With models entitled Adventure, Freedom and Independence, Norqain have always worn their company ideals on their sleeve and the new Adventure sub-collection, NEVEREST, follows in that trend. It’s a combination of the phrase ‘never rest’ and ‘Mt Everest’, sending the message that they will never rest until they summit their hardest challenges. The sub-collection consists of a trio of 40mm watches that are the first Adventure pieces to feature Norqain’s in-house NN20/1 movement.
So let’s take a look at them.
Adventure NEVEREST Glacier
All three timepieces follow the same blueprint, although the Glacier edition is perhaps the most unique. It has a 40mm, stainless steel case that is water resistant to a depth of 200m, the highest of any Norqain timepiece. In fact, all it would need is a diving bezel and some slightly adjusted hour markers and it wouldn’t look too different from a diving watch. The thick, grey bezel certainly helps with that aesthetic.
The dial is where the Glacier edition stands out from its counterparts. It has a silvery tone with a unique, cracked texture that is designed to evoke images of Khumbu Icefall, a deadly stage of the Everest ascent that is widely considered the most dangerous. The crevasses and jagged lines of the dial echoing those of the actual glacier.
Additionally, the baton hour markers and hands are coated with X1 Superluminova, a brighter version than on the standard version. Providing a few spots of colour, the central seconds hand and ‘chronometer’ inscription are picked out in red, which also hints at the specs of the movement housed inside.
The manufacture calibre NN20/1 can be found in all three of the NEVEREST watches, a time only automatic movement created in collaboration with Kenissi last year. It’s a COSC certified chronometer with an impressive 70-hour power reserve, as suited to adventures as a long weekend. The movement is visible through display casebacks on all models.
On a steel bracelet it costs CHF 3,250, on a rubber or fabric strap it’s CHF 3,050 (approx. £2,565, £2,410 respectively).
Adventure NEVEREST Bi-Colour Limited Edition
Up second from the new NEVEREST sub-collection pieces is a limited edition of 100 pieces. It changes things up with a red gold bezel for that classic bi-colour aesthetic and has a black ceramic insert. Likewise, the hands, bezel markings and hour markers are red gold. The dial itself is black and grey, depicting an updated version of the classic Norqain pattern, which I would describe as intricate paved chevrons.
This limited edition, and indeed every watch in the NEVEREST sub-collection, is part of Norqain’s charity initiative to aid disadvantaged children living in Nepal. 10% of sales go to the Butterfly Help Project, which helps families provide education to the children of Sherpas who have lost their lives in the mountains. Norqain has committed to helping 50 families in 2021 and the NEVEREST sub-collection helps to fund that.
On steel bracelet it’s CHF 4,580, on rubber or fabric strap it’s CHF 4,380 (approx. £3,620, £3,460 respectively).
Adventure NEVEREST Steel
Last up is the basic steel edition, which has a gorgeous forest green dial, again in Norqain’s signature pattern, which is in keeping with the theme of 2021. This is the standard version so there isn’t too much to add about it that hasn’t already been said. However, let’s take this opportunity to talk about the bracelet and strap options, which we’ve only touched on briefly so far.
The stainless steel bracelet has a brushed and satin finish that matches the steel cases of the watches and is equipped with a folding security clasp. Then there’s the rubber option which has knurled pattern and matches the bezel of the attached timepiece. Finally there’s the flexible fabric strap which has a little dial colour matched decoration.
On the steel bracelet the NEVEREST steel is CHF 3,190 and on the other two options it’s CHF 2,990 (approx. £2,520, £2,360 respectively).
Price & Specs:
Model: Norqain Adventure NEVEREST Sub-Collection
Reference: NN1001SC1CA/EB101/15BEF (green dial with Norqain pattern)
NN1001SC3CA/GL101/150SS (white glacier dial)
NN1001SGC1CA/GB103/15BR.18S (grey dial with black lines)
Case/Dial: 40mm diameter x 12.55mm height, stainless steel case, green, grey or white glacier dial
Water resistance: 200m (20 bar)
Movement: Norqain Manufacture calibre NN20/1, COSC-certified chronometer, automatic, 28 rubies
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 70h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Strap: Flex fabric, rubber strap or steel bracelet
Price/availability: CHF 2,990 (green dial with flex fabric or rubber strap), CHF 3,190 (green dial with steel bracelet), CHF 3,050 (white glacier dial with flex fabric or rubber strap), CHF 3,250 (white glacier dial with stainless steel bracelet), CHF 4,380 (grey dial with flex fabric or rubber strap), CHF 4,580, limited edition of 100 pieces (grey dial with steel bracelet)
More details at Norqain.
