NORQAIN Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm

NORQAIN, a relatively young player in the Swiss watchmaking scene, has quickly established a reputation for its robust designs and commitment to independence. Founded just in 2018, the brand operates from Nidau, Bienne, placing it geographically and spiritually within the heartland of traditional Swiss horology. Despite its youth, Norqain has navigated the competitive landscape by focusing on mechanical movements and building distinct product families, including the performance-oriented Wild ONE collection. Recently, the company expanded this line with the introduction of the Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm, adapting its high-tech sports watch concept into a slightly smaller, skeletonized format available in several striking colorways.

The story of NORQAIN is one of family ownership and industry experience. Ben Küffer, Founder and CEO, leveraged his background and connections to launch the brand with a clear vision. Central to NORQAIN's identity is its independence – a status increasingly rare in an industry dominated by large conglomerates. This freedom allows the brand to pursue collaborations and innovations aligned with its core values. The advisory role of Jean-Claude Biver, a luminary figure with decades of experience leading major Swiss brands, underscores NORQAIN's ambition and connection to watchmaking's upper echelons. The brand’s mantra, "my life, my way," reflects an adventurous spirit mirrored in its partnerships with athletes and explorers, appealing to individuals who seek gear that matches their active lifestyles.



The Wild ONE collection, first introduced in 2022, marked a significant step for NORQAIN. Developed in collaboration with Jean-Claude Biver, it was conceived as the ultimate high-performance sports watch. The original models established the core design language and material philosophy centered around the proprietary NORTEQ® carbon composite. This material innovation was key to achieving the collection's goals of extreme lightness combined with exceptional durability, setting the stage for subsequent variations like the new skeletonized versions. The Wild ONE aimed to push boundaries in both material science and sports watch capabilities.

A cornerstone of the Wild ONE's identity is NORTEQ®. This material isn't just standard carbon fiber; it's a unique carbon fiber composite developed exclusively for NORQAIN through a partnership involving Jean-Claude Biver and the material specialists at BIWI SA. Its composition includes carbon fibers, known for their use in aerospace for strength-to-weight ratio, blended with a high-performance polymer matrix derived partly (60%) from bio-sourced castor oil. This results in a material that is remarkably six times lighter than steel and three-and-a-half times lighter than titanium. Beyond its physical properties, NORTEQ® can be colored, offering NORQAIN's design team significant creative flexibility compared to traditional carbon composites, enabling the vibrant aesthetics seen in the new 39mm models.

Responding to market feedback and a desire to broaden the collection's appeal, NORQAIN introduced the Wild ONE Skeleton in a 39mm case diameter. This represents a subtle but meaningful reduction from previous iterations, offering a more universally wearable size while retaining the collection's bold character. The move to skeletonize the movement adds another layer of technical appeal, allowing wearers to view the intricate mechanics powering the watch directly through the dial. This evolution caters to enthusiasts who appreciate both advanced materials and the visual complexity of an openworked caliber, positioning the 39mm variant as a technical showcase within the Wild ONE family.

The case construction of the Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm is a sophisticated assembly designed for resilience and visual impact. It features a multi-component structure, central to which is the NORTEQ® cage, comprising the top and bottom sections that form the main body and define the watch's shape. Nestled between these NORTEQ® layers is a brightly colored rubber shock absorber, which not only provides cushioning against impacts but also serves as a prominent design element, creating bold color contrasts. The movement itself is housed within a separate sandblasted titanium container, which includes the case back. This combination of materials – lightweight NORTEQ®, shock-absorbing rubber, and robust titanium – contributes to the watch's overall weight of just 64 grams and its impressive shock resistance rating of up to 5,000g, making it suitable for demanding physical activities.



Consistent across the new 39mm range are the core case dimensions and functional features. The diameter measures 39.00mm, with a thickness of 11.75mm, providing a substantial yet manageable presence on the wrist. The lug width is a standard 20.00mm, facilitating strap compatibility, although the watches come with integrated straps. The lug-to-lug measurement is 45.75mm, influencing how the watch sits across the wrist. Water resistance is rated at a capable 200 meters, ensured partly by a screw-down crown that is overmolded with rubber (color-matched in the Purple Ice Blue version, black in others) for enhanced grip and features the NORQAIN logo. Both the front and back crystals are flat sapphire, treated with double anti-reflective coating and highly scratch-proof. The NORQAIN logo is discreetly printed in white on the underside of the front crystal. An open case back allows a view of the movement, while the left side of the case features an engraved NORTEQ® plate bearing the NORQAIN name, which can potentially be personalized.

Powering three of the four new models (Hyper Pink, Sky Blue, Purple Ice Blue) is the NORQAIN Calibre N08S. This is a mechanical movement with automatic winding, distinguished by its skeletonized architecture. It meets the stringent criteria for chronometer certification by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC), guaranteeing a high standard of timekeeping accuracy (typically within -4/+6 seconds per day). The movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), a common standard for modern performance movements, balancing precision and longevity. It contains 26 rubies to minimize friction at key points and offers a power reserve of approximately 41 hours when fully wound. A personalized NORQAIN oscillating weight, visible through the case back, handles the automatic winding.

The dial design across the Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm series prioritizes showcasing the openworked movement beneath. The main dial structure is itself openworked, typically in black or dark purple, featuring printed accents in the model's specific highlight color (Hyper Pink, Ice Blue, Sky Blue, or Mint). Legibility is maintained through carefully designed time-telling elements. The indexes are diamond-cut, flat, skeletonized structures plated in rhodium, each marked with a spot of X1 Super-LumiNova® corresponding to the watch's color theme for low-light visibility. The hour and minute hands are diamond-cut and faceted, also rhodium plated, with tips filled generously with color-matched X1 Super-LumiNova®. The second hand is a flat, diamond-cut design, rhodium plated, featuring a white X1 Super-LumiNova® filled tip that is further outlined in the model's highlight color for a subtle coordinating detail.

Complementing the case designs are integrated rubber straps specifically created for the Wild ONE collection. These straps are produced entirely free of animal cruelty and feature a distinctive textured pattern reminiscent of Milanese mesh, adding a refined touch to the sporty rubber material. Each strap's primary color matches the rubber shock absorber and dial accents of the respective watch model (Hyper Pink, Ice Blue, Sky Blue, Mint Green). Most versions feature black edges for contrast. These straps are designed to integrate smoothly with the case lugs. Buyers typically have a choice between two buckle types: a pin buckle made from NORTEQ® (colored to match the case cage – black or purple) or a more sophisticated folding clasp crafted from black DLC-coated titanium, featuring a black NORTEQ® plate and a convenient quick-adjustment system for fine-tuning the fit.



The Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm Hyper Pink model makes a bold statement with its color scheme. It utilizes a black NORTEQ® cage for both the top and bottom case sections. This dark frame starkly contrasts with the vivid Hyper Pink rubber shock absorber sandwiched between the layers. The openworked dial is black, featuring Hyper Pink printings for accents. The rhodium-plated hands and indexes are treated with matching Hyper Pink X1 Super-LumiNova® for visibility in the dark. An integrated rubber strap in the same Hyper Pink hue, featuring black edges and the Milanese-style pattern, completes the look. It can be secured with either a black NORTEQ® pin buckle or a black DLC titanium folding clasp.

Offering a different aesthetic, the Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm Purple Ice Blue edition introduces a new color for the NORTEQ® material itself. The top and bottom parts of the cage are rendered in a striking purple NORTEQ®. This is paired with an Ice Blue rubber shock absorber, creating a cool, contrasting color combination. The screw-down crown is also overmolded with matching Ice Blue rubber. The openworked dial is a dark purple shade with Ice Blue printings. The rhodium-plated hands and indexes feature Ice Blue X1 Super-LumiNova®. The watch comes fitted with an integrated Ice Blue rubber strap with the Milanese pattern, paired with a purple NORTEQ® pin buckle. A folding clasp option in black DLC titanium is also available.

The Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm Sky Blue variant presents a fresh, airy feel while retaining the collection's robust structure. Like the Hyper Pink version, it employs a black NORTEQ® cage for the primary case structure. The vibrant element comes from the Sky Blue rubber shock absorber, providing a bright contrast against the black carbon composite. The openworked dial is black, accented with Sky Blue printings. Legibility in low light is ensured by Sky Blue X1 Super-LumiNova® applied to the tips of the rhodium-plated hands and the spots on the indexes. The watch is paired with an integrated Sky Blue rubber strap featuring the Milanese pattern and black edges, available with either a black NORTEQ® pin buckle or a black DLC titanium folding clasp with quick adjustment.



Rounding out the quartet is the Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm Mint Limited Edition. This model stands out as a special release, restricted to only 400 pieces worldwide. It features a black NORTEQ® cage similar to the Hyper Pink and Sky Blue models, but incorporates a refreshing Mint green rubber shock absorber. The openworked dial is black with Mint green printings, and the hands and indexes use Mint green X1 Super-LumiNova®. The integrated rubber strap is correspondingly Mint green with black edges. Unique to this edition is the inscription "LIMITED EDITION ONE of 400" printed in Mint green on the inside of the sapphire case back crystal, clearly denoting its exclusivity. It is available with either a black NORTEQ® pin buckle or the black DLC titanium folding clasp.

Distinguishing the Mint Limited Edition further is its specific movement, the NORQAIN Calibre NB08S. While sharing the fundamental specifications of the N08S found in the other models – mechanical automatic skeleton, COSC certification, 26 rubies, 41-hour power reserve, and 4Hz frequency – the NB08S variant receives a special aesthetic treatment. Its components are finished with black ruthenium plating, giving the movement a darker, stealthier appearance that contrasts effectively with the Mint green accents visible through the openworked dial. This subtle difference enhances the unique character of the limited edition model.

The launch of the Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm was accompanied by a high-profile global campaign featuring six notable personalities, referred to by the brand as "NORQAINERs." This group includes long-standing brand ambassadors like former World Cup alpine ski racer and NORQAIN board member Tina Weirather, and three-time Grand Slam tennis champion Stanislas Wawrinka. They are joined by rising stars Sydney Schertenleib, a Swiss women's national football team member playing for FC Barcelona, and Kimmy Repond, the 2023 European bronze medallist figure skater. Significantly, NORQAIN also welcomed two football legends to the family: World Cup-winning Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Manchester United icon Gary Neville. Both Buffon and Neville join not only as ambassadors but also as business partners and shareholders, signaling a deeper involvement in the brand's future development.

NORQAIN Founder and CEO Ben Küffer highlighted the strategic importance of the new models and the expanded ambassador team. He noted that the 39mm size directly addresses customer requests for a smaller version of the successful Wild ONE, while the skeleton movement adds technical appeal. He expressed enthusiasm for launching these models ahead of Watches and Wonders Geneva, where NORQAIN exhibits as an independent brand. Küffer particularly emphasized the significance of welcoming Buffon and Neville as business partners, citing their "passion, expertise, network and winning mentality" as valuable assets for NORQAIN's growth ambitions. The campaign aims to showcase how these diverse high achievers embody the brand's adventurous "my life, my way" philosophy.



Visually, the new Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm watches offer a compelling blend of ruggedness and refinement, infused with vibrant color. The layered case construction is immediately apparent, with the textured NORTEQ® cage providing a dark, technical frame around the colorful rubber mid-case. This interplay of matte carbon composite, smooth rubber, and the metallic sheen of the sandblasted titanium container creates depth and tactile interest. The skeletonized movement is the focal point, its intricate bridges and gears visible through the openworked dial structure, offering a constant mechanical spectacle. Despite the complexity, time-telling remains clear thanks to the well-defined, lume-filled hands and indexes that coordinate with the chosen color theme. The integrated rubber strap enhances the sporty, cohesive look, making the watch appear as a single, unified design object built for action.

The NORQAIN Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm collection represents a focused expansion of the brand's high-performance offerings, bringing advanced materials, robust construction, and visible mechanics into a more accessible size format. The four distinct colorways – Hyper Pink, Purple Ice Blue, Sky Blue, and the limited edition Mint – offer bold choices for different tastes. These watches are currently listed as "In Stock" on NORQAIN's official channels, though prospective buyers should note that high demand may lead to delivery times of up to four weeks. The pricing is consistent across the three non-limited models, set at $5,790 USD for the version equipped with the NORTEQ® pin buckle, and $6,190 USD for the version featuring the black DLC titanium folding clasp with its quick-adjustment system. The Mint Green model is a limited production run, with only 400 pieces being made available globally and retails for $5,890 on the pin buckle and $6,290 on the folding clasp.

Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm Hyper Pink

Case: Black NORTEQ® cage (top/bottom), hyper pink rubber shock absorber, sandblasted titanium container and case back. Diameter 39.00mm, thickness 11.75mm, lug width 20.00mm, lug-to-lug 45.75mm. Water resistance 200m. Double anti-reflective flat sapphire glass (front), flat sapphire glass (back). Screw-down crown overmolded with black rubber. Engraved black NORTEQ® plate on left side.

Movement: NORQAIN Calibre N08S, mechanical automatic skeleton. Chronometer certified (COSC). 26 rubies. Personalised NORQAIN oscillating weight. 41 hours power reserve. Frequency 28’800 vibrations per hour (4Hz).

Dial: Openworked black dial with hyper pink printings. Diamond-cut flat skeleton rhodium plated indexes with hyper pink X1 Super-LumiNova® spots. Diamond-cut faceted rhodium plated hands; hour/minute tips filled with hyper pink X1 Super-LumiNova®, second hand tip filled with white X1 Super-LumiNova® and hyper pink outline.

Strap: Integrated hyper pink rubber strap with milanese pattern and black edges. Available with black NORTEQ® pin buckle or black DLC Titanium Folding Clasp (with black NORTEQ® plate, quick adjustment).

Price: $5,790 (Pin Buckle), $6,190 (Folding Clasp).

Reference Number: NNQ3001QBPI1AS/B003

Notes: Crafted from ultra-light, ultra-robust NORTEQ® carbon fibre. Features a visible skeleton movement. High demand may result in delivery times up to 4 weeks.



Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm Purple Ice Blue

Case: Purple NORTEQ® cage (top/bottom), ice blue rubber shock absorber, sandblasted titanium container and case back. Diameter 39.00mm, thickness 11.75mm, lug width 20.00mm, lug-to-lug 45.75mm. Water resistance 200m. Double anti-reflective flat sapphire glass (front), flat sapphire glass (back). Screw-down crown overmolded with ice blue rubber. Engraved purple NORTEQ® plate on left side.

Movement: NORQAIN Calibre N08S, mechanical automatic skeleton. Chronometer certified (COSC). 26 rubies. Personalised NORQAIN oscillating weight. 41 hours power reserve. Frequency 28’800 vibrations per hour (4Hz).

Dial: Openworked dark purple dial with ice blue printings. Diamond-cut flat skeleton rhodium plated indexes with ice blue X1 Super-LumiNova® spots. Diamond-cut faceted rhodium plated hands; hour/minute tips filled with ice blue X1 Super-LumiNova®, second hand tip filled with white X1 Super-LumiNova® and ice blue outline.

Strap: Integrated ice blue rubber strap with milanese pattern. Available with purple NORTEQ® pin buckle or black DLC Titanium Folding Clasp (folding clasp implied via pricing).

Price: $5,790 (Pin Buckle), $6,190 (Folding Clasp).

Reference Number: NNQ3001QPIA1AS/P001

Notes: Features a unique purple NORTEQ® case. Ultra-light and ultra-robust construction. High demand may result in delivery times up to 4 weeks.



Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm Sky Blue

Case: Black NORTEQ® cage (top/bottom), Sky Blue rubber shock absorber, sandblasted titanium container and case back. Diameter 39.00mm, thickness 11.75mm, lug width 20.00mm, lug-to-lug 45.75mm. Water resistance 200m. Double anti-reflective flat sapphire glass (front), flat sapphire glass (back). Screw-down crown overmolded with black rubber. Engraved black NORTEQ® plate on left side.

Movement: NORQAIN Calibre N08S, mechanical automatic skeleton. Chronometer certified (COSC). 26 rubies. Personalised NORQAIN oscillating weight. 41 hours power reserve. Frequency 28’800 vibrations per hour (4Hz).

Dial: Openworked black dial with sky blue printings. Diamond-cut flat skeleton rhodium plated indexes with sky blue X1 Super-LumiNova® spots. Diamond-cut faceted rhodium plated hands; hour/minute tips filled with sky blue X1 Super-LumiNova®, second hand tip filled with white X1 Super-LumiNova® and sky blue outline.

Strap: Integrated sky blue rubber strap with milanese pattern and black edges. Available with black NORTEQ® pin buckle or black DLC Titanium Folding Clasp (with black NORTEQ® plate, quick adjustment).

Price: $5,790 (Pin Buckle), $6,190 (Folding Clasp).

Reference Number: NNQ3001QBA1AS/B002

Notes: High-performance sports watch using proprietary NORTEQ® carbon fibre. Reveals intricate craftsmanship via skeleton movement. High demand may result in delivery times up to 4 weeks.



Wild ONE Skeleton 39mm Limited Edition Mint

Case: Black NORTEQ® cage (top/bottom), mint green rubber shock absorber, sandblasted titanium container and case back. Diameter 39.00mm, thickness 11.75mm, lug width 20.00mm, lug-to-lug 45.75mm. Water resistance 200m. Double anti-reflective flat sapphire glass (front), flat sapphire glass (back) printed with "LIMITED EDITION ONE of 400" in mint green. Screw-down crown overmolded with black rubber. Engraved black NORTEQ® plate on left side.

Movement: NORQAIN Calibre NB08S, mechanical automatic skeleton with black ruthenium finish. Chronometer certified (COSC). 26 rubies. Personalised NORQAIN oscillating weight. 41 hours power reserve. Frequency 28’800 vibrations per hour (4Hz).

Dial: Openworked black dial with mint green printings. Diamond-cut flat skeleton rhodium plated indexes with mint green X1 Super-LumiNova® spots. Diamond-cut faceted rhodium plated hands; hour/minute tips filled with mint green X1 Super-LumiNova®, second hand tip filled with white X1 Super-LumiNova® and mint green outline.

Strap: Integrated mint green rubber strap with milanese pattern and black edges. Available with black NORTEQ® pin buckle or black DLC Titanium Folding Clasp (with black NORTEQ® plate, quick adjustment).

Price: $5,890 (Pin Buckle), $6,290 (Folding Clasp).

Reference Number: NNQ3001QBMT1LAS/B001

Notes: Limited edition of 400 pieces. Features Calibre NB08S movement with special black ruthenium finish. Ultra-light NORTEQ® construction. High demand may result in delivery times up to 4 weeks.