Telling the story of Farr’s Jewelry is akin to writing a history book of the last 69 years, and that would only be one part of a larger story. The Farr family has been an “Ogden family” for generations, dating as far back as 1851 when Lorin Farr became the first mayor of Ogden. Both the historic and current pulse that the Farr family has kept on the community for decades is more than just a business, but a member of society that one can only find from a mom-and-pop, multi-generational business owner. Farr’s Jewelry is a jeweler, a camera shop, a history icon, a home to incredibly proud employees, and a storefront to a family that could be your neighbor. Known for its old-school charm and personal touch, Farr’s also stays in step with the times, curating current, relevant styles that many shoppers might not expect. It’s a face-to-face, genuinely local experience you simply can’t find online.
Farr’s Jewelry began in 1956 by Vern Farr as a discount retailer in downtown Ogden. The store mainly sold everyday appliances at a great price, with jewelry always as its core. Business took off quickly, and before long, Farr’s had three stores—one in Ogden, Idaho Falls, and Salt Lake City. Today, Dirk Farr runs the business in Ogden, while his dad, Vern, enjoys his retirement flying his personal plane to and from Idaho and Utah. At 97 years old!
Today, Farr’s Jewelry remains a deeply involved fixture in the Ogden community, often supporting local causes like St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, EnableUtah, Shop with a Cop, and the Ogden School Foundation.
“We’re constantly a part of different things, in a quiet manner,” says Toni, a Farr’s Jewelry administrator, while attempting to summarize the number of times she has been in awe over her employer during the last 10 years.
With any long-term, successful business, there is a constant need to evolve as the consumer's wants change. A common misconception that gets swept up in the history of Farr’s Jewelry is that they carry older styles—not at all true! The shop has a consistent presence in various jewelry shows to follow current brands and styles. So you can find that Noam Carver or Caro74 piece that you’ve had your eye on for months. If you buy at Farr’s Jewelry, you will be guaranteed a professional and quality experience with an expert.
“People will look at jewelry online, but they still want to buy it from somebody they know and trust and who have been around. Or they want to touch it and feel it,” Dirk Farr says. “When they’re here, we can show them the difference in the diamonds, whether they want a lab-grown or a natural, the difference in grading, why there’s an advantage to buying one over another, or show them how heavy the shank is compared to another…”
Shoppers will find quality customer service with all of Farr’s employees, which Dirk proudly attributes to the success of the business to. Most of the store’s employees have been with the company anywhere between 10-30 years, and are passionate about what they do.
“I hire people who are smarter than me,” Dirk jokes, then adds, “We’ve always had quality, qualified, and very loyal employees who understand how important the customer is.”
A number of reasons might draw you into Farr’s Jewelry. You might be looking for that special occasion gift idea, an engagement ring, something stylish and trendy, a custom piece, a great price for a quality item, or maybe you’re looking for a camera and a camera expert to follow. No matter your needs, stop in to Farr’s Jewelry to get to know Dirk and his team for a memorable shopping experience.
"So many pieces have a neat story, a neat history… From generation to generation."
-Dirk Farr