I’ve been following Nomadic Watches for a while, and it’s always interesting to see how a young independent brand grows. Their lineup covers quite a few different styles, from rugged tool watches to more refined pieces, and I have to admit, I’m particularly drawn to the Marai line. I’d genuinely love to own one someday, especially the 40mm 18K gold two-tone version. There’s just something about that combination that really works for me.

About the Brand. Founded in Belfast in 2021 by Peter McAuley, Nomadic Watches is an independent Irish watch brand built around modern tool watches, durability and a strong connection to its home city. The name itself comes from the SS Nomadic, the last remaining White Star Line ship in the world, and reflects the brand’s connection to Belfast’s shipbuilding heritage and the idea of adventure.

What makes Nomadic interesting to me is that the brand isn’t simply using its Irish roots as a marketing story. Its watches are designed and hand-assembled in Belfast, with the company actively trying to build a serious Irish watchmaking presence.

And now, Nomadic is taking another important step.

From Belfast to Dublin

In November, Nomadic will open its first standalone Dublin store in partnership with Weir & Sons, at 6 Castle Market Street, just a short walk from Grafton Street.

It’s a pretty exciting step for a brand that is still relatively young. Nomadic opened its flagship boutique and workshop beside Belfast City Hall in July 2025, and I really like the idea behind the space. It isn’t simply somewhere to look at watches and swipe your card. Through a glass screen, visitors can actually watch Nomadic’s watchmakers assembling and fine-tuning the watches, giving you a glimpse into the work that normally happens behind closed doors.

And it seems people have responded to it. During its first year, the Belfast store generated more than 30% of Nomadic’s revenue and attracted visitors from Ireland, the UK, Europe and even the US. That’s quite something for a young independent brand.

The connection with Dublin actually started before the new store was announced. Nomadic held a Christmas pop-up at Weir & Sons in December 2025, and the response was apparently strong enough to turn a temporary collaboration into something more permanent. Weir & Sons began stocking Nomadic watches at its Grafton Street store in 2026, with some models proving difficult to keep in stock.

So, in a way, the new Dublin store feels like a natural next step rather than a sudden expansion. The brand tried out the city, found an audience there, and now it gets its own home.

I always enjoy seeing independent brands grow like this, especially when they manage to keep that connection to their roots along the way. Nomadic is still very much a Belfast story, but with the Dublin store, that story is becoming a little bigger.

More than just another store

For a relatively young independent brand, opening a second physical location is a pretty big step. But Nomadic clearly wants to do more than simply sell watches. There’s a bigger ambition to put Ireland on the watchmaking map and build a recognisable Irish brand with an international audience.

I think that’s one of the nicest things about following smaller independent brands. You get to see the journey as it happens, rather than discovering them once they’re already established.

From a Belfast startup founded in 2021 to its own workshop, an international customer base spanning more than 50 countries, and now a second store in Dublin, Nomadic has come a long way in a relatively short time.

I live quite a bit further away in Hungry, but if I ever make it to Ireland, I’ll definitely visit one of their stores and see the whole thing with my own eyes. For now, I’ll be curious to see where Nomadic goes next.