{"id":403842,"date":"2026-08-11T20:18:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T20:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/403842\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T20:18:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T20:18:10","slug":"investment-watches-ranks-no-9-on-2026-inc-5000-named-austins-fastest-growing-private-company","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/403842\/","title":{"rendered":"Investment Watches Ranks No. 9 on 2026 Inc. 5000, Named Austin&#8217;s Fastest-Growing Private Company"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"display: inline;\">\n<p>              Investment Watches Ranks No. 9 on 2026 Inc. 5000, Named Austin&#8217;s Fastest-Growing Private Company<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">Austin luxury watch company transforms former Wells Fargo bank into 8,000-plus-square-foot headquarters as it expands its team and capabilities<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 11, 2026 \/PRNewswire\/ &#8212; Investment Watches, an Austin-based luxury watch company specializing in buying, selling, trading, servicing and authenticating collectible timepieces, today announced that it has ranked No. 9 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of America&#8217;s fastest-growing private companies\u00a0and No. 1 in the Austin metropolitan area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">\n                     <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/mmx.prnewswire.com\/media\/MS1967990\/Investment-Watches-Team.jpg?id=OA2858989\" class=\"mdc-responsive-image__image\"\/>\n                <\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">The ranking places Investment Watches among the 10 fastest-growing private companies in the United States and makes it the highest-ranked Austin-area company on this year&#8217;s list.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">It also represents an unusual addition to Austin&#8217;s growth story. In a city widely associated with technology, semiconductors and venture-backed companies, its fastest-growing private company comes from a very different industry: collectible luxury watches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">&#8220;Being ranked No. 9 in the country is an incredible recognition for our team, but it was never something we set out to chase,&#8221; said Jonas Berntsen, Founder and CEO of Investment Watches. &#8220;We focused on building the company we believed the watch industry needed \u2014 one centered around trust, expertise, transparency and a better experience for collectors. Things have simply accelerated much faster than we expected.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">A Former Bank Becomes a Luxury Watch Headquarters<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">Investment Watches&#8217; growth is now translating into a larger physical presence in Austin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">The company has transformed a former Wells Fargo bank in Austin&#8217;s Westlake area into an 8,000-plus-square-foot headquarters, showroom, authentication and service center.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">The building&#8217;s existing banking infrastructure, including extensive security features and vault facilities, made it particularly suited for a company handling high-value collectible assets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">The facility brings together Investment Watches&#8217; showroom, private-client operations, authentication, watchmaking, service and administrative teams under one roof.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">&#8220;We had the opportunity to take a building designed to protect valuable assets and give it an entirely new purpose,&#8221; Berntsen said. &#8220;It allows us to combine security, expertise and hospitality in a way that would be difficult to replicate in a traditional retail location.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">Building Beyond the Traditional Watch Dealership<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">Investment Watches has built its business beyond the traditional model of buying and selling pre-owned watches. The company now sells, services and authenticates more than 6,000 watches annually\u00a0while providing in-house watchmaking, refinishing, appraisals and private transaction support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">The company continues to recruit experienced watch professionals to Austin, including specialists from outside Texas, as it builds deeper in-house expertise across sales, authentication and watchmaking.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">Investment Watches also operates as a Grailzee Authentication Center, providing authentication services for watches transacted through the Grailzee marketplace.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">The company serves collectors throughout the United States and internationally and works with timepieces from manufacturers including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille and A. Lange &amp; S\u00f6hne.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">&#8220;Our goal is to build the most trusted and recognized independent luxury watch company in the United States,&#8221; Berntsen said. &#8220;We are proud of how far we have come, but we still feel like we are at the beginning.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">About Investment Watches<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">Investment Watches is an Austin, Texas-based luxury watch company specializing in buying, selling, trading, servicing and authenticating collectible timepieces.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">The company serves collectors throughout the United States and internationally from its 8,000-plus-square-foot Austin headquarters, a former Wells Fargo bank that houses its showroom, private-client operations, authentication, service and watchmaking capabilities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">Investment Watches sells, services and authenticates more than 6,000 watches annually\u00a0and works with timepieces from many of the world&#8217;s leading manufacturers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">In 2026, Investment Watches ranked No. 9 on the Inc. 5000 list of America&#8217;s fastest-growing private companies\u00a0and No. 1 in the Austin metropolitan area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">For more information, visit<a href=\"https:\/\/edge.prnewswire.com\/c\/link\/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4750423-1&amp;h=4178021441&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.investmentwatches.com%2F&amp;a=%C2%A0\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"mdc-link__mdc mdc-link--body__mdc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/edge.prnewswire.com\/c\/link\/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4750423-1&amp;h=100000386&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.investmentwatches.com%2F&amp;a=www.investmentwatches.com\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"mdc-link__mdc mdc-link--body__mdc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">www.investmentwatches.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">For the full list, company profiles and a searchable database by industry and location, visit<a href=\"https:\/\/edge.prnewswire.com\/c\/link\/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4750423-1&amp;h=3908761574&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inc.com%2Finc5000&amp;a=%C2%A0\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"mdc-link__mdc mdc-link--body__mdc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/edge.prnewswire.com\/c\/link\/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4750423-1&amp;h=2335915798&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inc.com%2Finc5000&amp;a=www.inc.com%2Finc5000\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"mdc-link__mdc mdc-link--body__mdc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">www.inc.com\/inc5000<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">Press Photos<\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edge.prnewswire.com\/c\/link\/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4750423-1&amp;h=3891678616&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fdrive.google.com%2Fdrive%2Ffolders%2F1mGyZ218-Ec-FeJN-_pk3O9AxBgupH7uz%3Fusp%3Dsharing&amp;a=https%3A%2F%2Fdrive.google.com%2Fdrive%2Ffolders%2F1mGyZ218-Ec-FeJN-_pk3O9AxBgupH7uz%3Fusp%3Dsharing\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"mdc-link__mdc mdc-link--body__mdc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1mGyZ218-Ec-FeJN-_pk3O9AxBgupH7uz?usp=sharing<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">\n                     <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/mmx.prnewswire.com\/media\/MS1967991\/Investment-Watches-Logo.jpg?id=OA2858992\" class=\"mdc-responsive-image__image\"\/>\n                <\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\"> <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786479490_514_favicon.png\" class=\"mdc-responsive-image__image\"\/> View original content to download multimedia:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/investment-watches-ranks-no-9-on-2026-inc-5000-named-austins-fastest-growing-private-company-302848817.html\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"mdc-link__mdc mdc-link--body__mdc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/investment-watches-ranks-no-9-on-2026-inc-5000-named-austins-fastest-growing-private-company-302848817.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mdc-article-paragraph\" data-v-cd4448e2=\"\">SOURCE Investment Watches<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Investment Watches Ranks No. 9 on 2026 Inc. 5000, Named Austin&#8217;s Fastest-Growing Private Company Austin luxury watch company&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":138287,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[132,134,133],"class_list":["post-403842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-austin","tag-austin","tag-austin-headlines","tag-austin-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=403842"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403842\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=403842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=403842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=403842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}