Two New Editions of the Norqain Wild One, In Gold or Black

Established in 2018, Norqain swiftly entered the watchmaking scene, releasing a compelling range with a solid commitment to sustainability, and was noted for being upfront about its suppliers and collaborators – a testament to the independent brand’s integrity. A standout release from Norqain is the Wild ONE sports collection, featuring timepieces with a unique case construction, using components crafted from NORTEQ, a proprietary carbon-fibre composite with a polymer matrix composed of 60% bio-sourced castor oil. NORTEQ balances density, elasticity, and shock absorption, offering a lightweight and versatile material that can be colourised. The brand has already showcased various NORTEQ colours, and for Dubai Watch Week, Norqain unveils two new editions: Wild ONE Gold and Wild ONE All Black.

The Wild ONE timepieces share a distinctive design and “adventure-ready” concept, positioned as the ultimate sports watch. The 42mm in diameter and 12.30mm thick, 25-part case construction is noteworthy – NORTEQ forms the protective cage on the top and bottom, sandwiching and securing internal components with custom screws. The middle section incorporates a rubber shock absorber cradling a titanium core, housing the COSC-certified calibre NN20/1 by Kenissi. This design ensures robust protection even in rugged conditions and water resistance up to 200 meters. Beyond its intricate case construction, the Wild ONE’s laser-cut dials deserve attention with their fascinating patterns, enhancing the allure and complexity of the innovative (and cool) design. Now, let’s quickly explore the new editions.

Norqain Wild ONE Gold

This is the inaugural reference in the collection to incorporate gold into the Wild ONE case construction. In this watch, “inspired by the colours of the desert, and specifically by the light over the dunes at sunrise”, the upper section of the case, comprising the bezel and the top part of the lugs, is crafted from ethically sourced solid 18-carat red gold, brushed and polished. Meanwhile, the back section retains its NORTEQ composition.

The rubber shock absorber takes on a black hue, complementing the screw-down crown, over-moulded with black rubber and adorned with the brand’s distinctive logo. The signature Norqain-engraved plaque on the left side of the case aligns with the decorative theme, made from gold. A double anti-reflective, scratch-proof flat sapphire glass sits atop the black 3-level dial, featuring the laser-cut mandala-like pattern seen in other Norqain Wild ONE timepieces. The skeleton, red gold-plated diamond-cut indices, and matching hour, minute, and seconds hands, all treated with Super-LumiNova, enhance the visual allure.

Treating the titanium container and case back to a sandblasted finish speaks of attention to detail. The flat, scratch-proof sapphire crystal of the caseback provides a view of the NN20/1 calibre made by Kenissi. The bridge proudly showcases the NORQAIN statement, exalting Adventure, Freedom, and Independence, while the oscillating weight bears the brand’s logo. NN20/1 is a chronometer-certified movement and proudly displays its quality on the dial. It operates at 28,800vph, with a nice power reserve of 70 hours.

The Norqain Wild ONE Gold is released as a limited edition of 99, priced at CHF 11,950 when paired with a black mesh rubber strap and black NORTEQ pin buckle. Opting for the red gold buckle reference will cost you CHF 13,590. 

Quick Facts: 42mm x 12.3mm – 25-part NORTEQ case construction with 18ct red gold upper part – sapphire crystal front and back – 200m water-resistant – black dial with laser-cut pattern – red gold-plated hands and indices hands with Super-LumiNova – Kenissi NN20/1 calibre, automatic – 28,800vph – hours, minutes, seconds – black mesh rubber strap – NNQ3000GGB1LA/B003/3W1BR.20BQ (black buckle) CHF 11,950 – NNQ3000GGB1LA/B003/3W1BR.20GG (red gold buckle) CHF 13,590

Norqain Wild One All Black

The Wild One All Black maintains the modular, lightweight, and robust construction of the adventure-ready Wild ONE series but offers a more standard black-coloured NORTEQ carbon case. As the name suggests, black goes on to paint all other elements as well. The All Black edition takes it from “the brooding mood of a dark, moonless night in the desert” quite well. The black three-level dial, adorned with the characteristic laser-cut pattern, seamlessly integrates with the black-plated indices and hands, capturing the essence of enveloping darkness and menacing shadows. Daytime readability takes a backseat as the focus shifts to the overall appearance of this stylish timepiece. However, come nightfall, the black Super-LumiNova treatment on the indices and hands takes centre stage, ensuring time reading with chronometric accuracy to the second, for even the flat seconds hand received the touch of luminous material.

The size of the Wild One cases is the same through the series, so the All Black is 42mm wide, 12.3mm-thick with a 49.4mm-long lug-to-lug distance, and is water-resistant to 200 meters with a titanium inner core and a rubber shock absorber. Powering the Wild One All Black is the NN20/1 movement, a reliable engine seen in various references across the collection, crafted for Norqain by Kenissi. With 70 hours of power reserve and an official COSC Chronometer certification for accuracy, it promises precision in every tick.

Norqain completes the package by pairing the Wild One All Black with a black mesh rubber strap featuring a matching black pin buckle, and the price is CHF 4,950.

Quick Facts: 42mm x 12.3mm – 25-part NORTEQ case construction – sapphire crystal front and back – 200m water-resistant – black dial with laser-cut pattern – black plated hands and indices hands with black Super-LumiNova – Kenissi NN20/1 calibre, automatic – 28,800vph – hours, minutes, seconds – black mesh rubber strap with a black pin buckle – NNQ3000QBT1A/T002/3W1BR.20BQ, CHF 4,950

For more information, please visit Norqain.com.