I’ve been following NORQAIN since the brand was founded in 2018, and always had a feeling they would make it big in the industry. In time, I saw their vision grow in popularity, their designs evolve, and a comprehensive brand identity was born.
In earlier articles, I shared my thoughts on two NORQAIN models, the Adventure Sport and the Freedom Chrono 60. Immediately upon opening the box, I was struck by the beautiful design, as well as the perceivably high quality manufacturing.
Today we are going to take a closer look at the Wild ONE 42 mm (ref # NNQ3000QBK1A/B002). I think this timepiece by NORQAIN might just be one of the best modern sports watches, and is in my opinion the crown jewel of the Independence collection.
Overview: NORQAIN Wild ONE 42 mm Khaki (NNQ3000QBK1A/B002)
The NORQAIN Wild ONE is a robust timepiece, a true high-performance sports watch. What I like about this watch is the intricate details in both design and features. To me, this shows that the brand is well-rounded when it comes to producing high quality, heirloom pieces: no corner-cutting in sight. This approach of commitment to excellence is undoubtedly responsible for their quick expansion and growth, as their stance on quality remained uncompromised from the very beginning, and customers appreciate it.
The Wild ONE is a serious, striking looking timepiece. Dark colors, high contrast for the dial, visible screws on lugs, and innovative materials (more on that below) are used to create an ultra-light sports watch. The case width is 42 mm, and will fit comfortably on most wrists. As for the movement, the Wild ONE comes equipped with NORQAIN’s automatic movement, the three-hand manufacture caliber NN20/1.
Compared to other NORQAINE watches, the price is a bit steep, coming in above the $5,000 mark.
This intrigued me, and I wanted to dig deeper and see if the price point is something I could justify.
Specs:
- Ref # NNQ3000QBK1A/B002
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: NN20/1
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug-to-Lug Distance: 49.4 mm
- Water Resistance: 200 meters
- Price: Around $5,500
Dial
Let’s start with the elephant in the room, the cool pattern. It is laser-cut on three different levels, providing ample texture and visual interest. The cutout pattern reads double ‘N’, NORQAIN’s very cool mountain-inspired logo. I’ll include an image where you can see the 3D effect of this mandala-like pattern. This is achieved by a special technique of separating each of the 3 levels by 0.05 mm, a very clever design choice.
The hour and minute hands are skeletonized, a design feature present in all the watches in the Independence collection. The skeleton hands ensure the focus remains on the mesmerizing dial, and the hour indices follow the same hollow design: skeleton base, with the solid ends pointing toward the outer edge of the dial, thus providing visual balance.
Case
Let’s start with the dimensions. The case itself is 42 mm wide, and we’re looking at a 12.3 mm thickness, which is a touch slimmer than the usual sports watches, contributing to the Wild ONE’s overall very comfortable wear. The width between lugs is 22 mm, and the lug-to-lug distance is 49.4 mm, which in my opinion makes the watch better suited for average to larger wrists. It is water resistant up to 200 meters.
Now this is where the Wild ONE really shines as a true sports watch: the case itself is made of ultra-light NORTEQ carbon fiber material. NORTEQ is NORQAIN’s own newly developed carbon fiber material. The composite is made primarily of carbon fiber and castor oil. The case has a separate top and bottom connected by custom-made screws, and between these two parts, there is a rubber shock absorber functioning as a bumper, providing excellent shock-resistance. Thanks to the NORTEQ carbon fiber, the Wild ONE watches weigh 84 grams, around half the weight of stainless steel watches.
As a side note, I really enjoy the little satisfying details, such as the NORQAIN’s well-known plate on the opposite side of the crown, creating the perfect visual balance.
Movement
The Wild ONE comes with NORQAIN’s automatic movement, the three-hand manufacture caliber NN20/1. This 27-jewel automatic movement provides 70 hours of power reserve.
NORQAIN has partnered with Kenissi, a watch movement manufacturer located in Le Locle. They’re also the movement manufacturer partner for Tudor, and based on the specs, Tudor’s MT5402 caliber would be the closest equivalent to the NN2/1.
I know the watch community likes to be skeptical when it comes to new movements, but in my opinion NORQAIN’s manufacture caliber is top quality.
Pros and Cons
Let’s take a look at the summary of pros and cons in my humble opinion:
PROS
- A true sports watch, made with the active lifestyle in mind. Highly masculine look, innovative materials used to achieve supreme comfort on the wrist, and most importantly extreme damage resilience and durability.
- Visually appealing, unique and interesting dial design. Overall a very cool looking watch.
- Innovation is always appreciated, and I love to support visionary function and design choices.
CONS
- The 42 mm case width, and the 49.4 mm lug-to-lug distance might be too big for smaller wrist sizes.
- Price, it is above $5,000, which is a hefty price tag.
Summary: Takeaway and Final Thoughts About NORQAIN Wild ONE 42 mm Khaki (NNQ3000QBK1A/B002)
NORQAIN’s Wild ONE was introduced as the ultimate high-performance sports watch. After looking at the technical specs, I do believe they deliver on this message. The watch is ultra light-weight, thanks to their own carbon fiber material that also brings unparalleled durability. Additionally, the automatic movement provides a 70-hour power reserve, something that can come in very handy. While these are probably the most important specs in a sports watch, the overall look and design of the watch are equally impressive in my opinion. The Wild ONE is everything an outdoors sports watch should be and more.
Specs:
- Ref # NNQ3000QBK1A/B002
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: NN20/1
- Power Reserve: 70 hours
- Case Width: 42 mm
- Lug-to-Lug Distance: 49.4 mm
- Water Resistance: 200 meters
- Price: Around $5,500
WRITTEN BY
Maté D
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