Norqain Wild One Skeleton 39mm – smaller size, bigger punch?
Borna BošnjakThe Wild One was always destined to be Norqain’s poster child. But, I’m not sure the brand expected the limelight to be taken by the Skeleton model, especially considering they graced its closed-dial sibling with a more premium, Kenissi movement. And yet, here we are. Whether it’s because of celebrity endorsement or collectors’ desire for something refreshing (in reality, it’s probably a bit of both), the Wild One Skeleton has enjoyed plenty of success. To further develop this success story, Norqain expanded the collection at Watches and Wonders 2025, downsizing the lightweight sports watch to a versatile (and on-trend) 39mm diameter. As they’ve just arrived at the T+T Melbourne Watch Discovery Studio, I thought I’d take a closer look and figure out what makes them tick – how hard could it be, considering all is on show?
Comfort champion
To really experience the Wild One’s biggest strength, regardless of diameter, you’ve gotta get it on your wrist. The Norteq composite case means that it’s lightweight, and its flat caseback and slightly curved lugs make it conform to pretty much any wrist perfectly. For the 39mm in particular, it also wears surprisingly slim, considering its sports/dive watch-derived aesthetic. It sits at 11.75mm in thickness and 45.75mm lug-to-lug, which is more compact than a Tudor Black Bay 58, for comparison’s sake.
This is further emphasised by the fitted rubber strap, though it did provide more structure than I had expected. It doesn’t quite have the flexibility or suppleness of silicone, but that doesn’t really detract from comfort at all – it’s actually the opposite. The rubber has enough flexibility to expand as your wrist swells, but not so much so to feel flimsy or slide up and down it.
Just as much watch
Well, okay. It’s not just as much watch – it’s quite literally the opposite, considering the 3mm drop in diameter, but you get what I mean. Everything that you loved in the 42mm Wild One Skeleton is here, including the aforementioned composite construction and open dial showcasing the skeletonised variant of the Sellita SW200 inside. All too often, drops in size also mean drops in specification, but I’m glad to say that’s not the case here.
In fact, the Wild One Skeleton 39 adds a touch that many may have preferred on the larger variants: the open bridges of the movement are now blackened to match the case colour, rather than the untreated finish of its collection siblings. It just looks so much more premium, as is fitting considering the price tag the watch commands.
High-tech in (almost) all aspects
The whole idea of Norqain’s proprietary composite was to offer an avant-garde material experience, and that’s what’s been one of the main drawcards of the Wild One collection. Rather unexpectedly (especially knowing how watch nerds can get), the eschewing of the Kenissi movement from the Skeleton collection wasn’t enough of a deterrent to overcome the massive strides the model made in terms of visual appeal. Denoted as the NB08S, the modified Sellita SW200 in the back of the Wild One 39 Skeleton does feature COSC certification, which is a nice touch – though one that I honestly think is necessary given the asking price for an otherwise entry-level Swiss movement.
With a widespread movement being used, though, Norqain does make it easier to service it. If you can’t quite make it to a Norqain retailer or showroom, you can be fairly safe in leaving this one with a reasonably good watchmaker, given the SW200’s ubiquitous design and availability.
Closing thoughts
With its new diameter, the Wild One Skeleton 39mm simply improves on all the things its larger sibling already did very well. Comfort is even better (especially on my 16cm/6.2in wrist), and its lightweight case and comfortable rubber strap are to thank for that. It also has just as much fun with its colours, though I do think the aesthetic vastly improves with the blackened movement that’s only present in the Mint Green limited edition at the moment.
The Wild One Skeleton, regardless of size, proves that for many, watchmaking really isn’t about what’s under the hood, but rather how it’s presented. A story that’s cropped up a couple of times in my conversations with our own Jamie Weiss is the one of the EcoBoost-powered Ford Mustang, and I think that’s the perfect analogy for this watch. Sure, you don’t have a thunderous V8 to drown out any price tag question marks, but the roof is down, the Sun is shining, and you’re sitting in a bright yellow Mustang. If you’re not careful, you may just end up having a bit of fun.
Norqain Wild One Skeleton 39mm pricing and availability
The Norqain Wild One Skeleton 39mm is now available from the Time+Tide Studios in Melbourne and London, as well as the Time+Tide Shop, including this delectable, limited-edition Mint Green colourway that’ll be produced in just 400 examples. Price: A$8,800, £4,750
| Brand | Norqain |
| Model | Wild One Skeleton 39mm |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 11.75mm (T) x 45.75mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Norteq with rubber shock absorbers |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Flat sapphire front and back |
| Dial |
Open with mint, pewter, blue, or pink highlights
Blackened movement in Mint LE only |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap |
Fitted, colour-matched rubber strap, Norteq pin buckle
|
| Movement | NB08S, Sellita SW200, automatic, COSC |
| Power Reserve | 41 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | From T+T Shop, Mint Green limited to 400 pieces |
| Price | A$8,800 £4,750 |