EARLY DAYS OF PATEK AT J FARREN-PRICE - JULY 2020 NEWS article hero image

EARLY DAYS OF PATEK AT J FARREN-PRICE - JULY 2020 NEWS

We were recently sent this wonderful nugget of J Farren-Price history from avid Patek enthusiast and gentleman Dogu Tasoren who kindly sent it to us.

In an article by Gavin Green written in 1978, we are given a glimpse into the early days of Patek Philippe in Australia when the late Krysten Farren-Pirce placed her first order. Mrs Farren-Price was certainly on the ball when she said “I don’t know how we will keep up with demand”! True 42 years later!

Enjoy... 

__________________________________________________________

$11,000 Buys Watch For Royals

"Queen Victoria had one, and so did Tsar Nicolas II, Richard Wagner, Rockefeller, Stalin, Albert Einstein and Clark Gable. These days Ella Fitzgerald, a number of Continental royals and a select number of wealthy people – whose time really is precious – wear them on their wrists."

Patek Philippe_History J Farren-Price 1978

And if you have $11,000 to spend on a watch you can join them and wear top-of-the range Patek Philippe-the world’s most expensive brand of watch.

The Swiss-made watches went on sale in Australia this week at the J Farren-Price shop in Sydney.

The company has imported 30 different Patek Philippes-with a total value of $250,000.

The proprietor, Mrs Krysten Farren-Price, expects all the watches to be sold by January.

“I’m sure there’ll be no shortage of buyer,: she said.

“The person who wants the ultimate watch will buy one because the Patek Philippe is the Rolls Royce of watches.

“They take nine months to make, are all hand built, and are all tested for 600 hours to make sure they’re perfect.”

Most Patek Philippes are 18 carat gold.

A ‘Cheapie’

Prices start at $3,500 for a “cheapie” – an 18carat gold piece, with a blue-gold dial – and go up to $10,950 for a gold watch, with a diamond-laced casing.

“Some of the watches Patek Philippe makes are tailor-made and they can cost well over $100,000,” Mrs. Farren-Price said.

“There are only 450 shops round the world that sell these exclusive watches – and we’re the only place in Australia.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to keep up with the demand, because Patek Philippe produces only 50 watches a day.”

By Gavin Green (article from 1978)

You May Also Like