Norqain, Wildlife Ambassador Dean Schneider, Join Forces For New Watch

For the third time, Norqain, the Swiss watchmaking brand, and charismatic wildlife ambassador Dean Schneider have joined forces to create a timepiece that not only keeps time but also symbolizes a deep commitment to wildlife conservation. The Wild One Hakuna Mipaka Limited Edition, a 300-piece masterpiece, is a symbol of hope for the Hakuna Mipaka Wildlife Oasis and its remarkable inhabitants.

Dean Schneider, a 30-year-old Swiss native, found himself at a crossroads in life and chose to follow a path less traveled. He abandoned a career in finance to embark on an extraordinary journey that led him to establish the Hakuna Mipaka Oasis, a wildlife sanctuary and animal rehabilitation center located in the heart of South Africa. The name “Hakuna Mipaka” translates to “no limits” in Swahili, perfectly encapsulating Dean’s relentless commitment to breaking boundaries in the field of wildlife conservation. The sanctuary is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including zebras, giraffes, leopards, and a magnificent pride of lions and it remains closed to tourists, relying solely on donations to fund the mission of wildlife conservation.

In addition to supporting the Hakuna Mipaka Oasis, Norqain is dedicated to protecting the environment and promoting animal cruelty-free products. Norqain’s watch collection contains no animal products, and the company proudly holds CO2-neutral certification from Swiss Climate, underlining its commitment to sustainability.

The Wild One Hakuna Mipaka Limited Edition watch is a testament to Dean’s mission and the beauty of the Hakuna Mipaka Oasis. The watch features a palette inspired by King Dexter, a majestic lion from the oasis, with its rich golden brown and sandy hues. The case is a technological marvel, featuring a dark brown Norteq® cage housing a sand-colored rubber shock absorber, infused with sand from the oasis.

Norteq® is an exclusive carbon fiber material that is lightweight, durable, and shock resistant. Developed for Norqain, Norteq is six times lighter than steel, and can be customized in color. The carbon fiber material is also 60 percent bio-sourced material.  . Despite its robust build, the 42mm watch weighs only 84 grams and has been shock tested to withstand 5,000g. It’s also water-resistant up to 200 meters.

The watch’s dark brown dial and sand-colored rubber strap, both embossed with a lion’s fur pattern, evoke the spirit of the Hakuna Mipaka Oasis. The skeleton hands and indexes are adorned with red-gold plating, casting an enchanting glow reminiscent of the African dusk.

The watch is powered by the reliable Manufacture Caliber NN20/1 by Kenissi, a Swiss Made automatic mechanical movement, certified as a chronometer with a 70-hour power reserve. The sapphire crystal case back is adorned with the “Hakuna Mipak” logo and “One of 300,” encircling Dean’s inspirational mission statement, “We need to learn to love them exactly the way they are and not the way we wish them to be.”

Each Wild ONE Hakuna Mipaka Limited Edition is priced at $5,590 and comes with a sand colored Hakuna Mipaka cap and special packaging. This marks the third collaboration between NORQAIN and Dean Schneider, following the highly successful Wild ONE Hakuna Mipaka limited-edition of 2022 and the women’s Independence 40mm Hakuna Mipaka. The watch is 100 percent animal-cruelty free, like all Norqain watches, and the brand contributes 10 percent of the proceeds from the 300-piece limited edition watch to  Hakuna Mipaka Oasis.

Dean Schneider expresses his gratitude for the partnership with NORQAIN, stating, “Thanks to the partnership with Norqain we’ve been able to fund ongoing operations at Hakuna Mipaka Oasis. These include food for the animals, veterinary bills, costs for guards and animal keepers, electricity, and maintenance work on the camps. Another important project included my trip to Kenya, where I was able to go into schools to educate young people about the animal kingdom, bringing it into the hearts of children and inspiring them to protect wildlife.”