Tim nadin, iwi

HOT 100 2013: Tim Nadin, IWI Watches

“IWI Watches was set up in 2006 as a luxury British watchmaker, with the intention of being at the vanguard of the re-emergence of the watchmaking industry in the UK,” says chief executive and founder Tim Nadin.

And so it is, which is a matter of no small pride for Tim.

A motorsports obsessive and fluent Spanish speaker, he previously worked in the arguably less glamorous world of IT
and business management.

The fact that he made the leap in a “difficult time” for British industry only underlines that sense of achievement. “The British side of things is something that we look to positively promote. We draw heavily on the traditions of watchmaking in Britain and therefore we provide a product that is quite unique for several reasons, not least the fact that we make our watches in England.”

That Britishness extends to the team and Tim says he was fortunate to “set off on this journey with one of Britain’s most talented watchmakers today, Ian Walsh”. He also credits former TAG Heuer designer with the distinctive IWI design that sets the crown at 12 o’clock. That recognisability has been key in helping this relative newcomer accelerate into the public’s watch-buying consciousness with all the drive, verve and gusto of an F1 champ.

An appropriate analogy for Tim. “I’ve always had a passion for watches and for motorsports. I am able to combine my passions with IWI. It’s been great to build an independent company in Lancashire and work to put it on the world stage.”

Despite selling directly to the public and operating, as he puts it, “from an outpost in the Northwest of England”, Tim nonetheless feels a part of the British watch world. “It’s a very small industry and everyone knows everyone. It’s a supportive group of people who have welcomed IWI in with open arms.”

And his confident tones reflect the past year with similar rosiness. “It’s been a great 12 months. IWI is bigger, better and stronger than ever and we’re moving forward at pace, building the business year on year. Bring on 2014.”

 

IWI Watches chief executive and founder Tim Nadin was an Entrepreneur in the WatchPro Hot 100 2013 in association with The Company of Master Jewellers. To read a digital version of the book in full online, click here.

 

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