Max Garthe to close Revesby Watchmakers and Jewellers after 52 years

After more than 50 years filled with milestones, laughter and challenges, the man behind a beloved Revesby business has decided to embrace a new chapter in his life.

The owner of Revesby Watchmaker and Jeweller jeweller Max Garthe said he will miss his loyal customers.

After more than 50 years filled with milestones, laughter and challenges, the man behind a beloved Revesby business has decided to embrace a new chapter in his life.

Countless couples would know Max Garthe as the creative genius behind their wedding and engagement rings after he opened his humble store, Revesby Watchmakers and Jewellers in 1976.

The 87-year-old will close the family-run store in December to retire and spend more time with his loved ones.

“I will be sad to see the shop go as we’ve been a part of everybody’s lives for so long and the customers have treated me very well and my family and I have looked after them,” he said.

“People are coming in not to buy something but to thank me and it’s been tremendous as they’re sad to see me go but it’s time.”

The owner of Revesby Watchmaker and Jeweller Max Garthe is retiring in December.

While he has made thousands of wedding rings, engagement rings and countless watch repairs,

Mr Garthe said “everyday is a favourite day”.

“I’ve made rings for parents and their children and their children … it’s always a special day because the customers make it special because they come from all over Sydney,” he said.

The Revesby Watchmakers and Jeweller store will close in December.

He started work as a jeweller at 15-year-old and began working with Angus and Coote before opening his first store in Padstow with his late wife, Joan and his Revesby store in 1976.

In 1991, tragedy struck when robbers targeted his Revesby business and ransacked the store after they locked Joan in a cabinet where she sustained a fatal blow which lead to her unfortunate passing.

Despite the challenges, Mr Garthe said “it took awhile to move on but the people are so good you learn to live with it.”

His daughter, Janette Garthe has worked at the store for the last nine years alongside her brother Warren Garthe and niece Rachel.

Ms Garthe said it was an “end of an era” and was sad to see the shop close its doors.

“It’s very emotional but it’s time for him to not have the stress of the shop, but he’ll miss it and he’ll miss the people,” she said.

“We’ve been here for so long we’ve been serving multiple generations of customers because Dad has been so reliable as jewellery is such a personal thing and they feel safe coming to him.”

Ms Garthe said the shop would be rented out once the doors finally close as her brother Warren, who has worked as a watchmaker and jeweller for the last 44 years, can’t continue the business due to an illness.

“Our family is extremely proud of Dad’s achievements” she said.

Canterbury-Bankstown councillor Linda Downey will move a motion at Tuesday’s council meeting for Max to be awarded a mayoral certificate of recognition.