Announcement: Introducing The Limited Edition TCU Licensed "Dutchman"
Leawood, KS — February 23, 2018
Fresh off the success of the completely sold out Fieldhouse Blue, NIALL has brought their unique approach in luxury watchmaking to Texas Christian University with the introduction of “The Dutchman." Officially licensed by TCU "The Dutchman" is a men's and women's timepiece collection inspired by the spirit and culture of the Horned Frogs.
“Our success with the University of Kansas caught the attention of IMG Collegiate Licensing arm. Which, in turn, caught the attention of TCU.” Says NIALL Founder, Michael Wilson. After spending time visiting with the athletic department at TCU, Wilson states he was enthralled with the culture, heritage and hospitality at TCU.
The 43mm, stainless steel, American Made sport timepiece is paired with an industry leading 38 hour power reserve Swiss automatic movement. Each timepiece showcases the revered TCU "frog skin" pattern micro-inscribed on the dial of the timepiece by a technology exclusive to NIALL. Engraved on the stainless steel caseback of the watch is "Fight 'em until hell freezes over. Then fight them on the ice." as famously quoted by legendary coach Dutch Meyer.
The NIALL Cairenn (ladies) model is a 36mm, quartz driven, American made stainless steel timepiece with an ivory white, TCU, frog skin dial and is available in two models. Stainless bezel or diamond bezel. The diamond bezel model is beautifully ordained with .72 carats of hand set VS1 diamonds.
Limited to only 144 pieces (144 men, 144 women), the serial numbers begin at 1873 (year TCU was founded) and go, year by year, through 2017. Giving each owner the opportunity to "choose their year."
Wilson concludes, “The Fieldhouse Blue sold out in just over nine months thanks to the support of an incredible alumni base and the support of KU Basketball Coach Bill Self. After having spent some time visiting with TCU, I have a feeling the support of Coach Gary Patterson and the TCU Alumni around the world are going to make The Dutchman something we talk about for decades to come. We’re excited to be collaborating with TCU and we’re excited to show Dallas just who NIALL is as a company and as a watchmaker.”
The Dutchman is available for purchase, today, by visiting http://niallluxury.com/tcu or calling NIALL at (913) 942-2060.
Growth winds up local luxury watchmaker's move to Leawood
Niall's co-founder and CEO Michael Wilson stood inside the new Leawood store, leaning over a counter as he glued on the top layer. He sported a camo hoodie and jeans as he prepped for the luxury watchmaker's Saturday grand opening which was only days away. It's not uncommon, he said, for Niall's customers to visit the retail space in similar casual attire. And he likes it that way, because he wants people to feel comfortable when they visit. The retailer may be focused on luxury, but it's anything but arrogant.
Niall, which was founded in 2013, opened its first retail location in September 2016 on Kansas City's Country Club Plaza. But it outgrew the space and decided to relocate to Leawood's Park Place shopping center at 5261 W. 116th Place.
"When we opened on the Plaza, at the time, it seemed like there was no better place to be," Wilson told the Kansas City Business Journal. "It was very successful for us. Revenue went through the roof, and it really solidified the brand. The Plaza was the right place for Niall to start, but it wasn't necessarily the right place for Niall to grow."
Wilson called 2017 a "banner year," noting a spike in revenue and launching its first women's line. The luxury watchmaker also debuted in the new "The Fate of the Furious" movie, in which one of the stars, Kurt Russell, sported a Niall watch during the entire movie. This year, Niall can be spotted in the movie, "Avengers: Infinity War" which debuts in early May. Robert Downey Jr., who plays Iron Man, selected Niall's specialty watch as the ideal timepiece for his character to wear. The Niall watch features a metallic Iron Man red dial that matches Iron Man's suit from the first movie. Niall also will release the same version to the public in May.
Introducing our first Cairenn™ ambassador: Artist, Megh Knappenberger
With the launch of our first women’s timepiece, The Cairenn™, we are profiling NIALL customers whose ‘strength runs deep.’ We begin this series with local artist, Megh Knappenberger.
Introducing NIALL's Virtual Clocks: a Google Chrome Extension
NIALL is proud to announce the official launch of our latest digital creation, NIALL Clocks: an extension for Google Chrome.
Bitcoin Payments Now Accepted at NIALL
NIALL is thrilled to announce that we now accept Bitcoin as a method of payment on all products, both online and in store. Partnering with Bitpay and Coinbase, NIALL has opened up the doors to a whole new class of products not previously available to Bitcoin customers.
"NIALL very much has the vision of becoming a digital leader in the watchmaking industry. For us, that starts with embracing cryptocurrencies as a method of payment both online and in store. Cryptocurrencies have evolved to a place where it only makes sense to offer this new form of payment. We are excited to be taking this step forward."
Bitcoin, a form of digital currency of often called today's "digital gold" has seen a boom in both monetary appreciation and adoption since its inception in 2009. NIALL accepts payment for Bitcoin during the checkout process.
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For further questions or inquiries, please contact press@niallluxury.com
Introducing NIALL's First Ladies' Timepiece, The Cairenn
In 2014, NIALL set out to develop a ladies's timepiece that we felt was perfectly crafted. Rethinking our previous notions about horological design, we made sure there were no details was left behind. With the Cairenn (pronounced care-n), we set out to design, engineer, and manufacture a timepiece that reflected the "ALL IN" lifestyle of our customers.
Niall & Artist Megh Knappenberger Collaborate On "The Original Six."
American watchmaker Niall and artist Megh Knappenberger collaborate on the debut of "The Original Six" at the 2017 Plaza Art Fair.
Fresh off the success of the University of Kansas licensed Fieldhouse Blue timepiece, Niall Founder Michael Wilson discovered a canvas painting of James Naismith by local artist Megh Knappenberger. The inventor of basketball and University of Kansas legend portrait inspired Michael to connect with Megh to discuss acquiring the piece for Niall's flagship retail store. Upon spending time discussing each other's craft, it became apparent there were some more exciting opportunities to explore.
"Niall's collaboration with Megh just made sense." Wilson states. "Both of our brands have fully embraced our KU roots. With Megh creating Midwest-rooted fine art and Niall making timepieces in America, it just felt right."
Officially licensed by the University of Kansas, "The Original Six" celebrates the evolution of the Jayhawk through its robust history. The six paintings artfully represent six different eras in KU’s history and were created with exquisite attention to detail. Each piece contains local, ground limestone Rock Chalk® mixed in to the paint, creating a textured and tactile homage to the University of Kansas chant "Rock Chalk. Jayhawk. KU." The result was art quite literally made of Rock Chalk®.
The "Original Six" debut, held at Niall's Flagship Retail Location on the Country Club Plaza, was an absolute success. "The Niall store was shoulder to shoulder the entire night." says artist Megh Knappenberger. "As an artist you are always nervous about how the world will receive your work. The response at the debut was beyond incredible. I am humbled by the reception and the support of collectors, customers, friends and fans that came to see the collection. Kansas City really is magical."
Priced at $25,000 per piece, "The Original Six" will be on display at the Niall Flagship Retail Store on the Country Club Plaza (612 W. 48th Street Kansas City, Mo 64112) through the holiday season. Visitors and photographs are welcomed and encouraged.
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Additional Event Images
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Learn more about artist Megh Knappenberger - http://meghmakesart.com
Learn more about the University of Kansas - http://ku.edu
Learn more about the Plaza Art Fair - http://www.plazaartfair.com/
Jewel Crowd: Exclusive Interview with NIALL luxury watch creator Michael Wilson
NIALL watches are the new kid on the block for luxury timepieces, made entirely in Kansas City, America. Don’t be lured into thinking that because this brand doesn’t have 100 years of horology already in its back pocket it lacks enough experience to create luxury time pieces to take on the big names. NIALL watches may be new, but they have an ethos behind every single timepiece that cannot be ignored - innovation and dedication to relentless focus on quality. NIALL are proving that the luxury watch industry is not the closed shop it once was. With tenacity, willpower and beautifully engineered timepieces they have found success in the luxury watch arena.
We chatted to founder & CTO, Michael Wilson, to find out more about NIALL watches, the ethos, the journey, the manufacturing and how NIALL was so successfully brought to market. Oh, and how Kurt Russell became a such a fan of these timepieces.
How and where did your journey begin in the world of watches?
Five years ago, I had the belief that I could make a watch almost fully sourced in America. Not because of a ‘flag-waving’ American pride reason – more so out of strategic advantage for machine times and quality standard. Five years later, we continue to pave the way on just how much we can source in the United States.
How did you choose the name NIALL?
I took at DNA test and found that I'm from the O'Neil family lineage in Ireland. O'Neil meaning "of Niall." I believe it sounds a lot better than Michael Wilson on the dial of our watches.
Why did you choose luxury watches? Especially as launching anything within the luxury sector is difficult at best, never mind the watch sector.
It was not easy at all. In the beginning, we were rejected by the industry in a very abrupt and overt way. However, the irony of this business is time itself. Over time, we grew as a company and grew our product line. We earned the industry and consumers respect - one person at a time. From the beginning, we believed in striving towards being the best and I've personally sacrificed everything in my life to get Niall to where it is today. When you're an entrepreneur and you’re all in, there is no reason to aim for low-quality or low price. For us, being all in means respecting the ways of Swiss watchmaking and striving to produce the best timepieces possible right here in America.
NIALL luxury watches are designed and manufactured in Kansas - was creating your watches almost purely in America a deliberate choice to help future sales?
A wise man once told me, "waving the American flag is great up until your arms get tired." Quite honestly, we did not start this with what we call "waving the American flag." We began the company, producing in America, as a strategic advantage. While we are very proud of our pioneering work, if you look at our site today you're not going to see America all over the place. That's because, to us, being authentically American doesn't mean rubbing it in everyone’s face.
Once you had your model for NIALL watches - how did you bring it to market?
We are a very boutique brand. Nothing we do is produced in the tens of thousands. We really focus on creating outstanding designs that appeal to our core-customers through very limited releases. Whether it is the Fieldhouse Blue, Black Swan or some other colorway, we tend to focus on creating the appeal behind designs we believe to be appealing.
Many luxury watch brands are adding "smart watch technology for their brand - is this something you would consider too?
We have a lot of new technology that we will be rolling out over the next two years, but smart tech isn't a focus for us at the moment. Garmin is based out of Olathe, Kansas – just in our back yard. I believe they are doing a wonderful job in the smart-watch segment. However, the Garmin folks and the Niall team have definitely shared a few ideas together.
Many people buy luxury watches to create family heirlooms because they hold onto their value - is this something people can do with Niall watches?
Yes! It is our intent to create timepieces that are snapshots of the monumental moments in a man or woman’s life. Every watch tells a story and Niall often fits within the collection of other watches. I get text messages all the time of customers looking back and sharing their stories of why they bought their Niall. It's incredible to hear. We work every day to make sure our customers stay just as happy and just as excited about their watches in five years as they did the day they bought them.
Celebrity endorsements are good for any brand - how did Kurt Russell discover the brand?
I wouldn’t say we have any formal endorsements per say. We've never paid a dime for an actor, athlete or coach to wear a Niall. However, celebrity friends and customers are incredible for the brand. We've been blessed with some really kind people that have attached to our brand. Paul Rudd, Kurt Russell, Jack Sock, and Bill Self to name a few. Customers or friends - we have just been so lucky to have supporters of Niall looking to put us on at a moment’s notice.
NIALL is a really exciting brand - whose growth has been quite rapid, what do you think has been the main contributing factor in this?
Great question. I ask myself this question a great deal. I really think it's our focus on design, our commitment to quality, and our ethos. I really do have my life, blood, sweat, and tears in this company and I can only hope our customers see our passion and commitment when they check the time.
Do you have any advice for other people who are looking to create their own watch brand?
Three words. Belief. Patience. Fortitude.
Currently NIALL watches are designed for men, do you have a plan to produce watches for women too?
We recently launched our ladies GMT with diamond bezels that has sold really well. We also have a 36mm ultra thin timepiece in the works. It’s something I've designed, engineered, and modeled from the ground up. I'm very excited to announce it, when the time is right.
What's the future for Niall?
What you are going to see out of Niall is a lot more product. New designs, new materials, new colorways. After bringing on Mark Mazzarese as our CEO, it's allowed me to focus on what I love most - inventing the new. You can expect a lot of "new" coming out of Niall this year and throughout 2018.
Insidehook: NIALL Is the Next Great American Watch Company
When seeking out a unique luxury timepiece, where do you start your search?
Switzerland? The wrist of James Bond? Or ... Kansas City?
Yes, Kansas City. Because the land of BBQ and jazz is also home to NIALL, an upstart watchmaking company that manufactures everything in the U.S. — except for, of course, the time-honored Swiss movement. The name is an anagram of “all in,” which is how they approach their products: great service and timely repairs, as well as details to rival all the European mainstays. 1
Another part of their plan: a limited-edition collection that pays homage to American sports lore. Like The ALL IN | Legacy Edition, out today.
On the face, the ALL IN resembles NIALL's other timepieces, but flip it over to reveal “Play Like A Champion Today” — the storied motto of Notre Dame football — engaved on the caseback. The watch follows previous special editions honoring Kansas Basketball (the Fieldhouse Blue) and the Kansas City Royals' 2015 World Series win (the sold-out Blue October).
Read more at http://www.insidehook.com/nation/niall-all-in-legacy-notre-dame-football-luxury-watch
Fashion Maniac: Father’s Day – Perfect Watch for Every Kind of Father
NIALL is a luxury American-made watch brand. Their timepieces are made in Kansas City with Swiss, automatic movements. NIALL watches can be the perfect gift for any all-American dad.
Read more at: http://fashionmaniac.com/fathers-day-perfect-watch-every-kind-father/
KUAA: Kansas City watchmaker creates wrist-sized tribute to Naismith’s rules
If Michael Wilson has his way, Kansas City will become known for luxury watches as well as tasty barbecue. Wilson, b’05, has dedicated his hometown company, NIALL, to manufacturing luxury watches with meticulous craftsmanship. NIALL was the presenting sponsor for the April 29 Rock Chalk Ball, hosted by the Alumni Association’s Greater Kansas City Network. Watch our video to hear more about Wilson’s business philosophy and NIALL's creative and intricate tribute to KU’s distinctive basketball tradition.Watch the video here: http://www.kualumni.org/news/kansas-city-watchmaker-creates-wrist-sized-tribute-to-naismiths-rules/
Timepiece Chronicle: Inside & Out- NIALL One.M
The Niall One.M. It's meant to cause a little controversy
Those were words spoken by Michael Wilson, founder of Niall Luxury and now Chief Technology Officer at Niall, when he spoke to Gear Patrol about the One. M. I first heard about the One.M in January when I interviewed Michael where he spoke about working with law enforcement personnel to create an extremely durable and lightweight timepiece. Members of the Kansas City Police Department came to Niall asking for a watch that could be worn on the beat and was affordable to them. At the time Niall didn't have a timepiece like that, so they went and made one. The result was the One.M, an ultra lightweight carbon-fiber watch
Read more at https://www.timepiecechronicle.com/features/2017/4/18/inside-out-niall-onem