ReviewOpening New Frontiers: Presenting The Norqain Independence Skeleton Timepieces
Ever since their launch in 2018, Norqain have built a reputation of producing robust and reliable tool watches, finding favour among adrenaline junkies. And they are further consolidating their position in this segment with their Independence Skeleton—a tough timepiece that balances a delicate design with a sturdy mechanism
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There was a time when the haute horlogerie universe was dominated by well-established brands that boasted a rich legacy spanning decades; not that they are irrelevant but this space has only become more exciting, thanks to the rise of independent watchmakers—some old, some new. Among the relatively younger players are Norqain—established in 2018 but slowly carving a niche for themselves with their robust and reliable tool watches that are perfect for those who prefer the outdoors. Instead of spreading themselves too thin, the brand have created three collections—Adventure, Freedom, and Independence—that serve as their core pillars and continue to build-up on them. Out of these, the Independence collection holds major significance for the brand because the stainless-steel sports watch with a forest-green dial launched in 2020 was the first model from the brand to be fitted with their in-house COSC-certified calibre NN20/1. Norqain followed this up in 2021 with the launch of a skeletonised sports watch—another first for the brand, which reflects the brand’s passion for fine watchmaking with an adventurous DNA. Crafted entirely in stainless steel with a DLC coating, this 42mm watch was limited to a 100 pieces only that ‘sold out within a day’, as stated by the brand. To celebrate this success, the brand launched an open-worked version, last year, created entirely in steel, with the skeletonised movement based on the architecture principles of beam construction. Launched in a limited-edition of 300 pieces, this model is equipped with a manufacture calibre instead of the Sellita SW200-1 S skeletonised movement, as in the case of its predecessor.
And recently, the brand have also introduced two new open-worked models, which were part of the line-up to mark Norqain’s five years of being in the business. One is a DLC-coated version and the other is an impressive blue timepiece with a chic, sporty aesthetic. The Independence Skeleton 42mm DLC comes with red-gold plated hands and indexes. The movement’s open-worked structure is based on the architecture principles of beam construction—where each support point is held by at least two arms. The indexes as well as the skeletonised hour, minute, and seconds hands are filled with X1 Super-LumiNova, which is 60 percent stronger than standard Super-LumiNova. The watch comes in a 42mm, polished and sandblasted case, enhanced by DLC coating and is powered by the chronometer-certified calibre NN08S, visible through the sapphire caseback. It is presented on an integrated DLC-coated stainless-steel with on-the-fly micro-adjustment or an integrated, animal cruelty-free, black rubber strap with Milanese structure.
The second version of the skeletonised Independence model comes in a blue hue and is as alluring as its DLC-coated counterpart. Here, the 42mm case is made of stainless steel and features polished, satined, and sandblasted finishings. The skeletonised dial of the Independence Skeleton 42mm Blue showcases a blue flange along with hour, minute, and seconds hands—all varnished with a semi-matte-blue lacquer. The seconds hand is easily distinguished by a red tip and the watch is presented on a stainless-steel bracelet or on an integrated blue rubber strap.
Open-Worked Sports Watch Aesthetic—Here To Stay
The Independence family of watches is inspired by the courage it takes to do the unexpected. Norqain’s passion for traditional Swiss watchmaking ticks inside each of its exclusive, innovative, and ultra-robust timepieces, and the new skeletonised model is no exception. This competitively-priced watch is a striking evolution of its predecessor—the DLC version, and features a stainless-steel case with three different finishings, an impressive skeletonised movement, and a stunning transparent dial. “Over the years, Norqain has developed a passionate following and it’s important to our team that our fans can purchase and wear the watches that we launch. This new addition to the Independence collection is our response to a direct request from Norqain followers and wearers. We have launched 300 pieces this year [2022] and will continue to produce more of this timepiece to ensure that watch lovers who want to add it to their collection will have the possibility to do so,” explained CEO Ben Küffer in an official statement.
This is also an important step for the Independence collection because consistent production of these models will help build a more robust supply to the end consumer as opposed to only doing limited-editions earlier. The watch comes in a 42mm polished, stainless-steel case, water-resistant to 100m. There is a screwed crown with the Norgain logo, along with a caseback made of scratch-proof sapphire glass, which ensure maximum waterproofness for this timekeeper. The highlight here is the unique architecture of the skeletonised movement, based on the principles of beam construction where each support point is held by at least two arms. In traditional skeletonised movements, the arms are not straight and there is often only one arm per support point. However, this unconventional design ensures that the movement remains rigid under all circumstances and offers exceptional shock resistance along with robustness, which distinguishes it from other open-worked timepieces. One can also admire this powerhouse through the transparent dial, which allows the wearer a glimpse into the inner workings of the various components that combine to make up the COSC-certified manufacture calibre NN08S, which appears in a metallic ruthenium colour. The overall aesthetic of the dial is very neat so as not to take away the attention from the skeletonised movement. One can see the Norqain logo, positioned below the 12 o’clock hour marker and the ‘Chronometer’ designation on the inner chapter ring. The seconds hand has a red tip for enhanced legibility, the hour markers and minute scale stand out in white, and the skeletonised hands are coated in Super-LumiNova C1, which emits a white colour.
In-House Mechanics Delivering The Highest Timekeeping Standards
As mentioned earlier, this stainless-steel Independence Skeleton version is driven by the in-house calibre NN08S, a COSC-certified powerhouse, which beats at 28,800vph and supplies an energy reserve of 38 hours. The mechanism has passed the most stringent tests and adheres strictly to the parameters set by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres. The checks involve the movement undergoing a set of tests for 15 consecutive days in five positions and at three different temperatures (8°C, 23°C, and 38°C). One of the criteria is the average daily rate over the first 10 days: the tolerance is from -4 seconds to +6 seconds per day. Six seconds gained every day is the equivalent of 7cm for every 1,000m, and this powerhouse proves that it is not only an embodiment of fine watchmaking but is also equally impressive when it comes to maintaining accuracy and reliability.
The Independence Skeleton timekeeper is a fine example that one can have a robust sports watch with a delicately-designed open-worked movement, after all long gone are the days when ‘tool’ watches had to embrace a basic design mould, which would, more often than not be efficient but boring… Norqain is definitely here to change that.
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NORQAIN Independence
N3000S03A/301/102SI
