Bienne-based Norqain, founded in 2018, has swiftly become an independent watch brand to be reckoned with in its relatively short tenure, notably producing two proprietary Swiss-made calibers in collaboration with Kenissi, a movement manufacturer founded by Rolex-owned Tudor. One of those calibers, the self-winding, three-hand NN20/1 that debuted in last year’s Independence 20 model, now finds itself installed in three timepieces from the new Neverest collection, Norqain’s most ruggedly sporty series, taking inspiration from Mount Everest.

The Neverest collection, a sub-series of Norqain’s Adventure collection, includes one “Glacier” model, with a stainless-steel case, silvery white textured dial and gray ceramic bezel; one limited-edition “bicolor” model, whose 5N rose-gold bezel is fitted with a black ceramic ring and surrounds a gray dial; and an all-steel version, which combines a black ceramic bezel ring with the hallmark forest-green dial that Norqain introduced on the Independence 20. All the watches have 40-mm steel cases with polished and satin finishing, screw-down crowns flanked by crown protectors, graduated-scale bezels with markings at the 15-, 30-, and 45-minute points, and box-type, antireflective sapphire crystals.
The Neverest 40-mm Glacier derives its name from its eye-catching dial, with a cracked texture on its icy white surface that call to mind, Norqain says, “the jagged crevasses of Khumbu...