NORQAIN turns to bronze for the second time this month, utilising it on their Freedom 60 Chrono model and pairing it with a cool reversed panda dial. The new NORQAIN Freedom 60 Chrono Bronze watch, a limited edition of 200 pieces, boasts a 40mm bronze case, automatic cam-lever chronograph movement and a choice of four straps.
Bronze is a fashionable watchmaking material for a reason. It is an alloy that consists mainly of copper and tin so cases engineered from bronze will change appearance overtime. When things like perspiration or oil in the skin react with the bronze, the watch case will develop its own unique patina giving the case a very unique, sporty and vintage look. This means that each bronze case will be completely different to the next and be a representation of the wearers own journey. We’ve seen pretty much all of the luxury watch brands in the major leagues use bronze at some point now, and as NORQAIN quickly grows, they are also turning to the material to create a range of distinctive sports watches. In November, we saw the launch of the NORQAIN Adventure Sport Bronze Khaki watch which paired a 42mm bronze case with a gorgeous military green dial. Now the same material makes its way onto a Freedom 60 Chrono watch, joining forces with a retro reverse-panda dial.
NORQAIN’s Freedom 60 Chrono watch is a retro-styled chronograph first released in a 43mm case and then later downsized to 40mm for smaller wrists. Today’s NORQAIN Freedom 60 Chrono Bronze Limited Edition is of the latter, boasting a nicely sized 40mm diameter, a lug-to-lug width of 49mm and a height of 14.9mm. The height may seem a little tall for a watch of this size, but when you take into account the beautifully vintage, ultra-domed sapphire crystal glass and Valjoux-based movement inside, it makes a little more sense. The glass is adorned with anti-reflective coating for easy legibility of the black and white dial beneath and pairs with a screw down crown and an exhibition case back to ensure a water resistance of 100 metres.
Of course, the main novelty of the new NORQAIN Freedom 60 Chrono Bronze Limited Edition’s case is the material is it made from: bronze. As mentioned in the introduction, bronze watch cases will develop their own patina over time, changing colour and adding texture depending on which environments and how much wear it is subject to. The architecture follows suit to previous Freedom 60 Chrono watches with satin-finished surfaces and polished accents and two large piston chronograph pushers placed on the right-hand side. On the left side, there is the signature NORQAIN plate which can be engraved for customisation purposes.
For the first time, NORQAIN adorns its Freedom 60 Chrono watch with a cool, reversed panda dial. With the backdrop black with sunray-brushed finishing, the white subsidiary counters for the small seconds, 12 hours chronograph and 30 minute chronograph stand out effortlessly. To match with the bronze case, most of the hardware on the dial is done in bronze including the central hands and the baton-shaped hour markers while the indicators on the subsidiary counters are kept simple in black. There’s also Superluminova on the indexes and hour and minute hands in the shade Old Radium and a subtle, well-hidden date window is included at the 4:30 position.
Inside the NORQAIN Freedom 60 Chrono Bronze Limited Edition, you’ll find the Calibre NN18 automatic winding cam-lever chronograph movement based on the Valjoux 7753. The 27-jewelled movement ensures a frequency of 28,800vph and a 48 hour power reserve. Finally, the NORQAIN watch is completed by a choice of four straps: a black rubber Perlon strap, a recycled #tide strap in grey or white and a brown Alcantara suede strap. Each closes by a bronze pin buckle.
If you’d like to learn more about the new NORQAIN Freedom 60 Chrono Bronze watch and get your hands on one of the 200-piece limited editions for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 40mm
- Case Material: Bronze
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Ultra-domed sapphire crystal
- Crown: Screw down
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Calibre NN18, automatic winding cam-lever chronograph
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, central chronograph seconds, 30 minutes, 12 hours, date
- Power Reserve: 48 hours
- Jewels: 27
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Black with white counters, bronze hardware with Old Radium Superluminova
- Strap: Perlon rubber, #tide or Alcantara
- Buckle: Pin, bronze
- RRP: £3,190
- Limited Edition: 200 pieces
- Reference: NZ2201ZC/B225
