The New Norqain Wild ONE Hakuna Mipaka Limited Edition

The Wild ONE series, introduced last year, features a brand-new lightweight material called NORTEQ, both launches initiated by Jean-Claude Biver, an Advisor to the Board of the family-owned Swiss watchmaker Norqain. This relatively young (since 2018) brand has already made a significant impact through its technical innovations, philanthropic endeavours, and collaborative projects. One of Norqain’s initiatives is to support Hakuna Mipaka, a 400-hectare wildlife sanctuary and animal rehabilitation centre located in South Africa, funded primarily by donations. For the third time, Norqain has partnered with wildlife ambassador and Hakuna Mipaka project creator Dean Schneider to craft an exceptional timepiece. Ten per cent of the sales from this watch, known as the Norqain Wild ONE Hakuna Mipaka Limited Edition, will support Schneider’s conservation efforts.

The Norqain Wild ONE Hakuna Mipaka draws inspiration from a standard model but incorporates brown and sand colours that pay homage to “King Dexter of the Hakuna Mipaka pride.” (King Dexter is one of the lions that lives in the sanctuary since it was a cub). Additionally, sand from the oasis has been integrated into the rubber shock absorber, establishing a symbolic connection. This shock absorber is positioned between the components of a sophisticated dark-brown NORTEQ case measuring 42mm in diameter and 12.3mm in thickness.

The case features double anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystals on both sides. The crown, encased in sand-coloured rubber and protected by guards, is adorned with the Norqain logo. The sand-themed design extends to the dial, stamped with a lion fur pattern and the sanctuary’s logo. The flat hour indices, faceted hour and minute hands, and seconds hand are diamond-cut and plated in red gold, with white X1 Super-LumiNova treatment for enhanced visibility in low-light conditions.

One of the 25 components within the 200m water-resistant case is a sandblasted titanium housing containing the automatic calibre NN20/1, crafted by Kenissi. This chronometer-certified movement boasts an impressive 70-hour power reserve, beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, and can be viewed through the transparent sapphire crystal on the caseback. This crystal is adorned with limited-edition mention (ONE of 300) and features the Hakuna Mipaka logo.

What makes the caseback remarkable is the engraved message from Dean Schneider, who survived a violent attack by a lion named Muwanga in 2021 and continues to dedicate his life to preserving wild animals. His statement reads, “We need to learn to love them exactly the way they are and not the way we wish them to be”.

The Norqain Wild ONE Hakuna Mipaka Limited Edition has a beige “lion fur” rubber strap that matches the barrel of the case and features a brown buckle. It is priced at CHF 5,250 and limited to 300 pieces, as mentioned.

For additional details, please visit www.norqain.com.