Norqain Trades Carbon for Titanium on Three New Wild One Models

While I still don't understand who Norqain makes watches for at these prices, there's no denying that the Wild One is their most over-engineered watch. The movement sits in a titanium capsule, cushioned by rubber and clamped between two layers of Norteq, the brand’s own carbon composite. But while carbon composite is cool, titanium is cooler, which is exactly what this new collection gets: a grade 5 titanium top case, a first for the model line.

There are two sizes available. The 39mm skeleton is 11.75mm thick with a lug-to-lug of 45.75mm, which is actually quite sensible. The 42mm versions are 12.3mm thick with a lug-to-lug of 49.4mm, which is also not that bad if you need a larger watch. The bezel and lugs are brushed titanium. Underneath sits a black Norteq back plate, with rubber shock absorbers in grey or mint green showing between the layers. There are flat sapphire crystals on both sides, a rubber-coated screw-down crown, 200 meters of water resistance and a 5,000 G shock rating. A titanium nameplate is screwed to the left flank.

Two of the three models get skeleton dials, with bridges cut into a ridgeline of peaks and the indices floating above the movement. Norqain moved the logo onto the flange, which cleans things up. The hands are large and fully lumed: light yellow on the 39mm, mint green on the 42mm. The third watch has a grey iron meteorite dial with the usual Widmanstätten crosshatching, white lume, and grey on every surface, crown included.

The skeletons use calibre 4K (NK26/1), an automatic developed with Sellita subsidiary AMT Manufacture. It's always interesting to see this movement since Norqain was so connected to Kenissi from its start. It’s COSC-certified, runs at 4Hz and has been updated to 65 hours of power reserve, up from 41. The meteorite model gets the Kenissi calibre NN20/1, also COSC-certified at 4Hz, with 70 hours of power reserve and a custom rotor. Each comes on color-matched rubber strap, with a Norteq pin buckle, a titanium pin buckle or a black DLC titanium folding clasp.

The Norqain Wild One Skeleton Titanium is priced at €5,950 on the pin buckle or €6,320 with the folding clasp, in 39mm (limited to 400 pieces) or 42mm. The Wild One Meteorite Titanium 42mm is priced at €6,400 with the Norteq buckle, €6,500 with the titanium buckle and €6,770 with the folding clasp. See more on the Norqain website.