Brought to you by J Farren-Price

In 1942, John Curtin was the prime minister. World War II came to Australia when Darwin was bombed, portraitist Sir William Dargie won the Archibald Prize (his second of eight wins) and Colonus took out the Melbourne Cup. And among all the chaos, history-making events and hardship, the late John Farren-Price, then recently discharged from the army, decided to open his eponymous watch business.

This year, J Farren-Price celebrates 75 years in the industry (if this were a wedding anniversary, the traditional gift would be, fittingly, diamonds). Though much has changed in the more than seven decades since the original Farren-Price opened his doors, his vision to find the right timepiece remains key to the business’s success.

Keeping watch

In the beginning, Farren-Price focused purely on watches. The store was the first Australian agent for Rolex and has represented Longines since 1953. It’s also the longest-standing agent for Patek Philippe, a relationship that began in 1977. By the mid 1950s, Farren-Price had sold 500,000 watches – a truly staggering number.

The significant relationships J Farren-Price has developed with luxury watchmakers around the world over several decades are still going strong today; some of the most valuable timepieces in the country have been sold by the team, including a Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon, one of the most impressive feats of art and technical perfection you can wear on your wrist.

How J Farren-Price Became a Household Name

Family heirlooms

Though Farren-Price retired in the 1970s, it didn’t mean the end of the business. His wife, Krysten Farren-Price, took over and continued to sell timepieces from their space in the St James Centre on Castlereagh Street, Sydney, where the business remains to this day. And in 1989, the couple’s son, Julian – the next J Farren-Price – joined the business as director, ensuring a name change wasn’t required.

Crowning jewels

J Farren-Price is synonymous with watches – it stocks 11 luxury brands, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Tudor and Hublot. But over the past few decades it has expanded into selling and designing other stunning pieces of jewellery. As well as sourcing rings, necklaces and bracelets from exclusive jewellery houses, a J Farren-Price team also designs its own custom jewellery and is a founding member of Diamond Guild Australia; only the best gemstones and diamonds are used to create bespoke pieces for their clients, including one-of-a-kind wedding and engagement rings.

How J Farren-Price Became a Household Name

Marking a milestone

Fittingly, in a business that specialises in marking special moments for its clients, J Farren-Price’s master jeweller has designed a piece to celebrate their big anniversary: a platinum ring that showcases a ravishing round brilliant-cut, 10-carat diamond. Its qualities represent everything J Farren-Price wanted the business to stand for: elegance, quality and timelessness.

Discover the very best in luxury watches and jewellery at J Farren-Price.
80 Castlereagh Street, Sydney; (02) 9231 3299

 

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