Norqain has unveiled its latest limited edition collection, inspired by the warm glow of sunset that we get during the “golden hour”.
Exclusively available in the USA and Canada only, the Adventure Sport Golden Hour collection comprises a bronze 42mm Golden Hour Chronometer and a DLC-coated stainless steel 44mm Golden Hour Chronograph.
The black-textured-dialled Chronometer is limited to 100 pieces, while the reverse gold panda-dialled Chronograph is limited to just 50 pieces.
Inspiration for limited-edition watch collections comes in endless forms, and the watch industry is often more guilty than most of stretching square narratives to fit round marketing holes. However, Norqain, as a brand, doesn’t tend to fall into this trap too much, and that theme continues with its latest collection: the Adventure Sport Golden Hour. The reason I mention that is that, as far as themes go, the golden hour is as close a connection as one can make between a watch and a specific inspirational period of time. The golden hour is the single hour before sunset, and no matter where you are in the world, if you stop and look for a moment, it’s when conditions are just right; everything takes on a slightly more poetic, visually beautiful appearance.
While it occurs once a day, it’s a brief moment that photographers covet, for example, as it gives everything around you a warm, golden sheen that you can’t achieve at any other point in time. It sounds crazy, but I can assure you that, as a photographer, capturing that perfect shot during the golden hour can transform it from something average to simply jaw-dropping. But how have Norqain translated this to watches? Well, the best way they can, with materials and colours, of course, so let’s check out what these two watches are all about.
Norqain Adventure Sport 42mm “Golden Hour” Chronometer
The first watch in the collection is the Adventure Sport 42mm “Golden Hour” Chronometer, utilising the handsome 42mm bronze case first seen on the green-and-gold-toned Adventure Sport in 2022. Yes, despite the name, they’re actually bronze watches, not gold. It’s a purposefully sized tool watch, with its 42mm diameter complementing the 50.2mm lug-to-lug measurement to produce a watch that sits comfortably across most wrists. A thickness of just 12.65mm means it remains relatively understated, while still offering some wrist presence. The screw-down crown, double-domed sapphire crystal and exhibition case back mean the watch offers 100 meters of water resistance, living up to its Adventure name, and being bronze, the case will take on the kind of natural patina that a modern stainless steel case can all but dream about. Finishing off the case is a brushed bronze rotating bezel, which is clean and uncluttered, framing the dial nicely.
Like the previous green version, this Golden Hour model features the same herringbone texture on the dial, this time in black, which at a glance almost looks like woven carbon fibre. The fine-textured pattern changes with the light, creating a sense of depth depending on how you view it. The warm bronze theme continues throughout, with the lume-filled applied hour markers and hands all featuring a golden, brushed bronze finish. There’s a dial-matching date wheel at 3 o’clock, along with other sexy details such as the red-tipped seconds hand and “Automatic” text at 6. The results of all this is a functional and legible dial that looks premium, and has the hallmarks of the kind of watch you’d want to take on any adventure.
Norqain have stuck with the trusty calibre NN08 for the Golden Hour, an automatic movement based on the Sellita SW200-1. Visible through the exhibition case back, this chronometer-certified movement features a customised Norqain oscillating weight and has had the power reserve bumped up by a couple of hours to 41 hours. As we’ve mentioned before, this movement isn’t glamorous or over-the-top, but it doesn’t need to be, and it keeps things ultra-reliable while keeping costs pretty low. Naturally, as this is an adventurer’s watch, it comes complete with a black rubber strap that matches the dial, and features an engraved, bronze pin buckle to match the case.
Norqain Adventure Sport 42mm “Golden Hour” Chronometer pricing & availability
The Norqain Adventure Sport 42mm “Golden Hour” Chronometer is available from the Time+Tide NYC Ghost Kitchen in the USA & Canada exclusively, and is limited to 100 pieces. Price: US$3,690
Brand
Norqain
Model
Adventure Sport 42mm “Golden Hour” Chronometer
Reference
N1000.08Z02.B01.R01
Case Dimensions
42mm (D) x 12.65mm (T) x 50.2mm (L2L)
Case Material
Bronze
Water Resistance
100 meters
Lug Width
22mm
Crystal(s)
Sapphire front and back, anti-reflective
Dial
Black with Norqain special pattern texture
Strap
Black rubber strap with bronze pin buckle
Movement
Norqain NN08, Sellita SW200-1 base, automatic
Power Reserve
41 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date, unidirectional timing bezel
Availability
Limited to 100 pieces
Price
US$3,690
Norqain Adventure Sport Chronograph “Golden Hour”
The second watch to receive the golden hour treatment is the Adventure Sport Chronograph, this time finished in a stealthy black DLC coating. It’s quite a hunk of stainless steel, coming in at 44mm in diameter, a 52mm lug-to-lug and a 16mm thickness, but watches like this deserve some presence on the wrist, and it’s definitely one you’re going to know you’re wearing. Up front, there’s a double-domed sapphire crystal that’s double-coated with anti-reflective material, framed by a unidirectional rotating bezel that’s DLC-coated and brushed, just like the case. 100 meters of water resistance is granted thanks to screw-down chronograph pushers and crown, which is relatively unusual to see these days on a chronograph, but it does show the Adventure Sport’s serious intent. Finishing off the case is a sapphire exhibition case back featuring special limited-edition printing, as this model is limited to just 50 pieces.
Continuing the golden hour theme, Norqain has opted for a reverse panda dial, first with a backdrop in that familiar herringbone/carbon texture in black, paired with golden sunburst subdials at 3, 6 and 9. Like the 42mm Chronometer, the Chronograph features brushed bronze hands and hour markers, along with a relatively subtle, dial-matching date window at 4:30. As far as sports chronographs go, you can’t really beat the reverse panda style, but the pairing of gold & black, with all the warm gold touches on the dial gives it a cool John Player Special look. I’m glad Norqain went with a black DLC case with this dial, because I think had they gone for bronze, it would have all looked a bit too much.
Inside the Chronograph, there’s the calibre N19 automatic movement, which is based on a Sellita SW510-a. We’ve seen this featured by Norqain before, in watches such as the Freedom 60: it’s a solid and dependable automatic chronograph with a substantial 62-hour power reserve, 27 jewels, and beats at 28,800 vph. Peering at it through the exhibition case back, there’s a familiar decorated oscillating weight, which gives it just enough premium feel, all while remaining accurate and reliable. Just like the other Golden Hour model, the Chronograph comes complete with a black, textured rubber strap, finished with an engraved pin buckle.
Norqain Adventure Sport Chronograph “Golden Hour” pricing & availability
The Norqain Adventure Sport Chronograph “Golden Hour” is available from the Time+Tide NYC Ghost Kitchen, in the USA & Canada exclusively, and is limited to 50 pieces. Price: US$5,590
Brand
Norqain
Model
Adventure Sport 42mm “Golden Hour” Chronometer
Reference
N1200.19B03.B01.R01
Case Dimensions
44mm (D) x 16mm (T) x 52mm (L2L)
Case Material
316L stainless steel, DLC-coated
Water Resistance
100 meters
Lug Width
22mm
Crystal(s)
Sapphire front and back, anti-reflective
Dial
Black, Norqain special pattern texture, gold subdials
Strap
Black rubber strap with bronze pin buckle
Movement
Norqain N19, Sellita SW510-a base, automatic
Power Reserve
62 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph, unidirectional timing bezel
Availability
Limited to 50 pieces
Price
US$5,590