Jewellery & Watch News
A new luxury watch brand for C W Sellors and the world, NORQAIN unites family tradition, Swiss made know-how and a passion for adventure to bring us a contemporary collection of adventure-driven men’s and ladies watches. Born in the Swiss Alps, NORQAIN watches are characterised by their double “N” logo which symbolises a mountain peak and the mountaineering spirit that remains deeply rotted in their DNA.
The Minds Behind NORQAIN Watches
Founded just a matter of years ago in 2018, NORQAIN has already established itself as an industry leader, focusing its mission on 100% mechanical watches and in-house design. The family behind the brand have been creating watches in Tavannes in the Bernese Jura for more than four decades, but it is now that they unite entirely for one modern Swiss made name. The team in question includes CEO Ben Küffer, Ted Schneider, a member of the family that owned Breitling for nearly 40 years, and Mark Streit, the Swiss ice hockey legend. Marc Küffer, Chairman of the Board, also has over 45 years of experience in the luxury watch industry. The NORQAIN team is the youngest to ever make its mark in Switzerland, with an average age of 35 offering a fresh perspective on what is needed by the young and young-hearted generation of explorers.
Recently, NORQAIN also announced a new and exciting collaboration with Jean-Claude Biver, an industry legend who in his fifty-year career has been at the helm of brand’s like Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Omega, Hublot, TAG Heuer and LVMH. Together, the pair aim to spread their passion for mechanical watches while also showing a commitment to environmental and social initiations – just like that of the brand’s partnership with Butterfly Help Project and NORQAIN’s promise to use only vegan-certified straps on all new products.
“There are few truly independent watch brands that exist today – NORQAIN is rare in this sense. Without the pressure of shareholders, NORQAIN has freedom to create its own long-term vision and the path it takes to get there. This opens the door to innovation”, says Jean-Claude Biver.
The NORQAIN Watch Collections
For NORQAIN, “Swiss made” is more than just a stamp to go on their watch dials. It is a promise to offer only the finest techniques, materials and movements to ensure a durable lifelong-lasting timepiece. There are few truly independent watch brands still around, and as one, NORQAIN has full control of its manufacture. They ensure each NORQAIN watch is assembled by hand by an expert watchmaker in their workshops in Tavannes before being subjected to several strict tests to ensure only the best in precision, functionality and robustness.
All NORQAIN watches are designed in-house and feature premium case finishings, rare dial designs, colour matching date discs, 100m water resistant ratings, and the distinguishable feature of the customisable NORQAIN plate which sits on the side of the case. This plate allows the buyer to choose a word, date or location to engrave onto their watch, encouraging the wearer to live by their own motto. As for movements, in 2020 NORQAIN announced a long-term partnership with Kenissi which now sees exclusive manufacture calibres used within the Adventure, Freedom and Independence collections. Renowned for their quality performance, the Kenissi manufactured movements are all COSC certified and offer impressive 70-hour power reserves.
As you can tell by their names, each NORQAIN watch collection sets its sights on wearers of different walks of life. The NORQAIN Adventure line delivers bold GMT models, fully luminous editions and durable time-only sports watches that embody that thrill of conquering nature’s playground. Meanwhile, the NORQAIN Freedom watch collection offers a taste of retro aesthetics for lovers of vintage-inspired timepieces. The range of GMT, chronographs and time-only designs all feature domed sapphire crystal glass, 1960’s dials and vintage straps. Lastly, the family of NORQAIN Independence watches showcases the brand’s selection of exclusive limited editions, each characterised by innovative technologies like the manufacture movements created in collaboration with Kenissi.
If you’d like to learn more about NORQAIN and shop NORQAIN watches for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at [email protected].
