Julian Osula tells friends that luxury begins in the mind. The statement sounds ordinarily poetic until observers notice that it really is what shapes his empire.
Osula runs Julian’s Luxury in Lagos, the dealership that grants Nigeria direct access to brands like Richard Mille and Chopard. The business grew from earlier ventures that ranged from banking to supplying naval spare parts, each step revealing his instinct for high-stakes precision.
His role now carries a different weight. Nigeria’s affluent class wants authenticity; the global market offers endless imitations. Osula fills the gap by acting as a trusted gatekeeper, curating watches, jewellery, and cars with the care of someone defending a national archive. The work protects taste, status, and the value of every purchase. His credibility took decades to build.
The man worked in First City Merchant Bank and Alpha Merchant Bank before striking out on his own in 1991 to start a gift-item company. By 2011, he launched StipleGate, a boutique for high-end watches. That experiment became the foundation for Julian’s Luxury in 2013, the brand that cemented his place in Nigeria’s upper tier of commerce.
The shift from banker to arbiter of taste sounds improbable until you consider his long training in discretion. His clients, from celebrities to executives, depend on confidentiality as much as glitter. He sells rare objects, yet the transaction normally centres on trust rather than metal or stone.
Osula’s life certainly mirrors his inventory. He collects Brabus trucks, Lamborghinis, and precision timepieces, but presents them with an elegance that keeps ostentation at bay. The lifestyle feeds the brand: he understands luxury because he lives it with deliberation rather than noise.
His influence extends into Europe, where he invests in real estate and hospitality. These ventures amplify his network and deepen his understanding of global standards, which he brings home through his Lagos showroom.
Nigeria’s appetite for the extraordinary continues to expand, and Osula’s role grows with it. The country may debate politics, power, or policy; however, when the elite want certainty in a world full of replicas, they find their way to him.
Leave a comment