As premium watch fair Watches and Wonders approaches on March 30 in Geneva, many watch aficionados will no doubt be captivated by the 38 exhibiting watchmaking houses. While we are familiar with the names and history of these watches, two new brands have entered the arena: Leica and Norqain.
Here is a closer look at these two newcomers.
German technology and precision in focus
For more than 150 years, Leica Camera AG has been producing some of the best cameras that professional photographers and amateurs alike have been raving about. These premium cameras have a reputation that is based on a long tradition of excellent quality, German craftsmanship, industrial design and innovative technologies.
This German know-how has been extended to fine watchmaking and the company has recently launched the Leica watch models Leica L1 and Leica L2 designed with a patented unique push crown. The timepieces were conceptualised by Professor Achim Heine, who has designed numerous Leica products in the past; making him the perfect person to head this project.
Under his watchful eye, the Leica L1 and Leica L2 contain subtle references to signature features from Leica’s rich history. These include the design of the watch hands and applied indices, the shape of the intricate stainless-steel case, the special knurling on the crowns, and the domed watch glass that references the front of a camera lens.
Both models are powered by a completely newly developed mechanical movement with manual winding. The intricate movement is visible through the transparent back made of resilient sapphire crystal. To keep to the “Made in Germany” stamp, Leica has partnered with Lehmann Präzision GmbH where the movement and most of the watches’ components were developed and produced in the Lehmann factory in Germany’s Black Forest region.
The Leica watches are a perfect combination of design and mechanical engineering. Besides the domed front crystal and the flat transparent back made of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with double-sided anti-reflective coating, both watch models are distinguished by the patented push crown and its correlating status indicator on the dial. The push crown’s ability to reset the small second hand to zero is also a unique feature and adds yet another practical purpose to this aesthetically pleasing design element.
See also: Defying traditions
Your life, your way
From German technology, we move to Swiss watch company Norqain which was founded in 2018 and located in Nidau (Bienne) in the heart of the Swiss watch inindustry. Taking its cue from adventure sports and to those brave enough to take the road less travelled; three new collections are offered: Adventure, Freedom and Independence. Norqain knows that on the most challenging mountaineering routes, accurate timing is of utmost importance. After all, the company lives by this motto: Your life, your way.
The new Norqain Adventure Neverest Night Sight 40mm DLC Watch features a glow-in-the-dark dial that gives this timepiece its name. The layer of powerful, high-quality X1 Super-LumiNova coats the entire dial — ensuring perfect visibility in any weather condition. Features to look out for include a bold dial that is upgraded with a coating of X1 Super-LumiNova that glows green in the dark of night. In the light of day, the black hand-applied and satin-brushed numbers at 12, three, six, and nine o’clock stand out from the sand-coloured background. The facetted light grey hands are set with X1 Super-LumiNova markers for a seamless design and flawless legibility. Fashioned from stainless steel, the case features both polished and satined finishes. The case, bezel, screwed-down crown, and lugs complete the watch’s rugged look with an all-black DLC coating. Even the Norqain plate on the left side of the case — engraved with “Neverest” — features DLC coating.
Watch is powered by the Manufacture Calibre NN20/1 that can be viewed through the sapphire glass caseback. The COSC-certified automatic movement has a weekend-proof power re- serve of 70 hours. The exclusivity of the movement is confirmed by the engraving of the brand’s core values — “Adventure – Freedom – Independence” — on the bridge and the recognisable “double N” logo engraved on the oscillating weight.
