Reviewing the Norqain Independence Wild One Black & Blue Watch

Norqain has launched the ultimate sports watch with the release of the new Independence Wild One watch. Its case is developed from a ground-breaking material called NORTEQ, whilst its high-performance design has been led by industry-legend Jean-Claude Biver

Norqain is a watch brand that has cemented itself within the luxury watch industry by creating wristwatches that embody a love for the outdoors and an innate sense of adventure. It has done so since 2018 by aligning itself with companies that stand for the same values in quality, precision, and superior craftsmanship. One example of this was when the independent Swiss watch brand secured Kenissi as the producer of its movements. More recently it has collaborated with industry leader Jean-Claude Biver – a legendary designer associated with top names in the world of watches, having had an involvement in the design of Omega and Blancpain watches and successfully fulfilled his role as CEO of TAG Heuer and Hublot.

After considering all this, it’s quite hard to grasp the fact that Norqain has been around for a very short space of time but has developed some incredibly innovative designs and secured some important collaborative efforts within that time. One of its latest achievements is the Independence Wild One watch series with cases made from a proprietary composite called NORTEQ that creates a stunning marble-like effect. With lightweight, shock-proof and robust qualities to offer, this special carbon case ensures utmost strength for all types of extreme outdoor conditions, making it one of the most interesting and innovative sports watches out there on the market today.

A case collaboration - NORTEQ

The new Norqain Independence Wild One Black & Blue watch has been released alongside a black and khaki sibling, a red-cased limited edition and the Hakuna Mipaka Limited Edition watch. This specific model, however, the reference NNQ3000QBA1A/A001, is a standard non-limited edition watch with a shared case diameter with its siblings of 42mm. To develop the design, Norqain has partnered with a handful of leading names within the industry, including Montremo SA for the development of its laser-cut dial, Kenissi for its movement manufacture, and Waeber HMS SA for its skeletonised hands (which have also been diamond-cut and rhodium-plated for a premium finish).

To develop the NORTEQ case material, Norqain joined forces with BIWI SA to produce a carbon fibre and a polymer mix made up of 60% caster oil. The special blend creates a case that is three times lighter than titanium and six times lighter than stainless steel. The case of the watch includes a rubber core, making its structure incredibly shockproof, plus it’s also the first material of its kind to be available in different colours. Composed of 25 individual components, the case also features a titanium core inside a rubber middle with a layer of sapphire crystal applied both front and back to protect a chronometer-certified at its heart. Norqain CEO Ben Küffer delves into the uniqueness of this model;

“There is no better way to describe the Wild ONE than the ultimate sports watch for every NORQAINER. It’s the culmination of over two years of close collaboration between Jean-Claude Biver, our team and the best Swiss suppliers. The Wild ONE is 100% Swiss-made. From the entire development process to the production of every component of the watch – it all came to life within a small radius from Jura to Bienne and Neuchâtel. Our motto throughout the project was ‘zero compromise’ and we delivered on this by always opting for the highest-quality solution. I am incredibly proud of the final result.”

The movement that powers this Norqain Independence Wild One Black & Blue watch is the three-hand Manufacture Calibre NN20/1, produced by Kenissi. It features a traversing bridge with a two-point fixation for improved power and performance. Its unique Norqain decorations, such as the double-N” Norqain logo (also featured on the dial), can be admired through a sapphire crystal glass exhibition feature, as well as the “Adventure – Freedom – Independence” lettering emblazoned upon the surface of the oscillating weight – a nod to Norqain’s core values. The movement offers an impressive 70-hour power reserve once fully wound whilst sitting inside a robust 200-meter water-resistant black-coloured carbon composite case.

The dial of the new Norqain Independence Wild One Black & Blue watch is as technical as the rest of the watch. It boasts a three-tier construction with an intricate mandala-like pattern of Norqain’s mountain-inspired double-N logo adorned to its surface. With a 0.5mm separation height between each tier, the dial of this new watch communicates a strong sense of depth. X1 Super-LumiNova applied to the diamond-cut hour markers and hands stand out in dark conditions against this hypnotic 3D dial effect.

The Norqain Independence Wild One watch is fitted on a vegan-certified rubber strap in blue to match the accents on the minutes and seconds track, the crown guards and the dial itself. Integrated into the case, the strap underscores the Swiss watch’s ultra-sporty personality. Jean-Claude Biver who has influenced the design of this new, bold watch explains;

“When I began working with NORQAIN, my first step was to challenge the team to innovate; to create a lightweight and shock-resistant timepiece that reflects the brand’s active DNA. This watch concept is exactly the kind of revolutionary development I was hoping for. The Wild ONE collection is the result of close collaboration between the best of the best Swiss suppliers and NORQAIN’s passionate, knowledgeable team. This collection is a 3-in-1 because it combines unique design, a revolutionary new concept and high-tech material. NORTEQ is the optimal material on every level: aesthetics, light weight, robustness and ethical production”.

If you would like more information on the new black and blue version of the Independence Wild One watch from Norqain, you can explore the model in more detail on the product page here, or call and speak to a member of our sales team at Jura Watches who can talk you through availability details on 01335 453453