Norqain is a new brand established in 2018 and is starting to grow rapidly in that short 2 years. Available in most major retailers around the world including the Hodinkee shop, the brand has that freshness to it that I find appealing. It has a lot to offer (for a new brand) – they are releasing their in-house movements in a partnership with Kenissi, the same manufacturer that helped develop the in-house movement for Tudor, which is a big step forward. The brand is reaching heights that are very rare for a 2-year-old brand.

I had been looking to acquire an IWC Mark 18 pilots watch for a very long time. I was in Dubai for New Years and had every intention of getting one. I went into the IWC boutique, tried it on and was satisfied with the watch. A day later we went to Seddiqi to see a few high-end watches from Lange and De Bethune, when my father spotted the Norqain Freedom 60 and was keen to buy it for me. The Norqain had that pilot watch aesthetic and with a vintage 1960s inspired field watch dial and on top of that, it was half the price of the IWC – it was a no brainer.

The watch itself is very impressive, the quality of the overall watch is fantastic, the cream dial plays well with light and the details in the dial are impressive from the syringe style hands to the date wheel matching the color of the dial. The watch is full of details; the case is polished with well-crafted brushed sides. It measures 42mm which is rather large but it gives a great wrist presence. The sapphire crystal has a double anti-reflective coating and the crystal has the look of a plexi glass that is found in the era of watches that the Freedom 60 is paying homage to. It has an ETA movement that is finished very well with the signed NORQAIN logo and the strap is Italian leather, Norlando styled with Norqain stitches adding to the vintage aesthetics.

On the wrist, it doesn’t stop impressing me – the watch indeed does feel like a vintage watch with the dial, case, and the strap having been designed to look like a watch from the 1960s. It is versatile as it doesn’t look out of place when worn with a suit or shorts and a T-shirt. For me it’s a perfect daily wear watch that has a lot to offer for the price that is well under $2,000.