The Cracked Textured Dials Of The Norqain Adventure Neverest Glacier

Norqain’s highly successful Adventure Neverest line debuted in 2021 and kickstarted the independent Swiss brand’s partnership with the Butterfly Help Project supporting schooling for the children of sherpas in Nepal. Two new models – a three-hand and a GMT – join the collection with bold black or grey and golden dials inspired by the jagged crevasses of the Khumbu Icefall. Fitted with manufacture Kenissi chronometer-rated movements, 10% of the sales generated will be donated to the Butterfly Help Project.

Butterfly Help Project

Norqain and mountain climbing adventures go hand in hand. Founded just five years ago, the logo of this successful independent Swiss brand is a mountain peak. More than 6,000km away, the Butterfly Help Project in Nepal – founded by Norbu Sherpa and his wife, Andrea Sherpa-Zimmermann – was born as a non-profit to help the widows and children of Sherpas who have lost their lives during expeditions to Mount Everest. When a Sherpa dies, his wife and children often have no other option than to return to their village farming activities, cutting short the children’s education. Following the death of 14 Sherpas in 2014, Norbu Sherpa, who has reached the summit of Everest seven times, and his Swiss wife, Andrea Zimmermann founded this non-profit organisation. With support from Norqain, the organisation has supported the education of 50 children. A newly built hostel ensures the children don’t have to trek miles to reach school. Moreover, the Butterfly Help Project has built three new schools following the devastating earthquake in 2015.

Khumbu Icefall

The dark textured dial with golden cracks evokes the jagged crevasses of the treacherous Khumbu Icefall located at the head of the highest glacier on Earth. This 17km river of ice is considered one of the most dangerous stages in the ascent of Mt. Everest. Advancing 1.2m down the mountain every day, the top of the glacier moves faster than the bottom, which is slowed down by friction. The different speeds, combined with the pronounced drop, create deep, gaping crevasses that can reach 45m in depth. The devastating earthquake that hit the region in 2015 claimed the lives of 24 climbers and injured further 61 climbers, including people who were scaling the Khumbu Icefall when it hit.

Three-Hand adventure Neverest Glacier

Like the earlier edition of the sporty Adventure Neverest three-hand model, the stainless steel case has a 40mm diameter and a thickness of 12.55mm (lug-to-lug 48.30mm). Fitted with a screw-down crown and protective guards to ensure the 200m water-resistance of the case, the knurled, unidirectional bezel has a black ceramic inlay with red gold-coloured markings and a luminous dot in the arrow at noon. A signature feature of Norqain watches, the plaque on the case flank is engraved with the words ‘Adventure, Freedom and Independence’ and the case features sporty brushed top surfaces and polished bevels.

The eye-catching black textured dial features a series of golden cracks designed to evoke the dangerous crevasses of the Khumbu Icefall. The three diamond-cut central hands and the faceted applied indices are plated in red gold and coated with X1 Super-LumiNova, 60% more luminous than standard SLN. The arrow-tipped central seconds hand with its red outline matches the red ‘Chronometer’ inscription on the dial.

In 2020 Norqain announced a partnership with movement manufacturer Kenissi (jointly owned by Chanel and Tudor/Rolex), meaning that many of its watches now tick in time to high-performance chronometer-certified movements with powerful 70-hour fuel tanks. The Kenissi COSC-certified automatic calibre NN20/1 powering this watch has a sturdy construction to ensure the movement is protected during high-impact sports. Visible through the exhibition caseback, the movement has a personalised Norqain rotor.

The watch comes on an integrated stainless steel bracelet with 9mm quick micro-adjustment retailing for CHF 3,980 or alternatively on a black animal cruelty-free rubber strap for CHF 3,650.

Quick facts: 40mm diameter x 12.55mm thickness – stainless steel, brushed and polished – black ceramic inlay in bezel – screw-down crown – 200m water-resistance – black textured dial with golden cracks – faceted applied indices and hands treated with X1 SLN – calibre NN20/1 (Kenissi) COSC-certified automatic – 28,800vph – 70h power reserve – integrated steel bracelet CHF 3,980 or black rubber strap CHF 3,650

adventure neverest GMT glacier

The case of the Adventure Neverest GMT Glacier is slightly larger and has a diameter of 41mm and a height of 14.94mm (lug-to-lug 48.90mm). A robust GMT travel watch with 100m water resistance, the knurled bezel has a grey ceramic insert with a 24-hour scale in red gold that is repeated on the outer flange of the dial with daytime hours in white and night-time hours in black.

The dark grey and gold colour scheme is echoed on the textured anthracite dial with gold-filled cracks. The large red gold-plated indices are faceted, polished and applied by hand to the dial. Like the hands, they are coated with X1 Super-LumiNova. The golden triangular tip of the central seconds hand is also filled with lume, as is the larger red triangular-tipped hand for the GMT. The date window – a useful function when travelling – is positioned at 3 o’clock with a dark grey background to match the dial colour.

The Kenissi COSC-certified NN20/2 calibre has a jumping hour mechanism to set the local time and change the date forwards or backwards at any time of the day without losing a second. The sapphire crystal caseback reveals Norqain’s double-N logo on the rotor. Beating a frequency of 28,800vph, the barrel can store up to 70 hours of power reserve.

Similar to the three-hander of the Adventure Neverest Glacier, the GMT-variant comes on either a stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp, or a textured animal cruelty-free black rubber strap. Prices are set at CHF 3,950 on the rubber strap or CHF 4,280 on the bracelet.

Quick facts: 41mm diameter x 14.94mm height (lug-to-lug 48.9mm) – stainless steel, brushed and polished – grey ceramic inlay in unidirectional rotating bezel – screw-down crown – 100m water-resistance – grey textured dial with golden cracks – faceted applied indices and hands treated with X1 SLN – calibre NN20/2 (Kenissi) COSC-certified automatic with jumping hour GMT hand – 28,800vph – 70h power reserve – integrated steel bracelet CHF 4,280 or black rubber strap CHF 3,950

For more information, please consult norqain.com.