For the third time, Swiss watchmaker NORQAIN has partnered with wildlife ambassador Dean Schneider to craft an exceptional timepiece: this time, the Wild One Hakuna Mipaka Limited Edition. One of NORQAIN’s initiatives is to support Hakuna Mipaka, a 400-hectare wildlife sanctuary and animal rehabilitation centre located in South Africa, funded primarily by donations.

Limited to just 300 pieces, the timepiece boasts several bespoke features that highlight Schneider’s dedication to wildlife conservation. Its colour palette, inspired by the lion King Dexter of the Hakuna Mipaka pride, combines brown and sand tones. Additionally, sand from the oasis has been integrated into the rubber shock absorber, establishing a symbolic connection. Ten percent of the proceeds from each watch sale will support Schneider’s conservation mission. 

The watch features a 25-part case, boasting a dark brown, ultra-robust and incredibly lightweight NORTEQ – an innovative, highly shock-resistant carbon-fibre material. Combined with the titanium container that houses an automatic mechanical movement, the 42mm watch weighs just 84 grams. Additionally, it has an impressive 200-meter water resistance rating.

Both the matching dark brown dial and sand-coloured rubber strap are stamped with a lion’s fur pattern and detailed with the Hakuna Mipaka shield-and-spear logo. To add a touch of elegance, the diamond-cut skeleton hands and indexes are finished with red-gold plating, creating a look that evokes the dusky evening light in the Hakuna Mipaka Oasis. 

Powering the timepiece is the ultra-reliable Manufacture Calibre NN20/1 by Kenissi. This chronometer-certified movement boasts an impressive 70-hour power reserve and is visible through a transparent sapphire crystal that’s adorned with the “Hakuna Mipaka” logo and the indication “One of 300.” on the case back. The surrounding case back is engraved with Schneider’s mission statement: “We need to learn to love them exactly the way they are and not the way we wish them to be!”

“Thanks to the partnership with NORQAIN, we’ve been able to fund ongoing operations at Hakuna Mipaka Oasis,” said Schneider. “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.”

Each Wild One Hakuna Mipaka Limited Edition is priced at RM 26,180 and comes presented with a special sand-coloured Hakuna Mipaka cap and special Hakuna Mipaka packaging.

Photos by NORQAIN.