Norqain's Vice President talks passionately about the appeal of the new flyback chronograph!

Norqain, an up-and-coming Swiss watch brand, has developed a new manufacture caliber equipped with a flyback chronograph. Tobias Kaffer, the company's vice president, passionately talks about its appeal.

A new chronograph watch has arrived! Vice President Tobias Kaffer talks about its appeal!

　NORQAIN continues to make rapid progress with the mission of preserving the culture of Swiss mechanical watches. Founded in 2018, the following year it launched three collections: the sports watch "Adventure," the classic "Freedom," and "Independence," which embodies the meaning of "a unique symbol of independence and success." Since then, the company has grown at an unprecedented pace for a new brand, with a partnership with Kenissi in 2020 and Jean-Claude Biver joining the management team in 2022.

　Currently, the model attracting particular attention is the "Wild One" from the Independence Collection, which was launched in 2022. Its distinctive feature is its case structure, which is completely different from previous models. The titanium container housing the movement is protected by a rubber shock absorber, and a cage made of Nortec, a carbon composite material, is attached to create a multi-layered structure that is shock-resistant enough to withstand sports scenes, lightweight, and comes in a wide range of colors, each with a different hue for each material. Previous models in the flagship Independence Collection have always possessed the innovative spirit that is characteristic of NORQAIN, but the introduction of the Wild One has raised the bar several times.

　This fall, the company has added a new model to its Independence collection. It features an in-house chronograph movement with a flyback mechanism that instantly resets and restarts the movement. We spoke directly with Tobias Kaffer, the company's vice president and brother of founder Ben Kaffer, about this latest flyback chronograph.

Why is it being released in the "Independence" collection?

　As mentioned above, Norqain also has collections such as Adventure and Freedom. So why is this new model being released in the Independence collection? Tobias Kaffer explains the intention behind this:

“The Independence Collection is an innovative sports watch. It has always incorporated groundbreaking mechanisms and new endeavors. This manufacture movement is a flyback chronograph with a column wheel and horizontal clutch, and we are confident that we have been able to create it with the highest quality possible for NORQAIN. It was only natural that we chose the Independence Collection to embody this innovation.”

　The Independence Collection has been a part of Kenissi's innovations, such as the Independence 20 and Wild One, which were the first to feature a Kenissi movement. It would be only fitting that a newly developed flyback chronograph movement debut in the Independence Collection.

Here are the highlights of the flyback mechanism movement!

　The flyback chronograph requires advanced technology in its development and production, but the unique features of this movement go beyond simply being equipped with a flyback mechanism.

"The new manufacture caliber, Cal. NK24/1, was born from joint development with AMT, a high-end Swiss movement manufacturer. The words "CALIBRE 8K" are engraved on the movement bridge. 8K, or 8000, refers to the 14 peaks in the world that are over 8000 meters high, including Mount Everest, and this movement incorporates a design inspired by these mountains. During development, we placed particular emphasis on the feel of the controls. We are confident that we have achieved a comfortable feel when pressing them. If you have the opportunity to hold one in your hands, we would love for you to try it out for yourself."

　The black Cal. NK24/1 bridge is inscribed with the words "CALIBRE 8K" and "FLYBACK" in gold, a design element that underscores Norqain's commitment to reaching the pinnacle of excellence. Anticipation is also building for the feel of the pushers, which Tobias Kaffer has given his stamp of approval.

“The design of the movement also incorporates the NORQAIN signature. The rotor features an openwork design based on the mountain motif, which is the brand’s symbol. The movement itself is skeletonized, allowing the mechanical movement of the gears and levers to be visually enjoyed.”

　This is the company's first chronograph with a manufacture caliber, and it not only features a flyback mechanism but also a skeletonized design. This is an approach that is typical of NORQAIN, which has continued to take on many challenges. It shows their commitment to meeting the needs of users who want to appreciate every detail of a complex movement at a high level.

"Generally speaking, skeleton movements are considered to be at high risk of distortion or damage to parts due to impact. However, we have adopted a structure that was also adopted in the Wild One Skeleton, in which all support points are held by two or more arms, in this model as well, to ensure sufficient shock resistance for a sports watch. One of the great advantages of a manufacture caliber is that the design can be created from scratch. With the cooperation of AMT, we were able to create the ideal movement."

　Not only is it unique, but it also ensures practicality, a consideration typical of Norqain. Including the rotor design mentioned above, it appears to be a movement that fully utilizes the design freedom of a manufacture caliber. Incidentally, AMT is a movement manufacturer in which Sellita has invested, but they are a completely separate company, with only a capital relationship.

The purple limited edition model is cool! The titanium case makes the design stand out.

　So far we have focused on the movement, but we are also curious about what kind of packaging it will come in. Tobias Kaffer spoke about the highlights of this new model, the first chronograph from the Independence Collection.

"The new model features a skeleton dial and see-through case back so that the charm of this new movement can be enjoyed visually. The second layout, with the 30-minute counter and small seconds vertically arranged, leaves plenty of white space on the dial, allowing you to enjoy the finish and movement of the movement from the dial. This unique design, which is a little different from the flyback chronograph you would typically imagine, can be said to faithfully embody the concept of the Independence Collection."

　The vertical layout, with a 30-minute counter at 12 o'clock and a small second at 6 o'clock, combined with the pushers designed to harmonize with the crown guard, creates a stylish impression. Despite the skeleton dial, visibility is ensured by the luminous hands, indexes, and chapter ring with minute markers.

"There are two variations available: a stainless steel case model and a DLC-coated titanium case model, limited to 300 pieces worldwide. In order to express the uniqueness of NORQAIN in particular, the titanium case model is combined with a purple dial, which is rarely seen among other companies. The black and purple color combination has been extremely well received by retailers, and in fact, we were originally planning to limit it to 200 pieces, but we revised it to 300. Another key point is that we were able to strategically set the price to make it easy for people to purchase as a flyback chronograph."

　The versatile design of the stainless steel case model is appealing, but the limited edition model, combining black and purple, stands out even more for its uniqueness. It perfectly embodies the theme of the Independence Collection: "A unique symbol of independence and success." The selling price in Japan varies depending on the model, ranging from 1,078,000 yen to 1,232,000 yen including tax. Considering that it is a flyback chronograph equipped with a manufacture caliber, this is very attractive. It should also be noted that this price reflects the extraordinary efforts of Norqain Japan.

Aiming for greater heights! NORQAIN's future developments

　Finally, we asked Norqain what their future plans are. They seem to have a number of ideas, but what we learned here is that they are considering their own accuracy certification standards.

"Norqain will continue to take on a variety of challenges in the future. As this is still in the planning stages, we won't be able to talk about it in detail until next year, but one of the things we are considering is the launch of our own accuracy certification standards. For example, even with COSC-certified chronometers, the process of obtaining certification involves time and money. These costs will inevitably be reflected in the selling price of the watch, but taking these factors into account, we believe that as a brand we need to carefully assess the extent to which actual users require official accuracy certification. As a solution to this problem, we are considering establishing our own accuracy certification standards."

　There are also plans for further developments in the Independence Collection. The development of this flyback chronograph must have been a major project, but the fact that NORQAIN is already planning its next project is a testament to their eagerness to take on new challenges.

"The Independence Collection is an innovative sports watch. We will constantly incorporate new elements and develop it as a collection that symbolizes the innovativeness of NORQAIN. We are not yet at the stage where we can share any specifics, but we are already working on our next plans and hope to make a new announcement within the next few years. Japanese watch enthusiasts are highly knowledgeable and sensitive to quality, and we see Japan as a very important market for NORQAIN. I am confident that our next new product will be an excellent product that will surprise everyone in Japan."