Austin Luxury Watch Dealer Claims Top Spot on Inc. 5000
While Austin’s economic narrative is typically dominated by semiconductors and venture-backed tech, the city’s fastest-growing private company is now a luxury watch dealer. Investment Watches secured the ninth spot on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, marking a meteoric rise for a firm focused on high-end horological assets.
The company’s growth trajectory has necessitated a significant physical expansion. Founder and CEO Jonas Berntsen recently oversaw the conversion of a former Wells Fargo bank in the Westlake area into an 8,000-square-foot headquarters. The site’s existing security infrastructure and vaults provided a natural fit for handling high-value pieces from manufacturers like Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet.
Moving beyond the traditional dealership model, the firm now manages the sale, service, and authentication of more than 6,000 watches annually. By centralizing watchmaking, refinishing, and private-client operations under one roof, the company is positioning itself as a comprehensive hub for serious collectors. Berntsen attributes the rapid scaling to a market-wide demand for transparency and expertise, noting that the business is currently recruiting specialists from across the country to bolster its internal authentication and repair capabilities.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!