- Story by Sean McIntyre

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication

Asked about his pastimes, Brad Leith speaks of hobbies in quotation marks. It害羞草研究所檚 inevitable, really, for someone who logs about 75,000 kilometres of air miles annually.

害羞草研究所淢y 害羞草研究所榟obbies害羞草研究所� are associated with my day job,害羞草研究所� says Brad, the designer at Duncan害羞草研究所檚 Impeccable Jewellery. 害羞草研究所淭he process of our unique creations requires me to travel substantially and allows me to see locations most 害羞草研究所榯ourists害羞草研究所� would never venture to.害羞草研究所�

Whereas many people preserve souvenirs from distant and exotic locales on shelves or walls in their homes, Bard害羞草研究所檚 treasures are displayed at Impeccable Jewellery害羞草研究所檚 downtown Duncan showroom. Step into the quaint Craig Street boutique to behold 70-million-year-old fossils or shards of volcanic rock that spewed through space following an eruption on the moon. In one display case are the remnants of a meteorite that collided into Eastern Europe nearly 15 million years ago. The emerald green rock was discovered in Bohemia (modern day Czech Republic) during the mid 18th century and has since become a valued stone among jewellery makers because of its distinctive translucence.

Brad害羞草研究所檚 specimens are artfully arranged into eye-catching pendants, breathtaking necklaces and beautifully subtle earnings.

Nearby is a find Brad discovered during a tour of European auction houses. Roman glass was commonly used for ceremonial and decorative purposes across much of Europe in ancient times. When Brad happened upon a lot that included intact pieces and an assortment of broken artifacts, he couldn害羞草研究所檛 resist placing a bid. He won, and the result is an historic treasure repurposed as stylishly modern accessories that conjure the earliest days of civilization.

害羞草研究所淢y concept is that there aren害羞草研究所檛 many items that can害羞草研究所檛 be made into incredible and impeccable jewellery, and I find these items wherever I travel,害羞草研究所� he says.

Some discoveries emerge from extensive research, others are the product of chance. With time to spare between trade shows in Hong Kong and Bangkok, Brad once headed for Cambodia害羞草研究所檚 Angkor Wat, one of the world害羞草研究所檚 largest religious monuments. While travelling to his destination through northeastern Thailand, he found himself with a long wait for his next bus in a dusty and congested border town. He headed to a nearby beach, where he met an awe-inspiring sight.

害羞草研究所淚 was literally the only person on that beach,害羞草研究所� he recalls. 害羞草研究所淚 walked its entire length, and the shells that I was pulling off the beach were magnificent. I害羞草研究所檝e never seen shells in such abundance that were so magnificently beautiful.害羞草研究所�

Each of the shells contained a distinct collection of naturally formed crystals unlike anything he害羞草研究所檇 seen before.

After Brad crossed into Cambodia and toured the sprawling temple complex at Angkor Wat, he found even more glorious artifacts to behold. It害羞草研究所檚 in places such as this, he says, amid timeless ruins and inspiring early architecture, that creativity emerges.

害羞草研究所淲hen I see these monuments of civilization, they give me the inspiration to fuel our design approach,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淎s a designer, you change as you have that emotional feeling.害羞草研究所�

Brad hasn害羞草研究所檛 always been an avid treasure hunter and globetrotting gem finder, but the Southern Ontario native has been travelling for much of his professional life. Prior to pursuing his creative tendencies, he worked as a jewellery wholesaler. He害羞草研究所檇 travel across the country, from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland and back, twice a year, selling products to 300 stores.

Much of his time was spent supplying jewellers with a consistent and predictable product. While the quality was certainly consistent, Brad found little excitement in the homogeneity of the products he supplied. Electing to taking the giant leap into jewellery design about 20 years ago, he hasn害羞草研究所檛 looked back.

With a fondness for Impressionism, Brad is drawn to subtle variations in colour. In a sense, every stone he selects will speak to him through its distinctive hue. His task is to work with the stone害羞草研究所檚 innate expression as he strives to create a masterpiece unlike any he has made before.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e always tried to make the stone the star,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淚 think that when you make the designer the star, you often get something that no one would wear. To me, what we design is wearable art. For us, to see the faces of people when we finish or recondition a product is what it害羞草研究所檚 all about. It害羞草研究所檚 always a thrill for me.害羞草研究所�

The shop in downtown Duncan has become the crowning achievement in a journey to make pieces that marry unique stones, inspired design and a craftsman害羞草研究所檚 eye for quality.

害羞草研究所淲e design every piece, we pick every stone, import it and sell it. Lots of people do one of these or maybe even two, but very few do the whole process,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淲e do just about everything, and we do things that are different. We distinguish it from mass-produced product and get the opportunity to achieve some really interesting results.害羞草研究所�

Brad害羞草研究所檚 design work is complemented by custom projects for clients in addition to restoration and repair services undertaken at the downtown location, where Impeccable Jewellery has grown to become a familiar landmark in a vibrant downtown core that values friendliness and service.

Brad says he害羞草研究所檚 thrilled to be part of downtown Duncan害羞草研究所檚 remarkable resurgence as a prime shopping destination. In a competitive marketplace, where small-town downtowns are in a constant battle with generic big box stores, Leith says, a personal touch and attention to detail is what has helped Duncan害羞草研究所檚 downtown thrive.

害羞草研究所淵ou have to get off the highway to get here, and I think that害羞草研究所檚 why this downtown has preserved a little of the old feeling,害羞草研究所� he says. 害羞草研究所淭his is the best downtown business association that I害羞草研究所檝e ever been involved with. They work very hard at making the downtown successful. I think it害羞草研究所檚 a testament to them and a testament to the merchants that are down here. We all have the same mentality 害羞草研究所� we emphasize service over anything else.害羞草研究所�

You can see more about Brad and .