Milestone birthdays rarely exceed a century, so for iconic New Zealand jewellers Partridge, to pay appropriate homage to its impressive history they’re delving to the vaults, creating a spectacular collection of jewellery that aptly honours this inspiring family legacy.
It’s a history most ‘heritage’ brands can only dream of. One name, six generations, and an unbroken history of family ownership that can be traced back to the birth of James Timothy Partridge in 1839 in the Devon, England town of Kingsbridge. Most ‘heritage’ brands these days are run by multi-conglomerates with not a family member amongst them.
160 years of business would be an extraordinary feat for almost any company, but the fact that this company, Partridge Jewellers, is a New Zealand one makes it even more so. Starting with the day in 1864 when a young James Partridge hung his own name above the shop he had inherited from his maternal grandfather, Partridge Jewellers has remained in the same family.
In the late 1800s, James set sail with his wife and children to Canterbury, where they settled in the port town of Timaru and opened Partridge Jewellers on Church Street. The family then moved to Christchurch, and eventually James passed the business on to his three sons, Oswald, Roland and Linnaeus, who had all apprenticed as jewellers and engravers under their talented father.
It would be Linnaeus who carried the torch for the business, moving to Wellington in 1898 and being succeeded by his son Cecil upon his death in 1946. Cecil would be succeeded by his own son Ray, whose son Grant has now been steering the brand for almost 50 years.
“160 years of business would be an extraordinary feat for almost any company, but the fact that Partridge Jewellers is a New Zealand one makes it even more so”
Today, Partridge Jewellers boasts seven stores, with four in Auckland, and one each in Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown, the latter recently relocated to a more expansive premises that is helping to usher in a new era for the resort town’s retail offering. They boast an enviable array of brands from an international menu; classic American fare by David Yurman from New York City, playful Swiss pieces by Chopard, cult Parisian jeweller Messika and avant garde Milanese brand Vhernier, among others.
Their watch offering is unparalleled, and includes Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Omega and Jaeger-LeCoultre, alongside lesser-known, but no less exalted brands like Breguet, Blancpain, Roger Dubuis and IWC Schaffhausen.
Further proving its depth in product, and for those for whom just one watch isn’t enough, they import safes and watch winders from Buben&Zorweg, a company famous for being one of the most luxurious of its type. These safes and multi-functional storage mechanisms typically reside within the world’s most esteemed watch salons or the private residences of an elite group of watch aficionados and collectors.
Partridge is not, however, simply a purveyor of fine timepieces and jewellery created by other people (not that there’s anything wrong with that — that’s exactly how Tiffany & Co. began in 1847.) The business is also a full-service watch and jewellery company, providing all the repairing, cleaning, and servicing of their customers’ goods, but also designing and creating their own jewels, from the most classic of solitaire engagement rings to show-stopping cocktail rings, every day fine jewellery and more directional diamond jewellery.
“The culmination of [Grant Partridge’s] love for exquisite stones will come to life via a unique collection of rare gems in unique settings, inspired by New Zealand’s landscape…”
“I have a long-standing love affair with coloured stones and diamonds,” says Grant Partridge. “Even after 48 years in the business, I spend my weekends in the office going through all of the individual stones, much like I did when I started out. The pleasure I gain from the stones and how they are brought to life by our designers, is what continues to motivate me today.”
This passion will be brought to life in a spectacular 160th collection that Partridge will debut later this year to celebrate the hugely significant birthday. The culmination of the current custodian’s love for exquisite stones will come to life via a unique collection of rare gems in unique settings, inspired by New Zealand’s landscape and Partridge’s unparalleled multi-generational story.
Further cementing the momentous milestone will be a sought-after selection of one-of-a-kind timepieces from the likes of Patek Philippe, Omega, Breguet, Tudor and many more, as well as special jewellery from iconic brands including Fabergé, FOPE and Pasquale Bruni which will be included in an exclusive catalogue scheduled for release later in the year.
“As the oldest watch and jewellery retailer continuously operated by the same family in New Zealand, this is a major milestone that we want to celebrate,” says Grant Partridge. “We are lucky to have an incredible relationship with many of our brands whose support of our 160th anniversary has been overwhelming. We are excited to offer our clients the opportunity to access some incredibly rare timepieces and jewellery in our part of the world”.
The company’s in-house offering, Partridge Collections, is created by a design team helmed by Designer Andrea Lethiers, and sees an extensive array of stunning pieces on offer, from fancy coloured diamond engagement rings to dramatic pendants, zodiac charms and letter pendants set with diamonds. While a bespoke design service gives clients the opportunity to create their dream engagement ring, special occasion necklace or bracelet from design, to stone sourcing, to completion. Or, if you just want a special message engraved on the case of a classic Cartier Tank, they can do that too.
Partridge may be New Zealand’s oldest continually run jeweller, and a rare example of any brand — of any industry — boasting six generations of history, but they’ve never rested on their laurels. They’re 160 years young and brimming with ideas for the future. We expect nothing less from this truly inspirational and progressive New Zealand brand.
