Some people emerge from the womb fully formed when it comes to what they want to do with their lives, but they occasionally take the long way around when it comes to realizing that in real life.
That’s definitely the case for Nico Leonard van der Horst, whose obsession with watches and how they work has come to define his life. He’s the proud founder and owner of Pride and Pinion, Ireland’s only dedicated watch boutique.
Early Days
As you might guess from his name, Nico Leonard van der Horst was born in Holland, but he emigrated to Ireland in 2013. He’s based his career on creating a legacy on his knowledge of watches, which started early on when he began taking them apart and putting them together.
The 36-year old Leonard didn’t start his career in the watch game, but once he got in he quickly made his presence felt. Pride and Pinion is a unique company, and not just because it’s the only prominent Irish watch company to specialize in high-end timepieces.
Net Worth and Fame
So what’s the key to Leonard’s rise to celebrity? Simply put, he recognizes the explicit value of high-end watches and this has made him wealthy! As of 2023, Nico Leonard has an estimated net worth of $1 million.
His YouTube channel has 1.2 million subscribers, and many of those followers access the channel to hear his opinions about unique luxury watches, which are delivered with more than a little comedic flair.
A recent example of this occurred when Leonard offered his unique take on a $500,000 Rolex worn by James Bond in the latest Bond movie. Opinions like that will help keep you in the public eye, and Leonard is clearly aware of that.
His Pride and Pinion website offers even more concrete evidence of this. The blog section contains posts about the iconic $17.8 million dollar watch worn by Paul Newman at Daytona, along with guides entitled “Why Invest in a Luxury Watch? 5 Reasons.”
The Big Score
But Leonard does more than talk the talk when it comes to the value of his watches. He’s also known for scoring vintage timepieces, the most illustrious example taking place back in 1999 when Leonard acquired a rare and valuable watch made by Audemars Piguet, a Swiss brand that offered the watch at a price estimated at £300-500.
Leonard also opines frequently about the lasting value of Rolexes, which he clearly sees as an elite investment when it comes to possibilities in the world of watches. His level of knowledge is impeccable, and Leonard is quite aware of how entertaining his delivery is.
He seems likely to reach his goal of taking Pride and Pinion to an elite place in the UK, and it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see him come up with his own personal brand of watches at some point down the line.
