Owners of Zia Mountain Jewelry, Zach and Jessica Harris, share a passion for craftsmanship, featuring everything from their own handmade pieces to a wide variety of special finds at their Sedalia store. Their three daughters are also involved in the family business.

Next to the legendary Bud’s Bar in Sedalia, sits Zia Mountain Jewelry. Since Zach and Jessica Harris opened the shop in June 2024, it has become a local go-to for authentic Southwestern jewelry along with an eclectic mix of bohemian designs, unique creations and gifts. Zach draws on his lifelong experience as an avid hunter and silversmith to craft original pieces for the community and for outdoorsmen looking to commemorate their favorite adventures. For Zach, the goal is always to create jewelry that carries its own story.

Zach’s silversmithing roots go back to his young adulthood, when he spent weekends learning the ropes at his uncle Dan’s shop, Chimayo Turquoise, in Woodland Park. After years in the oil and gas industry, Zach followed his lifelong passion for the outdoors by launching Camp Gulch Outfitters with his brother Josh in 2014. By 2020, he was ready to leave the corporate world behind to focus on his craft. Zach started as a hobbyist, crafting custom pieces using elk teeth and bear claws from his own hunts. Before opening their storefront, Zach and Jessica started small, honing their skills and building a loyal following through booth shows, farmers markets and local events.

The shop is a true blend of talents. Zach views himself as an artist; his creativity is entirely inspiration driven. “His process often starts with a specific stone and he just builds the design around it,” Jessica explained. Zach works from two workshops, including a “man space,” a condo in a garage. While creating, Zach pours his energy into every detail from quick 30-minute pieces to complex squash blossom necklaces that take more than 27 hours to complete.

While Zach’s pieces are the heart of the shop, the inventory offers a much broader mix. By leveraging family connections in New Mexico, they source authentic Native American jewelry from Gallup and other locations. Jessica balances this with some of her own creations such as homemade rosaries. “I really wanted a lot of variety,” she said. “The store is a true mixture of Southwest, Native American, bohemian, and rock influences with price points for everyone from $5 to $15,000.”

The couple’s roots run deep in Douglas County. Zach and Jessica attended Larkspur Elementary together, though their paths did not cross again until a chance encounter at a Walmart in Castle Rock years later. They married in 2004, and today, at home in Sedalia, their three daughters, Elena (16), Abigale (14) and Lorelei (12) often help around the shop. Whether they are contributing their own artwork, helping with busy shifts or learning the craft of jewelry making themselves, the girls are woven into the fabric of their parent’s store. When the family is not at work, they stay active with sports, mother-daughter trips and family vacations.

Zia Mountain Jewelry also hosts shopping parties. For more information, visit ziamountain.com. The shop is located at 5040 Plum Avenue in Sedalia.

The Harris Family. Left to right: Zach, Abigale (14), Lorelei (12), Elena (16) and Jessica.

By Liane Davis, photos courtesy of the Harris family