Jean-Claude Biver spent 43 years in the watchmaking industry before his retirement. He has held chief executive positions and directorships for a number of prestigious watch brands, including Blancpain, Omega, Hublot and TAG Heuer. He’s also known for the highly sought after cheeses, produced out of his picturesque farm in the Swiss Alps, that he gifts to friends and family and offers to a limited number of restaurants.

Serving as Norqain’s advisor to the board, he is responsible for shepherding the innovative and revolutionary sports products featuring next-generation materials and designs that spark the imagination.

“When I began working with Norqain, my first step was to challenge the team to innovate, to create a lightweight and shock-resistant timepiece that reflects the brand’s active DNA. This watch concept is exactly the kind of revolutionary development I was hoping for. The Wild ONE collection is the result of close collaboration between the best of the best Swiss suppliers and Norqain’s passionate, knowledgeable team. This collection is a three- in-one because it combines unique design, a revolutionary new concept and high-tech material. Norteq is the optimal material on every level: aesthetics, lightweight, robust and ethical production,” Jean-Claude Biver said.

The Power of Collaboration

The new Norqain Wild ONE timepiece is a study in the art of collaboration. Norqain partnered with BIWI S.A. for the design, concept and material; with MRP S.A. for the assembly and container productions; with Montremo S.A. for the dial; and with Waeber HMS S.A. for the unique skeletonized hands. Inspired and led by Jean-Claude Biver, this model is a shining example of what can be achieved when working together.

“There is no better way to describe the Wild ONE than the ultimate sports watch for every Norqainer. It’s the culmination of over two years of close collaboration between Jean-Claude Biver, our team and the best Swiss suppliers. The Wild ONE is 100 percent Swiss made. From the entire development process to the production of every component of the watch — it all came to life within a small radius from Jura to Bienne and Neuchâtel. Our motto throughout the project was ‘zero compromise,’ and we delivered on this by always opting for the highest quality solution. I am incredibly proud of the final result,” says Norqain CEO Ben Küffer.

The Watches

The Wild ONE collection includes several variations of colorway and meaning. The Wild ONE Burgundy & Gray has a burgundy Norteq case with a gray rubber shock absorber, a gray dial with a mandala-like pattern and is paired with a gray mesh rubber strap. This variation will be limited to 200 pieces.

The Wild ONE Black & Blue, on the other hand, has a blue dial with a mandala-like pattern, a black Norteq case with a blue rubber shock absorber and is paired with a blue or black mesh rubber strap. There is also the Wild ONE Black & Khaki , which has a black Norteq case with a khaki rubber shock absorber , a black dial with a mandala- like pattern and is paired with a khaki or black mesh rubber strap.

The case is constructed with separate top and bottom pieces made of Norteq and developed in collaboration with Norqain’s strategic partner BIWI. In total, the case includes 25 parts held together with four screws that feature a mountain peak design. The watches weigh in at only 84 grams, a measurement that is half the weight of a Norqain stainless steel watch.

“Thanks to the impulse from Norqain, we developed a revolutionary sports watch concept with a unique material resulting in an innovative collection with one of the best quality-for-price ratios for a 100-percent Swiss made watch in the industry. The true strength of the Norteq material is in its potential for variation. I am proud to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Norqain and Jean-Claude Biver and believe that this unparalleled concept and material will have an enormous positive impact on the brand’s reputation”, says Pascal Bourquard Jr., CEO of BIWI S.A.

Each model includes the chronometer-certified Norqain manufacture caliber NN20/1 with 70 hours of power reserve and a scratch-proof flat sapphire glass caseback. These calibers are being produced in partnership with movement manufacturer Kenissi.

Tech Specs

Norqain Wild One Black & Khaki / Black & Blue / Burgundy & Gray

Reference: NNQ3000QBK1A/B002 (Black & Khaki); NNQ3000QBA1A/A001 (Black & Blue); NNQ3000QUG1LA/G001 (Burgundy & Gray)
Movement: Self-winding caliber NN20/1; 70-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds
Case: 42mm; black or burgundy Norteq carbon fiber, with khaki, blue or gray rubber shock absorber and sandblasted titanium caseback; water resistant to 200m
Dial: Black, blue or gray three-level laser-cut mandala-like pattern; rhodium or rose gold plated diamond-cut flat skeleton indexes with white X1 Super-LumiNova spots
Strap: Khaki, black, blue or gray mesh rubber; black or burgundy pin buckle
Price: USD 5,290 (Black & Khaki and Black & Blue); USD 5,690 (Burgundy & Gray)
Availability: Limited edition of 200 pieces for Burgundy & Gray model

Wildlife Ambassador Dean Schneider Limited Edition

The fourth model in the collection is a limited edition watch of 500 pieces and was developed in partnership with Norqain’s brand ambassador, Dean Schneider. This special timepiece incorporates actual pieces of Dean’s wildlife such as the vegan sand-colored rubber shock absorber that includes sand from his Hakuna Mipaka oasis in South Africa. The dial includes a lion fur pattern and features the spear-and-shield logo of his sanctuary. Free of any animal products, the Wild One collection holds true to Schneider’s passion for the protection of wildlife and extends Norqain’s July 2021 promise to cease the use of any leather goods in their products.

“Creating this timepiece alongside Norqain showed me how much passion and effort goes into the development of their watches. It’s not only the wild, robust and modern style of the Wild ONE Hakuna Mipaka Limited Edition that makes it unique, but also the Hakuna Mipaka lion energy that flows through it,” says Dean Schneider.

The Wild ONE Hakuna Mipaka has a black dial with a stamped “lion fur” pattern and “Hakuna Mipaka” logo, a black Norteq case with sand-colored accents and is paired with a vegan-certified rubber strap.

Tech Specs

Norqain Wild One “Hakuna Mipaka” Limited Edition

Reference: NNQ3000QBX1LA/ B001/3W1BR1.20BQ
Movement: Self-winding caliber NN20/1; 70-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds
Case: 42mm; black Norteq carbon fiber, with sand-colored rubber shock absorber including sand from Hakuna Mipaka oasis, and sandblasted titanium caseback; water resistant to 200m
Dial: Black with stamped “lion fur” pattern and “Hakuna Mipaka” logo; rhodium plated diamond-cut flat skeleton indexes with white X1 Super-LumiNova spots
Strap: Black “lion fur” rubber; black pin buckle
Price: USD 5,590
Availability: Limited edition of 500 pieces