Diane Robinson and Ron LeBlanc, owners/designers of Huntress, an intrepid line of luxury jewelry and handbags with gems sourced worldwide from Burma to Zambia, have their showroom tucked in the back of a “Lodge,” a private salon LeBlanc describes as a “tree fort for my friends.”
I could happily live there: 3,000 square feet, complete with full kitchen, exposed brick walls, windows left cracked for an industrial vibe, crystal chandelier, stained glass and a Georgia O’Keeffe skull painted with a thunderbird.
It is furnished with hand-me-downs and treasures from Madagascar to Muskoka — a rug from Morocco here, a pool table from The Coloured Stone, a bar owned by LeBlanc, there.
The pair works directly with miners at the source of the gemstones. They don’t deal with brokers.
LeBlanc has been a gemologist since 1980, “running around the planet buying gems.” His eureka moment was in 2004 when he picked up pink sapphires in Madagascar. If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, pink sapphires are Huntress’s. Little embellishments of pink sapphire twinkle everywhere.
Robinson was a journalist and TV producer who started working with LeBlanc in 2004, designing jewelry for private clients. In 2010, she went to Monaco and got an MBA in luxury management.
“The Travel Channel gave us a show, Gem Hunt,” LeBlanc says. “It is in 140 countries but not Ontario. I think girls in Romania are throwing Spanx at the TV.”
Their inspiration is Diana, the huntress; ergo the line specializes in big, bold statement pieces in real stones and metals geared to strong, independent women. Some gems have rough cuts, like a golden “beehive” cuff with a rough aquamarine stone from Brazil, for an unfinished look they dub “rough to runway.” Coincidentally, they unveil their collection at World MasterCard Fashion Week on Oct. 24.
Pieces of the collection are displayed in the salon on antlers purchased at St. Lawrence Market and lacquered black. It’s like being in Never Never Land; I could never afford the $10,000 gem-encrusted clutch made in stingray. However, the stingray billfold is doable at $275 as is a chunky silver bracelet for $325.
Not so much the emerald gold lace cuff for $3,500, though the emerald is the size of a gumball.
The doctor’s bag in yellow python is a reasonable $1,380 and makes a dandy weekender. “Lingerie and a gold credit card is all you need,” LeBlanc says. A weekend duffle bag in cowhide is $750.
There’s always a story attached to the gems. Their provenance is not the dusty-old-auction-house trope. “Remember when we walked two hours to a mine in Madagascar?” Robinson recalls, referring to an amethyst courtesy of Rasta Joe in Madagascar.
They are pursuing bricks-and-mortar exposure at Holt Renfrew, Bloomingdale’s in New York and Harvey Nichols in London but to see the collection now, log on huntress.com.
To set up an appointment, go to info@huntress.com
Huntress, above a retail shop on Queen St. West. Because it is appointment only and located in a private social club, the address is unlisted.
Intimidation factor: Moderate. It is like gaining entrée to a booze can. The door on the street is unmarked and you punch in a code; you almost anticipate a secret handshake.
Number of salespeople on floor: Two, owners/designers Ron LeBlanc and Diane Robinson
Response time: Immediate. I’m offered a beverage and cookies.
Vibe: Explorers Club lobby meets jewel tuck shop.
Price range: From $75 for a money clip to $15,000 for an Ethiopian opal necklace with diamonds set in 18K gold.
Rating: Three corset cuffs out of four.