Norqain Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm Enjoy Life

Russell Sheldrake

There’s nothing higher than stress-free on the seaside with a chilly ice cream in hand, not a care on this planet as you lazily ponder when to ask to your subsequent fruity cocktail from the bar. And it’s that actual carefree perspective that Norqain is channelling with its newest launch, the Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm Get pleasure from Life. Based mostly on the model’s trusty chronograph mannequin, it has been given a refreshing paint job with a number of hidden particulars to assist make this a super summer season watch.

The dial

That is the largest and clearest departure from the usual Freedom 60 Chrono, with three vivid colors used throughout the sub-dials and the outer tachymeter monitor. These colors, being blue, pink, and inexperienced, had been chosen to evoke ice cream flavours, and whereas the model doesn’t specify precisely which flavours they went for, I really feel secure in assuming we’ve got bubblegum, strawberry, and mint, though it could possibly be pistachio. The remainder of the dial stays a crisp white, with the Norqain brand printed in black, together with all different dial textual content. Having these pastel-like colors breaking apart what would in any other case be a really clear and stark dial makes this watch really feel extremely lighthearted.

The outer tachymeter monitor is break up into thirds, every being the identical color as its corresponding sub-dial – one other element that we don’t see fairly often. This stage of caprice in design actually provides to Norqain’s mission assertion of not taking life too severely, and it feels prefer it falls into the identical stage of thought of design with simply the correct amount of enjoyable that you simply discover at Studio Underd0g.

The dial additionally incorporates a date window at 4:30, a controversial placement, however the twist Norqain has added right here is maybe one of the best a part of this watch. On the first, eighth, fifteenth, twenty second, and twenty ninth of each month, the date numeral is changed with a small graphic of an ice cream cone. That is Norqain’s ubiquitous signal of reminding us all to present ourselves just a little deal with each week, and reward the arduous work we put in on each different day. An essential message if I’ve ever heard one.

The case

Maybe essentially the most distinctive a part of this 40mm case is the screwed-in Norqain plate that’s connected to the aspect, proudly displaying the model’s title. This does add just a little little bit of width, however there may be nothing apologetic about this watch or this model – they’ve at all times been daring of their statements, and this element solely goes to show that. The remainder of the case is very polished, together with the skinny bezel and downward-sloping lugs. I’m additionally an enormous fan of the vintage-styled mushroom pushers that also permit this watch 100m of water resistance.

The playfulness of the design shouldn’t be restricted to the dial. Flip the watch over, and we’ve got a big ice cream cone with those self same vivid colors featured, and the motto emblazoned throughout it, “get pleasure from life”. This does sit on the sapphire crystal show caseback, obscuring many of the view of the motion, however as we’ve already mentioned, this watch shouldn’t be for individuals who want to recite specs or pore over historic reference tomes. And masking the motion with one other reminder to get pleasure from life when you could be tempted to drag out a loupe to examine what lies beneath feels nearly good.

The strap

The watch comes with both a steel, three-link bracelet that has its centre hyperlinks brushed, very a lot the usual providing with this mannequin, or you may select to have it on a white rubber strap with Norqain’s signature arrow stitches on the lugs and a alternative of both a folding or pin buckle. The white strap I feel permits the colors of the dial to pop extra, and definitely feels extra summery to me. And whereas we could also be used to getting an extra strap or two with a watch today, Norqain has gone one step additional right here and provides every mannequin with a pair of sun shades. The right accent for the proper summer season watch.

The motion

Inside, nothing has modified from the usual mannequin, with the Norqain N19 working the present. That is based mostly on the reliable Sellita SW510, a cam-operated chronograph with 62 hours of energy reserve and quick-set date. It is a dependable motion that’s broadly used throughout the business, however does imply the thickness sits at a big 14.9mm.

The decision

It’s typically a good criticism of this business that we take ourselves too severely, and so it’s good to have this contemporary reminder that there are nonetheless manufacturers on the market keen to decide on a special tempo to life. The Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm Get pleasure from Life is an especially easy-going watch, and will by no means be accused of taking itself too severely. And with (Northern Hemisphere) summer season proper across the nook, it is likely to be the proper companion for these in want of a fast ice cream break.

Norqain Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm Get pleasure from Life pricing and availability

The Norqain Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm Get pleasure from Life Particular Version will probably be a restricted manufacturing run, with orders open now. Worth: €4,650 (rubber strap with pin buckle), €4,750 (matching bracelet), €4,800 (rubber strap with folding buckle)