Norqain?s Independence collection is their home for limited edition releases with an artisanal flair. Last year saw the release of the Independence 20, a limited edition with a green dial (with ?scratching? applied by hand, for texture) and a movement made in collaboration with Kenissi, the Tudor owned movement manufacturer. This year?s Independence 21 releases cover some of the same ground, and also offer a few firsts for Norqain. 

First up is the aptly named Independence 21. This watch can very much be thought of as a sibling to the green dialed watch released last year. This year the dial has been rendered in a deep blue, but has given the same brushing treatment to create a unique texture that resembles crinkled paper, or perhaps a spiderweb. Norqain tells us that because of the way this texture is applied by hand, no two dials are exactly alike. The 42mm case can best be described as muscular, with prominent crown guards on the 3:00 side, finishing that alternates between brushed and polished surfaces, and thick, wide-set lugs. This is very much a traditional sports watch – there?s nothing revolutionary here in terms of design, but that?s part of the charm, and lets the dial take center stage. As with the Independence 20, the Independence 21 is powered by the Calibre NN20/1, still made by Kenissi. 
If the Independence 21 is a somewhat safe and predictable iteration on the classically styled sports watch, the Independence 21 DLC Skeleton Limited...