Following up its partnership with mechanical movement manufacturer, Kenissi, the independent Swiss watchmaking brand Norqain is presenting its first timepiece fitted with an exclusive manufacture caliber, whose sporty design is enhanced with a forest-inspired green dial.
The launch of the proprietary Norqain Calibers NN20/1 and NN20/2 (the latter including a GMT complication; you can find out more about them here), earlier this year, marked an important accomplishment for the family-owned brand, founded in 2018 in Bienne, Switzerland. Its partner Kenissi, with whom Norqain produced the movement in collaboration, was founded by Rolex-owned watch manufacturer Tudor.
The forest green dial has a scratched decoarative pattern that ensures no two are exactly alike. It features a black inner bezel with a 60-minute indication and hand-applied indexes. The tip of the faceted hour and minute hands are coated in Super-LumiNova, while the seconds hand has a red-colored tip to match the “Chronometer” indication on the dial. The stainless steel case, measuring 42-mm-in-diameter, features stain, polished, and sandblasted finishes. As with all Norqain timepieces, the polished plate on the left side of the case can be personalized with a life motto, a memorable date, or an important location.
The automatic three-hand movement, Caliber NN20/1, is visible through the box-shaped sapphire glass caseback and decorated with familiar touches — such as the “double-N” Norqain logo, which the brand says symbolizes the Swiss Alps, on the oscillating weight, and the words “Adventure – Freedom – Independence” engraved on a bridge, representing the “core values” claimed by the young company.
The movement is chronometer-certified as per COSC standards and boasts an impressive 70-hour power reserve. The movement’s sturdy construction features a bridge with a two-point fixation to ensure accurate timekeeping.
All Norqain timepieces equipped with the new caliber come with a four-year international warranty; when the owner registers to join the “Norqainer Club” within one month after their purchase, he or she will receive an additional year of warranty for a total of five years. The Norqain Independence 20 is limited to just 200 pieces and comes presented on either a high-quality stainless steel bracelet with brushed and polished links (retailing for CHF 2,990) or on an integrated black leather strap (CHF 2,840).
The Independence 20 will be available at authorized Norqain retailers as of today, July 30, 2020.
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Man, they’re really doubling down on the ‘in-house’ and ‘manufacture’ terminology. It’s super weird to see. The watch has a caliber made by a different brand that they do not own and is therefore not in-house; it is not made in their house. It’s basically the MT5621 from the Tudor North Flag, but for these differences: 1 less jewel because no power reserve indicator, standard Nivarox balance spring rather than silicon as seen in the Tudor, I mean, c’mon guys, this is not an in-house movement. It’s a great movement, though, I duno why they don’t just advertise on the merits of the movement, rather than trying to push that they made a movement.