Norqain reveals its latest addition to its revered Wild One lineup, with a trio of Wild One Skeleton Chronos.
Carrying forward the Wild One spirit, the Wild One Chrono features the characteristic NORTEQ case construction and is available in black, burgundy, or limited-edition gold.
The watch is powered by the NORQAIN 8K Manufacture Calibre (NK24/1), a flyback column-wheel chronograph capable of a 62-hour power reserve.
Despite being first introduced in 2022, Norqain’s Wild One collection feels like it’s been with us forever. Perhaps that’s a good measure of the branding, marketing and momentum that Jean-Claude Biver’s influence brought with it; however, the Wild One is now truly starting to stand on its own two feet as a core pillar of the brand’s identity. It has cemented itself directly within a busy mechanical sportswatch sector, offering genuine high-performance specifications that feel properly engineered rather than advertised. Now, for 2026, the collection takes its next step forward, not by reinventing the Wild One formula, but instead building on it. That next step arrives in the form of the Norqain Wild One Skeleton Chrono.
Firstly, it’s worth noting that this new watch isn’t the first 42mm chronograph to appear in Norqain’s more sport-focused lineup. Initially, we saw a flyback chronograph debuting as the skeletonised Independence in 2024. As awesome as these are, they’re available only with stainless steel or grade 5 titanium cases, and lack the more extreme capability and flexibility that the Wild One’s DNA provides. The new Wild One Skeleton Chrono aims to change that, offering all the trick features of the flyback chronograph, in a package that can handle anything you can throw at it.
Firstly, it’s instantly recognisable as a Wild One, which is a good start, and at 42mm it slots well into the rest of the range. The case’s signature construction comprises over 25 individually engineered components and features an ultra-robust, ultra-light NORTEQ® carbon fibre cage. This is paired with a rubber shock-absorbing core, delivering outstanding shock protection and comfort.
These items are then finished with sandblasted titanium caseback and front cases, and flat sapphire glass crystals on both sides. For the new release, there are three colours available: the first is a typically stealthy black, the second a more unique burgundy, limited to 400 pieces, a colour which has been popular across other Wild Ones, and finally, a very limited edition, 75-piece model, finished with brushed and polished 18-carat 5N “PX IMPACT” red gold case plates.
Each model is equipped with its own variation of the skeletonised chronograph dial, featuring subtle coloured details on elements such as the subdials and minute tracks. The black model stands out particularly with its turquoise accents, something we see frequently on the Wild One, while the gold and burgundy models opt for a more toned-down approach. The main skeletonised dial plate on all three remains matte black, while the subdials feature a neat, hidden feature, replacing the hands with transparent, rotating discs to indicate the 30-minute and 60-second counters.
Skeletonised watches often suffer from legibility issues, for obvious reasons; they have a lot going on, however, the Wild One Skeleton Chrono does a good job of balancing this out. The skeletonised, lumed hands are paired with bold, lume-filled applied indices, which are framed by a pulsometer scale printed on the scalloped chapter ring. The result is still an overall highly detailed dial, yet it just looks technical, rather than being overly challenging to read.
Inside beats the Norqain 8K Manufacture Calibre (NK24/1), the automatic-winding, flyback column-wheel chronograph movement that debuted in the previous Independence release. It was designed in partnership with Sellita’s higher-end manufacturing arm, Manufacture AMT SA, and boasts COSC certification, ensuring a strong accuracy rating of +6/-4 seconds per day.
It’s backed by an impressive 62-hour power reserve, which is worthy of the watch’s active intentions, and further supports Norqain’s choice to run with a pulsometer scale, added to help performance athletes keep track of their heart rate before, during, and after exercise. Ok, smart watches probably do a better job of this, but trust me, a mechanical pulsometer is way cooler.
Finishing the watches is the signature Wild One rubber strap, whose curves turn the almost traditionally styled case into a more integrated strap design. The textured rubber straps curve tightly around the case’s profile, fitting seamlessly and creating a comfortable, stylish, and intentional look that is perfect for anyone with an active lifestyle. The black and burgundy models feature black straps, while the gold model arrives with a lighter grey that matches the grey internals of the case. Additionally, the black model can be equipped with a bright turquoise strap that perfectly matches the turquoise dial details.
Between this new Wild One Skeleton Chrono collection and the concept Wild One Skeleton X-Lite Limited Edition, it is clear Norqain seeks to continue climbing up the mountain, pushing what it means to be a sports watch further and further.
Norqain Wild One Skeleton Chrono pricing and availability
The Norqain Wild One Skeleton Chrono is available now, with the burgundy model limited to 400 pieces, and the gold model limited to just 75 pieces. Price: From CHF18,950 (Gold)/ From CHF 7,200 (Black) / From CHF7,300 (Burgundy)
Brand
Norqain
Model
Wild One Skeleton Chrono
Case Dimensions
42mm (D) x 13.6mm (T) x 49.4mm (LTL)
Case Material
NORTEQ cage, coloured rubber shock absorber, sandblasted titanium container and case back. Available in black, burgundy, or 8-carat 5N PX IMPACT red gold
Water Resistance
200 metres, screw-down crown
Crystal(s)
Sapphire crystal front and back
Dial
Skeletonised with case-matching accents
Lug Width
22mm
Strap
Rubber strap, black, grey or optional turquoise
Movement
NORQAIN 8K Manufacture Calibre (NK24/1), automatic, COSC
Power Reserve
62 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, pulsometer chronograph
Availability
Black: Now
Burgundy: limited to 400 pieces
Gold: limited to 75 pieces
Price
From CHF 7,200 (Black)
From CHF7,300 (Burgundy)
From CHF18,950 (Gold)