Norqain Caliber Nn20 1

Norqain Caliber NN20/1

Norqain Caliber Nn20 1

Brand Norqain
Caliber Number NN20/1
In-House?
No
COSC?
Yes
Diameter 26mm (confirm in the comments below)
Thickness 4.99mm (confirm in the comments below)
Power Reserve 70 hours
Jewels
27
Vibrations Per Hour 28,800 bph (4Hz)
Shock Protection Incabloc
Balance Spring
(confirm in the comments below)
Hacking? Yes
Hand-Windable? Yes
Functions Hours, minutes, central sweeping seconds
Country of Manufacture Switzerland, Swiss made
Known Models
Independence 20 Limited Edition (green dial) (add yours in the comments below…)

The Norqain caliber NN20/1 is an automatic movement that was officially announced on February 5, 2020 alongside a similar GMT caliber NN20/2. These calibers are being produced in partnership with movement manufacturer Kenissi.

“We are proud to announce a new partnership with mechanical movement manufacturer, Kenissi. The announcement of the long-term collaboration between NORQAIN and Kenissi, founded by watch brand Tudor, underscores our commitment to offering quality timepieces that feature robust, high-performance movements ready for a lifetime of adventure. ” -Norqain

The NN20/1 is a three hand movement with 27 jewels. It is a C.O.S.C. certified chronometer.

The rotor on the NN20/1 features the Norqain logo – a double N in gold which is meant to represent the Swiss Alps. “Adventure – Freedom – Independence” are engraved into the bridge.

In Norqain’s Own Words:

“Displaying the hour, minute and seconds with a level of precision that exceeds industry standards, this Manufacture Calibre has been designed to withstand the movements and jolts of an active lifestyle.” -Norqain

The first watch featuring this movement is slated for a June 2020 release with delivery anticipated in September.

Update 7/30/20: Norqain has released their first NN20/1 powered timepiece called the Independence 20 Limited Edition.

Norqain NN20/1 VS Tudor MT5402:

Just as we said about the NN20/2 movement looking a lot like the supposed “in-house” Tudor caliber MT5652, the Norqain NN20/1 looks like a clone of the Tudor MT5402 found in the Black Bay Fifty-Eight (ref: M79030N).

This is what we know so far:

Norqain NN20/1 Tudor MT5402
COSC? Yes Yes
Power Reserve 70 Hours 70 Hours
Jewels 27 27
Balance Spring
Unconfirmed Anti-magnetic silicon
Manufactured by Kenissi Kenissi
Rotor
Norqain logo “Tudor”

Norqain and Tudor movements compared:

Norqain Nn20 Tudor Mt5402 Manufacture Calibers

joshhedge1 on Instagram asks:

“How are these different to the tudor movements… Look identical”

To which Norqain answered:

“@joshhedge1 hi Josh! Thanks for reaching out. Our partner is Kenissi, founded by Tudor. We are very happy to offer our customers movements that exceed industry standards with 70 hour power reserve, 2 point bridge fixation and a jumping hour setting for the NN20/2 GMT.👍🏻”

It doesn’t answer the question.

In-Norqain’s-Actual-House?

The Norqain caliber NN20/1 is being produced by Kenissi, a movement house founded by Tudor. The NN20/1 is a manufacture caliber that will be produced exclusively for Norqain (and possibly other brands in the future).

In a comment by the US Director of Norqain on ablogtowatch:

“…you are correct. It is not an in-house movement. Today Norqain announced a strategic partnership with Kenissi for the production of two manufacture calibers (three-hand and GMT with jumping hour setting). The definition of a manufacture caliber is that it is not accessible for everybody and only limited to few selected brands. The Kenissi manufacture calibers exceed industry standards and we are proud that we can offer our customers a fantastic movement with 70 hour power reserve, two point bridge fixation, our own decorations and oscillating weight. Hope that this explanation helps. Always at disposal for further information.”

Norqain mentions Manufacture Calibres on their site and in their press materials, but we have not found them using the term in-house. That’s because it is not an “in-house” movement as some large watch publications assert:

The title of Watch Time’s article about the new calibers: “Norqain Announces New In-House Calibers in Partnership with Tudor-Founded Kenissi”

This is a point of confusion in the industry. The term “in-house” once implied that the brand had a vertically integrated system to design and produce movements on their own, for their own watches. Now, having an outside movement house produce a caliber for your watch company seems to grant it “in-house” status.

Is Manufacture the new Ébauche?

It’s likely that the movement that Norqain calls caliber NN20/1 was already being developed by Kenissi (or was already developed and used in the Black Bay Fifty-Eight), waiting for the right brand to team up with and make it their own.

The term Manufacture Calibre is starting to feel like a marketing trend used by some watch brands to separate themselves from the standard off-the-shelf ETA, and working with factories like Kenissi also helps to get around having to source movements from SWATCH – convenient, given the constant threat of limiting supply of ETA movements. There’s nothing wrong with that (right?). This is the watch industry, and the watch industry is smoke and mirrors after all.

If Norqain launched their company in less than two years, while also juggling sales and marketing of a new brand in a stagnant market, and fully developed two new movements in-house at the same time, that would be impressive. Was the NN20/1 conceived, developed and tested entirely by Norqain’s own team of watchmakers? Most folks won’t care after being bombarded with press-releases and magazine articles touting how amazing it is. We will have to wait and see what the watch community’s experience will be – manufacture or in-house is cooler than off-the-shelf, but doesn’t always mean better.

Watches with the NN20/1 movement:

At the time of this post, only one Norqain model is powered by the NN20/1 manufacture movement: The Independence 20 Limited Edition (reference: NN3000) with a green dial. The retail price of this watch is $2,990 on a steel bracelet or $2,840 on a leather strap.

In Norqain’s Own Words:

NORQAIN’s Independence line is made up of watches created for trailblazers who dare to be different and go their own way.
“This limited edition Independence 20 timepiece is the first NORQAIN watch to feature the brand’s exclusive Manufacture Calibre NN20/1, produced in collaboration with movement manufacturer, Kenissi. The launch of the Manufacture Calibre in early 2020 marked an important chapter in the brand’s story of independence… The COSC-certified NN20/1 calibre, visible through the sapphire glass caseback, at its heart boasts a 70-hour “weekend-proof” power reserve and exceeds industry quality standards…” –Norqain

Norqain Nn3000 Independence 20 Green Dial Limited Edition

Editor’s Thoughts: Norqain mentions in their marketing that the use of this particular movement in their Independence marks an important chapter in the brand’s independence. It’s easy to interpret this is independence from ETA and Sellita (the movements found in their other timepieces), but this raises the question: If the caliber NN20/1 is merely a partnership with a movement maker, and is essentially just a rebranded Tudor movement, then how independent is Norqain, really? It would seem that they just switched from one supplier to another and were able to make a big deal out of it because no one else (aside from Tudor and Chanel?) is being supplied by the same movement vendor (yet).

Update 7/30/20: Early images of the NN20/1 indicated that the movement would have 27 jewels, but on release day, their site lists it as 26. We reached out to Norqain and they confirmed that the NN20/1 in the new green dial Independence 20 limited edition does in fact have 27 jewels, and it has since been corrected on their website.

Norqain Independence 20 Limited Edition Specs

Additional Resources:

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Dave Wong
Dave Wong
4 years ago

From the pics it doesn’t looks like it will have the same anti-magnetic silicone hairspring the Tudor watches have. I saw people asking this on social media and Norqain didn’t give a reply. That will be a deal breaker for me imho.

WISdom
WISdom
4 years ago
Reply to  Dave Wong

Yeah I have a feeling that’s what’s going to be it. I don’t see Tudor being willing to give them their movements in their entirety on a silver platter. They have to have something to distinguish them from a new 2 year old start up brand and the silicone spring is the difference.

Hector
Hector
4 years ago

Good, informative read. Real in house or not, this movement partnering is great advertising. I never heard of this brand before until now. Good looking watches.

A. Brugger
A. Brugger
4 years ago

If they use glass case back like the current Norqain watches we’ll be able to see it. Tudor only uses solid case back?

trackback
ETA Watch Movements Unavailable Watch Movement | Caliber Corner
4 years ago

[…] such as: Many luxury watch brands started designing and producing their own in-house movements. Brands like Tudor started their own manufacture factories to sell movements to outside brands. Swiss movement […]

R.H.
R.H.
4 years ago

In response to the last post here, Norqain doesn’t respond to me either, even in regards to simple question about their watches. This foesn’t Bode well for trusting them or their watches. I can’t believe a company goes into business, advertises to get business, and then acts in a non-business manner to lose business. Incredible stupidity! And the arrogance.

JAH.
JAH.
3 years ago

Very impressive seed and fascinating especially when I own the BB58.

JAH.
JAH.
3 years ago

I never knew Tudor had the financial backing of Chanel and they are actually selling there own in-house movements to Norqain. This is very interesting news. It’s just like Bentley putting there own engines into VW vehicles.

Douglas Hamner
Douglas Hamner
2 years ago
Reply to  JAH.

What like the Phaeton…lol

David
David
2 years ago
Reply to  Douglas Hamner

Yep, exactly. And Bentley priced repair costs to go along with it. Lots and lots and lots of Bentley priced repair costs. A Rolex with a Casio logo — madness.

JAH.
JAH.
3 years ago

To be honest the question regarding what do we think to the Norqain Calibre NN20/1 is just like saying what do I think to my in house calibre movement on my Tudor BB58? As they are both identical and both the same made by Tudor!

trackback
Norqain Caliber NN20/2 Watch Movement | Caliber Corner
3 years ago

[…] automatic GMT movement officially announced on February 5, 2020 (as well as a three-handed version caliber NN20/1). This caliber is produced in partnership with movement manufacturer Kenissi. It has 28 jewels and […]

trackback
Yema Caliber MBP1000 Watch Movement | Caliber Corner
2 years ago

[…] (either out of ignorance or for a higher CTR) to throw around terms like “in-house” (see this Norqain caliber), then is up to you and your wallet, dear watch enthusiast, to decide what the actual definition of […]

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

What do you think their deal is? Like does Norqain pay Tudor per movement? Or do you think Tudor has a share of the Norqain Company stock?

trackback
Tudor Caliber T600 Watch Movement | Caliber Corner
2 years ago

[…] Sellita, luck-of-the-draw, box of chocolates movement games is Norqain. Tudor also happens to make Norqain’s “manufacture” movements. The apples don’t fall far from the […]

SalV
SalV
2 years ago
  • I am going to purchase a Norqain, Freedom 60 39 MM SS Anthracite

will update you once in use. I spoke with the rep and no silicone spring (Tudor/Rolex Pat). This is not a deal breaker as I looked at the new Tag Carrea and Tudor BB 41 and Norqain looks better and has more to offer for the money, plus a 5 year warranty.

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