Hands-On With The New Norqain Wild One Meteorite 42mm
Today, we go hands-on with the latest Norqain release. The Wild One Meteorite 42mm Special Edition is the first watch from the brand to use this exciting material as a dial medium. Plus, as is normally true of the watches in the Wild One line, it debuts a new case color in the company’s proprietary Norteq carbon material. The result is another fun and visually captivating release.
Since earlier this year, I’ve started covering Norqain, and the releases have come at a steady pace. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve had my hands on because the watches fit well and are generally a lot of fun. Bright colors, well-sculpted cases, and cool dials are just a few of the reasons I’ve become a convert. Today’s latest Wild One Meteorite looks to keep the positive streak going with its clean dial and wintry color scheme.
The Norqain Wild One Meteorite 42mm
For those familiar with the Norqain catalog, the basics around the Wild One Meteorite won’t come as a surprise. As the name suggests, the case has a 42mm diameter, but a 49.4mm lug-to-lug measurement tempers this larger form, allowing it to work perfectly on medium-sized wrists. Furthermore, the 12.3mm profile provides a slim fit for this capable sports watch.
Features such as a sapphire crystal and a screw-down crown help support the claimed 200m depth rating. Appropriately, the watch comes on an anthracite rubber strap with a mesh pattern. The only options available on the watch are a burgundy Norteq pin buckle or a black DLC-coated titanium folding clasp.
A first-ever dial
While meteorite dials have become more common, this special edition marks the first time Norqain has used the material. Admittedly, I’m not used to seeing a Wild One with a solid dial, but the design language handles the look with aplomb. The iron meteorite was discovered in northern Sweden, and once polished, it displays the typical Widmanstätten pattern. Aside from a touch of verbiage, the only other details on the dial are the applied diamond-cut indexes with a black coating and Super-LumiNova X1.
A pair of matching, skeletonized hour and minute hands work with the simple sweep hand and luminous arrow-shaped tip. Finally, a double-angled rehaut contains the minute track with Arabic numerals at each index. Overall, it’s a clean, modern design that, thankfully, eschews a date window.
A 25-part case!
Norqain has developed a seriously cool case design with a surprising amount of detail. The proprietary Norteq carbon material is now in a lovely burgundy color. This lightweight, strong material makes up the case top and bottom. These parts sandwich a dark gray molded rubber for the mid-case, which acts as a shock absorber. Norqain opted for sandblasted titanium as a core material, and this houses the movement. Of course, the watch also has sapphire crystals on the top and bottom.
Also, consistent with other models, the left case flank displays the required name plate, which owners can have Norqain customize and engrave to their liking. The result of all these parts is a surprisingly rugged and lightweight watch that looks and feels great on the wrist.
As always, a chronometer movement
My hands-on experiences with various Norqains have brought a plethora of Sellita-based movements. However, the Wild One Meteorite uses the brand’s “manufacture” caliber, which is produced by Kenissi. The automatic NN20/1 is a COSC-certified chronometer and provides 70 hours of power reserve. Since this is a thoroughly modern caliber, it also has a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and hacking seconds. As mentioned, it’s on display via a sapphire crystal, which shows off the partially skeletonized rotor.
On the wrist
The Wild One Meteorite isn’t small by the numbers, but I feel that a watch with this blend of color and materials deserves a bit of presence. Plus, with the rubber strap, it wears quite comfortably. If we return to the colors, the watch is exciting, but it’s more serious than the turquoise or purple pieces that I’ve tried. That’s not a bad thing, though, as it’s nice for Norqain to offer options for those who are looking for more of a daily driver but with the same advanced case materials. Would I wear this watch daily? Absolutely, and the meteorite dial would be a constant source of amusement.
The Wild One Meteorite is limited annually
Norqain mentions that 300 examples of the Wild One Meteorite will be produced in 2025. This leaves the door open for further production in future years if people take a liking to the color scheme. If nothing else, it probably means that we will see more meteorite dials, which is always nice. Regarding pricing, the watch will retail for €6,250 / £5,450 / US$7,450. For certain, this is a luxury product with a price to match. However, compared to other pieces in this price range, I think it offers a unique look and a wildly different construction process. Plus, with its non-open-worked dial, the watch has a more mature appearance, making it suitable for a wider variety of situations. I’m a fan, but let us know what you think of this latest release.
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