SpotlightWild, Yet Glamorous: Presenting The Limited-Edition Norqain Independence 40mm Hakuna Mipaka Rainbow Bezel

Daring, innovative, exciting… Norqain are all of these, and more. Founded in 2018, they carved a niche for themselves quite early on with their robust sporty timepieces, philanthropic endeavours, and conscious collaborations. In one such initiative, launched in 2022, the family-owned Swiss brand joined hands with Dean Schneider, a wildlife ambassador, to give birth to the Independence Hakuna Mipaka series. The first timepiece under this series, the 42mm Wild One Hakuna Mipaka (a 500-piece edition), featured a three-level, laser-cut black dial with lion fur pattern, presented on a matching rubber strap. The following year, Norqain added two more timepieces to this collection—a smaller 40mm Hakuna Mipaka with a leopard-print pattern dial and strap, and another 42mm Wild One Hakuna Mipaka in a new colour combination of brown and sand. 

This year, the brand have expanded the series even further with the introduction of its fourth variant, the Independence 40mm Hakuna Mipaka Rainbow Bezel. Limited to just 100 pieces, it features a bezel set with vibrant rainbow crystals, lending a glamorous spin to an otherwise bold and brazen design. Just like the last two editions, 10 percent of its sale proceeds will go to the Hakuna Mipaka Oasis—a private wildlife sanctuary and animal rehabilitation centre in South Africa, owned by Schneider. Meaning ‘no limits’ in Swahili, the Hakuna Mipaka Oasis is located on around 400 hectares of land, and is home to several wild animals, including big cats. 

The Norqain Independence 40mm Hakuna Mipaka Rainbow Bezel: Dial And Case

Similar to its predecessor of the same size, the new edition comes in a 40mm 316L stainless steel case, coated with black DLC. With a thickness of 12.05mm and a lug-to-lug length of 46.30mm, the watch sits quite comfortably on the wrist. On the left side of the case, it features the brand’s signature Norqain plate, and on the right, the screw-down crown offers the watch with a water resistance of up to 100m. This is topped with an anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire glass for an unobstructed view of the dial. But a feature that differentiates this edition from the rest is its bezel set with 60 rainbow crystals—a first for the series. These colourful stones not only offset the rugged and monochromatic look of the watch, but also present it with a sophisticated twist. According to the brand, these crystals are not only carefully handcrafted, but are also chosen as an alternative to mined gemstones for a more sustainable approach.

A feature that differentiates this edition from the rest is its bezel set with 60 rainbow crystals—a first for the series

Its black and grey dial features the highly distinguishable leopard-print pattern, with a discreet date aperture at three o’clock. The indexes and hands are rose gold-plated and filled with white X1 Super-LumiNova for added legibility. Additionally, the brand and Hakuna Mipaka logos placed at 12 and six o’clock, respectively are also rose gold-plated for a well-balanced look.

The Movement Of The 40mm Hakuna Mipaka Rainbow Bezel

The new edition is powered by the automatic Norqain Calibre N08 (Sellita SW200-1), providing a respectable energy reserve of 41 hours—same as the older version. This COSC-certified movement features 26 rubies and Norqain’s personalised oscillating weight, beating at a frequency of 28,800vph—this can be viewed through its open caseback, which also features the ‘Hakuna Mipaka’ Logo and  ‘ONE of 100’ writing in gold.

The new edition is powered by the automatic Norqain Calibre N08 (Sellita SW200-1), providing a respectable energy reserve of 41 hours—same as the 2023 version of the same case size, sans the rainbow bezel as shown here

This COSC-certified movement features 26 rubies and Norqain’s personalised oscillating weight, beating at a frequency of 28,800vph

Lastly, the Hakuna Mipapa Rainbow Bezel is presented on an animal-friendly black rubber strap featuring the leopard pattern and Hakuna Mipaka logo, with a steel pin buckle, rounding off the look beautifully. 

The Norqain Independence 40mm Hakuna Mipaka Rainbow Bezel in a nutshell

• Case: 316L stainless steel, 40mm; water-resistant to 100m
• Dial: Black and grey, leopard-print pattern
• Functions and display: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
• Movement: Automatic Norqain Calibre N08 (Sellita SW200-1); 41-hour power reserve
• Strap: Animal-friendly black rubber with the leopard pattern