About Us
About Us
The Partridge Story
Many moons ago, a talented young jeweller by the name of James Partridge weighed up his options and took a great risk; he set sail to a far-off land filled with promise not knowing what awaited him and his family. What he will never know is that his decision marked the beginning of a six-generation-long legacy in Aotearoa. A legacy that would come to be synonymous with excellence in the craft of jewellery making and an existence that defines sustainability.
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You can’t help but feel proud to be part of something that has 160 years of history all with one family. I am the fifth generation and have three children who also work in and around the business. I feel so lucky to have been given the opportunity to take over what I see as such a legacy for my family.Â
Grandson of a manufacturing jeweller from Devon, and the first jeweller to carry the Partridge name, James opened the first ‘Partridge’ store in England in 1864. Less than a decade on, he relocated his family and his business to Timaru, New Zealand, where he established a reputation for exquisite workmanship, later moving to open in Manchester Street, Christchurch.
All three of James' sons became jewellers but it was the youngest, Linnaeus who excelled and would carry the name forward through generations. In 1898 he headed to Wellington to set up a small workshop in Willis St. Linnaeus' reputation in Wellington was unparalleled and he was commissioned for everything from medals to trophies and Prime Ministerial gifts.
Trained in his father's workshop, and like his father, a talented silversmith with a reputation for quality, Cecil was widely praised for his intricate engraving work as evidenced by a silver salver presented to the young Queen Elizabeth on her Royal Tour of 1954. Cecil later took his son Ray on to be involved in the business.
Brought on by his father Cecil in the 1950’s, by the 1980’s Ray (pictured right) had opened new stores on Lambton Quay and Cuba Street. This firmly established the Partridge reputation for fine jewellery and watches, as well as community support as Ray involved himself in civic and voluntary duties for the city.
Determined to further the Partridge reputation for luxury, Grant started in the business at the age of 16. He has opened stores in Queen St and Newmarket, Auckland as well as Queenstown and Christchurch. Under Grant's leadership Partridge is firmly established as New Zealand's leading retailer of luxury watch brands and fine jewellery manufacturer.
Grant’s son Sam first began working in the Wellington store learning the ropes. He has a marketing and international business degree from Victoria University. Sam is passionate about adding to the family heritage of craft, quality and service for jewellery and watches. Sam has since relocated to Auckland to lead the team at our Rolex and Patek Philippe boutique.
Having graduated from university with a law and a finance degree, Cory recently completed a two-month stint in the family business before pursuing overseas work experience in London. He will soon return, joining brother Jack and Sam, to further the multi-generational Partridge legacy.
At just 24 years old, Jack is the youngest Partridge to be involved in the family business. Jack graduated with a degree in Commerce, Marketing & Information Systems from Victoria University and has recently obtained two certificates in Business Strategy and Strategy Execution from Harvard Business School. He applies his commercial nous and passion for the product to his role as Digital Specialist with Partridge’s marketing team.