Staff Profile | Sarah Barty
Sarah Barty is Webb’s latest addition to the Fine Jewels, Watches & Luxury Accessories team. We spoke with Sarah about her long involvement with the industry, her passion for it and how that informs her role as Luxury Accessories Specialist here.
Sarah Barty’s association with accessories and adornment is in her blood. “My father was a jeweller,” she says, “and from an early age I was always exposed to the beauty of stones, well designed artefacts and the power of accessorising in expressing personality,” she says.
Now, her Luxury Accessories Specialist role — which is underpinned by exceptional customer service track record within the industry — involves accepting potential consignments, ensuring they meet stringent levels of quality and provenance; appraising their worth and ensuring a smooth and highly memorable experience both for vendors and buyers alike.
The Gisborne-born Sarah gained her stripes in the industry through a long and fruitful career which started at a textile company soon after university, followed by a stint in the family wholesale jewellery business, and later owning her own brand specialising in costume jewellery, scarves and handbags.
“I would travel up to the United States two or three times a year sourcing new ranges and supplying boutiques around New Zealand,” she says, mentioning a pause after having children, then with an entrepreneurial spirit she identified a gap in the women’s clothing market that brought her back into the sumptuous fold of the industry.
After growing a wholesale clothing business that included retail stores, Sarah cultivated a keen understanding of style, trends, and the needs of diverse clientele. This sparked her journey into personal styling. “I studied professional fashion styling in Melbourne,” she explains, discussing her training in the psychology of our own unique style and how we shop, and the impeccable customer service requirements of her eventual role in Auckland as a style consultant for private clients.
In her day-to-day here at Webb’s she enjoys “forging relationships with clients who bring in items for appraisal, meticulously assessing each item to determine its worth in today's ever-evolving market — both locally and internationally. I scrutinise every aspect of the piece, from its materials and construction to any identifying marks or signatures, ensuring that it meets the standards of authenticity and excellence expected in the luxury market.”
Although well versed in the subject matter and the needs of her customers, Sarah confesses there has been a steep learning curve when it comes to Webb’s robust authentication processes. “Here at Webb’s we have a very thorough process we must go through to ensure that every piece is 100 per cent authentic,” she says, “that whole journey has been really… exciting as I acquire new skills, and expand my knowledge base having to learn the smallest details of craftmanship and even a bit of history.”
The self-confessed fan of Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Jessica McCormack, and the Copenhagen fashion scene, describes current trends as seeking something: “effortless. An elegance that is not too curated but more comfortable and is fully ‘them,’” she says, explaining again the power that accessories have to express personality.
As for her favourite aspect of the role? “The amazing variety and quality of objects that are consigned,” she says, “from globally sought after Birkin bags to exquisite jewellery; it is a privilege to be surrounded by these unique pieces and help find new owners who will value, treasure and give them a new life.”
