Born to Move: The Story of NORQAIN’s Wild ONE
Some collections are created to honour tradition. Others are built to break it.
When NORQAIN unveiled the Wild ONE, it didn’t just expand the Independence line — it sent it into the wild. Where the original Independence watches celebrated self-belief, the Wild ONE turned that independence into something physical. Lighter. Stronger. Unafraid of adventure.
Born from the DNA of the Independence collection but designed to live beyond boundaries, the Wild ONE isn’t just an accessory. It’s a watch built to live and move with you. But how did it come to be?
The Breakthrough: A Material That Changed the Game
It’s innovation that drives every watch story worth telling, and for NORQAIN, that innovation came through materials. NORTEQ®, a proprietary carbon-based composite created with the guidance of industry legend Jean-Claude Biver, is six times lighter than steel and around three-and-a-half times lighter than titanium. It allows the watch to feel almost weightless, yet incredibly strong.
Each Wild ONE case is built like a miniature suspension system — an outer shell of NORTEQ® surrounds a rubber shock absorber, which in turn protects a titanium container housing the movement. The result is a timepiece tested to withstand 5,000 g of shock and 200 metres of water resistance. It’s a mechanical watch you can wear through anything — no caution, no compromise.
Different Faces, One Wild Spirit
The Wild ONE family shares a common core but offers distinct personalities. The khaki and all-black 42-millimetre models — powered by the NORQAIN Manufacture Calibre NN20/1 developed with Kenissi — feature closed dials with laser-cut mandala textures that shimmer subtly in the light. They feel bold, classic and unmistakably Swiss.
The other 42-millimetre models, as well as the newer 39-millimetre releases change the mood — lighter, expressive, and modern. Powered by the NORQAIN Calibre N08S, their skeletonised movements reveal the mechanics in motion, while colours like turquoise, coral and mint lend a more adventurous attitude. There’s also the Wild ONE Gold, blending solid 18-carat red gold with NORTEQ® for a striking mix of performance and prestige.
These aren’t simple colour variations. Each design explores a different facet of independence — from refined restraint to fearless individuality.
Freedom, Custom Built: The Wild ONE of 1
If the Wild ONE celebrates individuality, the Wild ONE of 1 makes it absolute. Through NORQAIN’s online configurator, wearers can build their own version of the watch, choosing from over 3.5 million possible combinations of case materials, dials, movements, straps and engravings.
It’s custom Swiss watchmaking taken to the next level — a chance to design a timepiece that reflects exactly who you are, not just what you wear.
The New Face of Independence
For NORQAIN, the Wild ONE represents more than a new chapter — it’s a shift in direction. They’ve taken the craftsmanship they’re known for and infused it with attitude, sustainability, and the confidence of a brand unafraid to stand apart.
Lightweight, shock-resistant, endlessly customisable — the Wild ONE turns the philosophy of independence into something tangible. It’s for the non-conformists, the free-spirited, the adventurers.
Because true independence doesn’t stand still. It moves with you.
