Francisco Moreno Jr. (Nico) was born in 1990 in Manila, Philippines. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Physics with a specialization in Materials Science from De La Salle University - Manila in 2013.

Driven by his keen interest in vintage timepieces and watch servicing, Nico founded the watch brand Ibarra in the Philippines in 2014. Ibarra gained recognition when it was endorsed by the 16th President of the Philippines and was commissioned to create timepieces for world leaders during the ASEAN50 Special Celebration in 2017. In 2019, Ibarra was selected as the Official Commemorative Timepiece of the 30th South East Asian (SEA) Games.

In 2021, Nico collaborated with the Filipino micro brand Argos, later on assuming the role of Technical Director.

Seeking to deepen his knowledge of watchmaking, he decided to move to Tokyo, Japan in 2021 as a student to complete his graduate studies in business at Hitotsubashi University. Immersing himself in the Japanese watchmaking ecosystem, Nico honed his skills and pursued further knowledge through interactions with fellow watchmakers and industry professionals.

Applying his newfound skills, Nico established his personal work area in 2022 and completed his first project timepiece Kaminari, a piece featuring artisanal decorative techniques, in 2024. Nico will also be collaborating through designs with Ibarra on some
dress watch releases.

Currently, he is an active member of organizations such as the American Watchmakers – Clockmakers Institute and the Horological Institute of Japan.