'Fattorini's set me on path to jeweller for the stars' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

'Fattorini's set me on path to jeweller for the stars'

8:10am Friday 10th February 2012 in News

Mark Walsh

A jeweller to the stars, who learned his trade at Fattorinis, is lamenting its passing. Mark Walsh discovered his love of the business when he started work at Fattorinis aged 16.

He eventually formed his own jewellery business and now supplies jewels and top watches to the stars, including top footballers.

His client list has included Muhammed Ali, David Beckham, Eric Cantona and the late George Best.

Speaking of the pending closure he said: “When I worked there people had been there for 40 years. I started in September 1988 and I was only meant to be there for four weeks but stayed three years.

“I am now a Certified Diamond Grader and deal with high net worth individuals and met Muhammed Ali when he came to Manchester two years ago.

“It is really sad it is closing because on a personal level it is the last real figurehead shop left in Bradford and has been here for generations and generations.

“The reason I have heard that it is closing is simply because it is not doing enough business to pay for overheads.

“It was very, very big in its time. Smokie used to come in and I sold Joe Johnson his first Rolex watch. We had a few celebrities in here from such an early age.

“I once dealt with Adrian Moorhouse when he won the Olympic Gold Medal for swimming and he had a watch engraved.

“It was an Omega Seamaster and when I saw him in the pub years later he was still wearing it.”