Mountains have always mystified me. These ancient structures have watched civilisations come and go, oceans dry up, and even observed life itself take its first steps. I like to think of them as magisters of earth of sorts—these colossal, celestial beings who’ve silently bore witness to our planet’s history for centuries, but, for whatever reason just never felt the need to say anything.
So, when I heard of a watch brand with an ethos rooted in mountainous exploration, my interest was piqued.
You might have heard the name NORQAIN floating around in the world of horology—that brand with a logo featuring sharp, jagged edges forming a mountain. Or perhaps you haven’t, and you’d be excused. Established just seven years ago, the youthfulness of this Swiss watch company belies the ancient mountains they so admire. Yet, as I would soon come to realise, age in this case truly is just a number. The family-owned company caters to a niche market of outdoor and alpine enthusiasts, which explains the rugged logo composed of two interlocking “N”s.
I had the privilege of spending a week with a NORQAIN watch—the Independence Skeleton Chrono, to be precise. It’s NORQAIN’s first flyback chronograph, inspired by the world’s tallest mountains.
Upon first encountering the 42mm-wide watch, I expected a certain heft, given its size. However, as I lifted it, my expectations were unmet—largely due to its Grade 5 titanium lightweight case, which keeps the watch under 90 grams.
This featherlight quality can also be attributed to its skeletonised dial, where portions of the dial have been carefully stripped away to reveal the intricate inner workings of the watch. What remains is a purple open-worked bridge, with the top half carved to mimic NORQAIN’s signature mountain motif.
This sits atop the brand’s all-new 8K Manufacture Calibre, whose namesake was derived from the world’s 14 highest peaks, often referred to as “Eight-Thousanders.” The skeletonised calibre lives up to this name, featuring a flyback chronograph function, making it the brand’s most ambitious mechanical creation to date.
To understand why this is so, let’s revisit how flyback chronographs work. A standard chronograph requires three steps to restart timing: stop, reset, and start again. A flyback, however, can perform all three actions simultaneously with a single press of a button.
Pressing the button felt crisp and satisfying, without any of that jerky start-stop resistance found in typical chronographs. This is made possible off the back of an intricate column wheel—usually found in high-end chronographs due to the precise finishing and expert assembly required to integrate it into a calibre—which helps reduce resistance in the pushers.
While we’re on the topic, it’s worth noting that the bi-directional automatic winding system not only boasts a power reserve of 62 hours but is also COSC-certified. Additional complications include a small seconds counter at 6 o’clock and a 30-minute counter at 12.
Compositional contrast is the name of the game. The black DLC (diamond-like carbon) titanium case undergoes a trio of finishes: polishing, brushing, and sandblasting to give the watch some added dimension through its multi-tiered layer of variating surfaces. The movement itself is finished with polished and sandblasted surfaces as well, adding to the mesmerising complexity and depth of the calibre.
This obsession with juxtaposition extends even to the gun-metal plated hands, which feature a shielded and an arrow. Both of which, along with the indices, are coated in Super-Luminova for superior legibility, even in the dark.
Speaking of which, legibility can often be an issue in many skeletonised dials, but this was never an issue with the Independence Skeleton Chrono. The white filled-in hands and markers, along with the distinct shapes of the hands made timekeeping a breeze.
The purple accents that invade the dial complemented the overarching gunmetal tone of the watch well—subtle enough not to overwhelm yet striking enough to support that air of mystery created by the black and varied surfaces. In fact, with its brooding purple-and-black colourway, dare I say the watch looks like something Chadwick Boseman might’ve rocked in a Black Panther film?
The all-purple rubber strap felt great on my wrists, it’s one of those watches that doesn’t take much time to break in and get used to. By the third day, there were moments when I forgot I was even wearing a watch—though this could also be attributed to its lightweight design. This level of comfort surprised me, especially as someone with smaller wrists. While the dial might give the illusion of bulk and jankiness, the watch never felt cumbersome.
The only gripe I’d have would be the lack of flexibility in strap options. I thought the purple strap might’ve played too much into the colour, so I would have appreciated the option of a black rubber strap as well. A steel variation of the watch is available, either with a strap or a bracelet, but these lack the purple accents that I adore.
Limited to just 300 pieces, the black titanium DLC Independence Skeleton Chrono with its purple accents manages to blend sportiness, practicality and artistry in a way few watches do. NORQAIN may be young, but based on what I’ve seen from the pristine craftsmanship involved in their watches, it wouldn’t surprise me if, one day, they become as tall and storied as the celestial beings that inspire their ethos.
