THE ANSWERS WITH...BEN KÜFFER

The founder of fledgling independent Swiss watch brand Norgain on making his time count.

- Haziq Yusof

PENETRATING THE VENERABLE Swiss watchmaking industry is no easy feat. Newcomers, enthused to join the table, often find themselves dismissed as upstarts. But the remarkable entrance of independent watch brand Norqain proves doors can be kicked open with the right combination of smarts and gumption.

Behind Norqain’s burgeoning journey is CEO and cofounder, Ben Küffer. A scion of Swiss watchmaking heritage, (his father led Roventa-Henex, a prominent private label Swiss watch manufacturer), Küffer has always been immersed in the world of horology. This intrinsic connection, further honed by an eight-year tenure at Breitling, laid the groundwork for his ambitious venture. But even with this rich heritage, few would have predicted the success of Norqain when Küffer, alongside industry veteran Ted Schneider and ice hockey icon Mark Streit, introduced the brand in 2018.

Küffer has swiftly steered Norqain to its unique place in the watchmaking world, garnering critical acclaim with the brand’s adventure-inspired timepieces that speak to a new generation of watch enthusiasts. Fundamental to forging the brand’s ethos of exploration, Küffer ensures that every Norqain timepiece is a lifelong companion, chronicling one’s significant moments and ventures. This approach is inspired by both the brand’s and Küffer’s own philosophy, ‘my life, my way’.

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