Hands-On With The Norqain Independence Skeleton 40mm

Earlier this month, I covered the release of the Norqain Independence Skeleton 40mm. I was relatively keen on the watches due to their compact case design and dimensions. It turns out that our readers also wanted to see more, so I messaged the folks at Norqain UK, and they quickly dispatched the stainless steel and black DLC versions for a one-week test drive. I’m happy to share my thoughts!

I’ve always had a funny relationship with open-worked or skeletonized watches. Back in high school, I owned a faux version from Fossil when they were all the rage. Then, years later, brands such as Hublot, Zenith, and TAG Heuer turned the style into a mainstream sub-genre. It’s not that I disliked these watches, but I always tend to prefer more conservative styling. That’s why Norqain, with its Independence Skeleton and Wild One lines, wasn’t always on my radar. However, I’ve opened my mind, and while I’m still pretty boring, I truly enjoyed my time with these watches.

The Norqain Independence Skeleton 40mm — a quick overview

Fittingly, Norqain released the new Independence Skeleton in a smaller 40mm size on American Independence Day — July 4th. The watch follows the 39mm Wild One release from May, and for those of us with smaller wrists, it’s nice to see these additions to the catalog. Thanks to the reasonable-sounding 46.3mm lug-to-lug, I felt like the watches would potentially fit me perfectly.

As mentioned, I received two watches to trial for roughly a week. The black DLC version came with an olive rubber strap, and the stainless model was equipped with a black rubber accompaniment. Both are fitted with signed pin buckles.

Some extensive wear

We’ve had an incredibly hot start to the summer in the UK. From a watch perspective, it means that I opt for easy, comfortable pieces that can withstand water and outdoor activities, including dog walking, lawn mowing, and gardening. I decided to put away my Eco-Drives for a week, and I purposely wore the Independence Skeletons throughout the day.

General thoughts

When the watches arrived, I took my time to inspect them closely. In my opinion, Norqain has crafted watches that feel expensive. The cases feel like they’re from mature, large-brand watches. This means that all of the edges are sharp to a point without feeling cheap.

I also must admit that the small nameplate on the left side of the case is a nice touch. It’s flush without protruding screw heads, so it doesn’t feel like a kitschy add-on. As Norqain likes to mention, this plate can be custom-engraved in-house or by any third party. From the top, the “ear” balances the case with the crown and crown guards on the opposite side. The look is clean, compact, and relatively sporty.

Getting used to the skeleton

Let’s get this out in the open: a skeleton-dial watch isn’t as easy to read as a traditional closed-dial piece. In the case of the Independence Skeleton 40mm, the hour and minute hands disappear into the dial. I learned to look at the watch at a slight angle to better expose the luminous hand tips, and this worked well. Again, I’m a rookie, so it took some time to acclimate. That said, I really grew to like the appearance of these watches.

Honestly, the open dial details are great on either version. Surprisingly, bits like the coated bridges, jewels, and mainspring are still fun to examine after all these years of enjoying watches. Also, the floating script and contrasting “Chronometer” text are clean and not overwrought.

The NB08S is right on time

Norqain uses a chronometer-certified Sellita SW200-1 automatic inside the Independence Skeleton 40mm. The view through the sapphire case back is up to snuff with the dial and contains a coated and skeletonized rotor. In support of the watches’ 100m depth rating, the case backs and crowns screw into the case. The latter felt sturdy and was easy to screw and unscrew. Regarding timekeeping, when I wear a watch for a week, I compare the time to my phone. Indeed, the chronometer-grade movement held up its end of the bargain, and I never had to adjust it.

The most important spec — how the watch felt on my wrist

A day into wearing the Independence Skeleton, I shot Robert-Jan a note and simply said, “Dude, I really like wearing this watch.” He’s more open-minded than me, so he wasn’t surprised, but I was! What a fun watch to put on and enjoy. I kept looking down at my wrist while driving around on errands or while walking the dog. The look was so different from my typical choices that it felt like a novel experience. Best of all, the watches fit beautifully. The cases have presence, but they didn’t feel clunky or large. Then, the rubber straps were well made, and I credit the brand for choosing a pin buckle instead of a thick, ungainly folding clasp.

If you’re tempted, you won’t be disappointed

I hang out with a decidedly vintage-focused crowd, so watches like the Norqain Independence Skeleton aren’t necessarily in their wheelhouse. Yet, if you have just the slightest interest in a modern, open-worked watch, the Independence Skeleton 40mm is a sweet option. With prices starting at €3,950 for the stainless model on the rubber strap, it’s not throwaway money. However, this Norqain isn’t an arbitrary fashion watch. Rather, it is a great addition to a traditional collection. Think of it as letting one’s hair down but in a classy, responsible way.