocek's earliest and most treas- ured pieces, a stunning ring he designed for his mother in 1959 at the age of 15. Photos: Kelli Uldall