The Norqain Adventure Gets a new 40mm Case and a Range of Updates

Still a very young brand (founded in 2018), Norqain has rapidly grown to become an established brand, specialised in adventure watches and anything linked to mountaineering activities. With the Independence, Freedom, Wild One and Adventure collections, Norqain seeks the heights and offers robust watches that often come with serious mechanical credentials. One of the earliest models from the brand and its all-terrain offering, the Norqain Adventure, comes back fresh for 2026 with a new 40mm case and a range of updates to give it a broader appeal. And it is meant to replace the current 42mm models. 

For now, if we set aside the Neverest line, which is linked to the brand’s charitable partnership with the Nepali Butterfly Help Project, the collection has comprised only the large Adventure Sports 42mm and the compact Adventure 37mm… And nothing in between. And that’s where the new Norqain Adventure 40mm hits the sweet spot, with a Goldilocks diameter and proportions. Indeed, its case measures 40mm, the all-around size for a sports, exploration-oriented model. But the new versions offered by the brand are more than just about the size.

As you can see, classic traits of the collection – 200m water-resistance, screw-down crown, lateral plaque on the left side, brushed surfaces with polished accents – are all kept alive, but some new features are to be noted. Framing the domed sapphire crystal is an unidirectional bezel with classic diamond-like knurling, yet it now houses an aluminium insert (instead of ceramic) with a 60-minute scale and triangles at the cardinal markers. The case has changed, too, with crown guards and a more pronounced, polished bevel on the side. The crown also features a coloured ring that matches the dial. The case is 40mm in diameter, 12.5mm in thickness and 48.30mm in length – not particularly compact but still smaller and probably more comfortable than the 42mm edition. The updates partially fall in line with what we’ve seen on the Adventure Neverest 40mm.

Moving to the dial, things are changing too. While it feels familiar at first sight, multiple changes add personality to the watch, such as the new embossed mountain pattern (basket weave pattern in older models), available in a grey or dark green colour, with aluminium inserts to match. There’s also a lumed ring under the sapphire crystal, matching the Super-LumiNova inserts (in light blue or light grey) on the hands and markers. These are facetted and rhodium-plated, and have been redesigned. The hands are partially openworked and larger, and the markers are rectangles instead of trapezoids, with an asymmetrical element at 12 o’clock. Last, the date has been moved to the 6 o’clock position in a circular window.

As for the movement, the mechanical base used for the Norqain Calibre N08 remains the same – a Sellita SW200, an alternative to the ETA 2824 – but it is now chronometer-certified by the COSC. The movement runs at a classic 4Hz frequency and boasts 41h of power reserve. It is visible under a sapphire caseback and is fitted with a custom Norqain rotor.

Last, the Norqain Adventure 40mm introduces a new design for the rubber strap, which features the same mountain-inspired pattern as the dial. Colour-matched to the dial and bezel, the strap can be ordered with a pin buckle or a folding clasp. Additionally, a stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp is also available.

Part of the permanent collection and now available for orders, the Norqain Adventure 40mm comes as a replacement for the Adventure Sport 42mm. Whether design-wise or mechanically, with the adoption of a chronometer certification, the update feels like a good one, but it comes at a price. The new collection starts at EUR 3,200, close to 1,000 Euros more than the watch it replaces (retailing for EUR 2,270). For more details, please visit norqain.com.