Ciga Watch Review: A Closer Look at the Future of Chinese Watchmaking

Within the watch world, fanatics have lengthy revered Swiss, German, and Japanese watchmakers for his or her distinctive craftsmanship. Nevertheless, there’s an underdog nation that many overlook on account of preconceived notions about high quality: China.

The Ciga Design Blue Planet watch, which beat out a number of famend Swiss watches for the celebrated GPHG in 2021, proves that Chinese language watchmaking is simply getting began.

On this Ciga watch overview, I’ll share my experiences with this exceptional timepiece.

Key Takeaways

• China is an underdog nation in watchmaking that many overlook on account of preconceived notions about high quality, however the Ciga Design Blue Planet watch proves that Chinese language watchmaking is value taking note of.
• Ciga Design, based by one in every of China’s high industrial designers, grew to become the primary Chinese language model to win the celebrated “Problem” class on the GPHG in 2021, marking a major milestone in horological historical past.
• The Blue Planet’s unboxing expertise is exclusive and immersive, with a guide explaining the watch’s environmental philosophy and a presentation that showcases the watch’s round case design.
• Regardless of its 46mm dimension, the Blue Planet’s titanium case wears smaller on account of its lugless design, and the delicate, supple rubber strap is snug proper out of the field.
• The Blue Planet’s dial options intricate micro-carvings of Earth’s landforms, and its unconventional time-telling mechanism encourages the wearer to decelerate and recognize the watch.
• The Ciga Design Blue Planet is a testomony to the rising prominence of Chinese language watchmaking. It gives an avant-garde design, historic significance, and an inexpensive value level for watch collectors searching for one thing distinctive.

Who’s Ciga Design?

Ciga Design was based in 2016 by Zhang Jianmin, one in every of China’s high industrial designers. As a younger Chinese language designer watch model, their mission is to redefine watchmaking with trendy mechanical artwork, which is obvious all through the Blue Planet.

In 2021, Ciga Design made historical past by changing into the primary Chinese language model to win the “Problem” class on the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), essentially the most prestigious award in watchmaking (just like the Oscars for watches).

Unboxing and First Impressions

When a curious bundle from Ciga Design arrived at my doorstep, I initially thought it may be a espresso desk guide I had ordered. To my shock, it was the Blue Planet watch. The unboxing expertise was really distinctive, that includes a guide that explains the watch’s environmental philosophy, which aligns with its total theme. The presentation is akin to a connoisseur meal, with the watch as the ultimate “dessert.” I used to be notably impressed by how the strap was indifferent, permitting the round case design to take middle stage.

Case and Strap Impressions

Regardless of its 46mm dimension, the Blue Planet’s titanium case wears smaller on account of its lugless design. I in contrast it to my Seiko Photo voltaic Tuna, additionally 46mm, and located that the Blue Planet sits comfortably on my 7.5-inch wrist. The delicate brushing on the case will assist disguise hairline scratches over time. I used to be pleasantly stunned by the soft, supple rubber strap, which I used to be initially apprehensive about, but it surely felt snug proper out of the field.

Dial and Timekeeping

The Blue Planet’s dial is a real murals, that includes intricate micro-carvings of Earth’s landforms. The time-telling mechanism is unconventional however intelligent.

A navigation marker strikes across the outer ring to point the hour, whereas the interior ring rotates to trace the minutes. Within the picture under, the time reads 10:10. It’s unconventional and takes some getting used to, however that’s precisely the purpose – like a movie digital camera, it invitations you to decelerate and savor the expertise.

Video Assessment 

Closing Ideas

The Ciga Design Blue Planet is a testomony to the rising prominence of Chinese language watchmaking. Its avant-garde design, historic significance, and inexpensive value level make it a beautiful possibility for watch collectors searching for one thing distinctive. This Ciga Design watch overview has actually piqued my curiosity in Chinese language microbrands, and I’m desirous to see how they proceed to innovate and problem the established order.

Whether or not you’re drawn to the Blue Planet’s design or intrigued by its place in horological historical past, there’s no denying that Ciga Design helps to redefine the way forward for watchmaking.