October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
WatchRanker
Search
For vendors
Blog

NORQAIN Wild ONE All Black and 18-Carat Gold: What Sets Them Apart

The Wild ONE All Black and 18-carat Gold share a 42mm case architecture and NN20/1 movement, but differ sharply in visible materials, edition status and launch price.
Estimate4–5 min Catalogued SpecialistWatchRanker Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

NORQAIN announced the Wild ONE All Black and Wild ONE Gold on 15 November 2023, ahead of Dubai Watch Week. The All Black is the monochromatic, 42mm NORTEQ version; the Gold adds a solid 18-carat red-gold case top to the same rubber shock-absorber architecture. They share the Kenissi NN20/1 automatic movement and a stated 70-hour power reserve. This is a specification-led debut, not a firsthand wear review: the available launch material establishes the watches’ design and manufacturer claims, but not personal handling or independent performance testing.

What “18k Gold LE” means here

The Gold discussed alongside the All Black is the fixed-design Wild ONE Gold introduced in 2023. NORQAIN announced 99 pieces for public sale and said it would make a separate 100th example for a UNICEF-related auction. That is distinct from the later-described Wild ONE of 1 customizable concept, whose configurations feature 18-carat red or white gold. The two should not be confused when discussing the All Black’s launch companion. NORQAIN’s launch announcement and its Wild ONE of 1 page describe the separate offerings.

How the two versions differ

Detail Wild ONE All Black Wild ONE Gold
Case construction 42mm black NORTEQ top and bottom, with a rubber shock absorber around the movement container. 42mm brushed and polished solid 18-carat red-gold top section, black NORTEQ beneath, and a rubber shock absorber. The movement sits in a sandblasted titanium container.
Dial and accents Black three-level laser-cut dial; black NORTEQ side plate and black rubber screw-down crown. Red-gold side plate; black-plated or gold hands, depending on configuration.
Movement and reserve Chronometer-certified Kenissi calibre NN20/1; 70-hour power reserve. Chronometer-certified Kenissi calibre NN20/1; 70-hour power reserve.
Published dimensions and water resistance 42mm case diameter, 12.3mm thickness and 200m water resistance, as reported by Time+Tide. 42mm case diameter, 12.3mm thickness and 200m water resistance, as reported by Time+Tide.
Crystal Sapphire front and back, as reported by Time+Tide. Sapphire front and back, as reported by Time+Tide.
Edition Not stated in the cited launch announcement. 99 pieces for public sale; one additional piece planned for a UNICEF-related auction, according to NORQAIN.
Strap and buckle Integrated animal-cruelty-free rubber strap with a Milanese structure and NORTEQ pin buckle. Black strap; offered with a black NORTEQ buckle or optional solid 18-carat gold buckle.
Original launch price CHF 4,950, according to NORQAIN’s 2023 announcement. CHF 11,950 with black NORTEQ buckle or CHF 13,950 with solid 18-carat gold buckle, according to NORQAIN’s 2023 announcement.

The shared movement, reserve and published case dimensions make the material and visual treatment the central distinction. For both watches, NORQAIN says the case construction was shock tested to 5,000g; this is the manufacturer’s claim, not an independent test result. Time+Tide’s launch coverage reports the dimensions, water resistance, crystals and calibre for both versions. Its listed CHF 13,590 price for the Gold with gold buckle differs from NORQAIN’s CHF 13,950 announcement figure, so the table uses the brand’s historical launch price.

What NORTEQ contributes to the case

NORQAIN describes NORTEQ as carbon fibre combined with a high-performance polymer matrix containing 60% bio-sourced material derived from castor oil. The brand says the composite is six times lighter than steel and three-and-a-half times lighter than titanium. Those are NORQAIN’s published material comparisons, not independent measurements established here.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
Casio Men's MDV106-1AV 200M Black Dive Watch (MDV106-1A)
  • Stainless Steel case with Black Resin Band
  • Black Dial with date window at 3 O'clock
  • Luminous markers and hour hands; sweep second hand
  • Anti-reverse bezel
  • Water-resistant to 200 M (660 feet)

In the All Black, NORTEQ makes up the visible black top-and-bottom case construction. The Gold instead places brushed and polished solid 18-carat red gold at the top, retaining black NORTEQ underneath. Both use the rubber shock absorber as part of the case architecture. This arrangement is the point of the Gold’s material change: gold is added to the top of the construction rather than replacing the composite and rubber elements throughout the case.

Strap, dial and sourcing details

NORQAIN specifies the All Black with a black rubber screw-down crown, black NORTEQ side plate and a three-level laser-cut black dial. Its integrated rubber strap has a Milanese structure and is described by the brand as animal-cruelty-free; the pin buckle is NORTEQ.

Rank #2
Sale
Citizen Quartz Mens Watch, Stainless Steel, Classic, Black (Model: AN8175-55E)
  • Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch
  • Quartz
  • Japanese-quartz Movement
  • Case Diameter: 40mm; Operating Temp.: -10°C to +60°C
  • Water resistant to 100m (330ft): in general, suitable for swimming and snorkeling, but not diving

The Gold’s red-gold side plate and choice of black-plated or gold hands give it a contrast absent from the All Black. Its black strap and buckle configuration mirror the All Black’s general setup, with the additional option of a solid-gold buckle. NORQAIN says its PX Impact 5N red gold is sourced through Swiss partner PX Group, is mercury-free and traceable. Those sourcing descriptions are the brand’s claims and are not an independent audit finding.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Original price and launch context

NORQAIN announced both watches on 15 November 2023, before Dubai Watch Week, scheduled for 16–20 November 2023. The CHF prices above are historical launch prices, not current retail or resale quotations. The sources cited here do not establish current stock or present-day pricing.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
SEIKO Men's Watches 5 SNKE03-4
  • Case Width: 1.4 inches (36 mm)
  • Wrist Circumference: 5.5 - 7.5 inches (140 - 190 mm)
  • Automatic
  • Day Date RPA2023 Skeleton Back

The price gap at launch reflects more than a change of dial color: the Gold uses a solid-gold case top, and its higher listed configuration adds a solid-gold buckle. The All Black’s value proposition, by contrast, is the fully black NORTEQ case treatment with the same named movement and core shock-absorber design.

Warranty and related custom concept

NORQAIN’s 2023 launch page stated a four-year warranty, with an upgrade to five years available through NORQAINER community sign-up. That is a dated launch-era statement; current warranty eligibility and terms should be checked with NORQAIN before purchase.

The separate Wild ONE of 1 concept should not be read as another name for this 99-piece Gold edition. NORQAIN’s page describes a customizable platform with 3.5 million possible configurations, including versions in 18-carat red or white gold. That figure belongs to the concept, not to either fixed All Black or fixed Gold configuration.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Casio Men's MDV106-1AV 200M Black Dive Watch (MDV106-1A)
Casio Men's MDV106-1AV 200M Black Dive Watch (MDV106-1A)
Stainless Steel case with Black Resin Band; Black Dial with date window at 3 O'clock; Luminous markers and hour hands; sweep second hand
$68.99
SaleBestseller No. 2
Citizen Quartz Mens Watch, Stainless Steel, Classic, Black (Model: AN8175-55E)
Citizen Quartz Mens Watch, Stainless Steel, Classic, Black (Model: AN8175-55E)
Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch; Quartz; Japanese-quartz Movement; Case Diameter: 40mm; Operating Temp.: -10°C to +60°C
$199.99
Bestseller No. 3
SEIKO Men's Watches 5 SNKE03-4
SEIKO Men's Watches 5 SNKE03-4
Case Width: 1.4 inches (36 mm); Wrist Circumference: 5.5 - 7.5 inches (140 - 190 mm); Automatic
$269.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More lots from the Journal

  1. Lot1How to Best Sell Your Watch: Choose the Right Channel for Your GoalBlogEstimate 7–9 min
  2. Lot2Spring-Bars and NATOs: A Practical Guide to Watch Straps, Buckles and BarsBlogEstimate 6–8 min
  3. Lot3A Philosophical Guide to Building the Perfect Watch CollectionBlogEstimate 6–8 min
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.