When it comes to ones to watch, Norqain definitely makes the list. In the past year in particular, its momentum seems to be steadily growing. Right now, the brand is notching its first Watches & Wonders, and just ahead of the show, seasoned collector Mark Wahlberg was spotted rocking the Wild One Skeleton all around town—I’d say this gives Norqain some serious street cred. Last week, the brand also shared some pretty exciting news: three-time Grand Slam-winning tennis champion Stan Wawrinka is now an invested partner in the company, and he inspired two new versions of the popular Wild One Skeleton. In addition, Norqain has doubled down on the collection, unveiling a totally new platform where you can create your very own piece unique Wild One.
You’ll recall when Norqain’s Wild One got the skeleton treatment last year. The new configuration offered the benefit of a reimagined dial revealing the COSC-certified Caliber N08S (Sellita SW200-1 S c) movement but still fell a bit short in terms of legibility. Still, the model delivered on performance thanks to the brand’s proprietary, ultra-lightweight, rigid, and durable carbon fiber derived NORTEQ material that makes up a large portion of the case body and can withstand shocks up to 5,000g. This feature was a major draw for Wawrinka, who put the turquoise variation to the test on the court at the U.S. Open last year and now brings us two new colorways fit for the upcoming Grand Slam season: a bright coral iteration for the clay courts of Rolland-Garros and a green iteration for Wimbledon’s iconic grass courts. The colors are undoubtedly bold and sporty, and the model itself wears well. Between the lightweight build and case design, the 42mm watch doesn’t feel overly bulky—meaning you don’t have to be a pro-athlete to rock it.
However, if you’re not too keen on Norqain’s latest incarnations of the Wild One, why not create your own? At Watches & Wonders, the brand has unveiled a totally new concept for the collection: The Wild One of 1. This offers you the opportunity to create a fully customized version of the Wild One in 11 easy steps including all the basics like the metal for the top plate of the case, the movement, the color of the signature rubber shock absorber, and of course all of the dial elements and strap.
The configurator is available on the Norqain website as well as through the company’s global network of retailers. The whole process is entirely in your hands, you can even customize the exhibition caseback with an image of your choice—your pet’s face, your favorite landmark, your company logo. However, if you opt for that, you’ll work with Norqain on some mockups for approval before the brand sends it to production. For all orders, delivery is promised in three months.
The combination of releases at Norqain’s inaugural Watches & Wonders clearly places emphasis on the Wild One as the flagship collection for the brand. In particular, the offerings underscore the versatility of the line with the tennis-inspired versions maintaining a more accessible four-figure price tag ($5,790 to be exact) and the Wild One of 1 concept leaning into the more elevated side of the line alongside models like the Wild One Gold with pricing starting at five-figures. Norqain
