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Launched in 2012 by industrial designer Zhang Jianmin, CIGA Design has quickly established itself as one of the most respected Chinese watch companies in the world thanks to its interesting, thoughtfully designed products that also represent great value. In 2021, CIGA Design took home the award Challenge Watch category of GPHG, becoming the first-ever Chinese watch company to win a GPHG award. Beating out popular watches from larger brands like Oris, Doxa, and Massena Lab, CIGA’s Blue Planet won over the judges with its unique design, novel approach to time-telling, and environmentally friendly premise. Featuring a recycled eco-friendly titanium case, recyclable packaging, and realistic rendering of the earth for the dial, the Blue Planet is meant to serve as a reminder for all of us to protect our only home, planet Earth.
With its spherical case and realistic rendering of Earth, the Blue Planet hopes to inspire a feeling similar to that of an astronaut viewing Earth for the first time from outer space. Taking that a step further, the piece is meant to urge us to put into perspective our lives and our impact on the planet. It’s a breath of fresh air for a watch to be inspired by such a poignant, universally important sentiment, and CIGA has managed to integrate this premise beautifully into the form and function of the design.
New for 2023, the CIGA Design Blue Planet – Gilding Version, builds on the success of the original, but in a stealthy, bold new configuration. The Blue Planet – Gilding Version features a spherical 46mm case fashioned out of black zirconium oxide ceramic. The sleek, lugless black ceramic case paired with the domed sapphire crystal gives this piece a decidedly modern, space-age appeal. While ceramic is a notoriously difficult material to work with, CIGA has implemented beautiful finishing on the case and bracelet. Despite its imposing on-paper measurements (46mm-wide x 15.6mm-thick), this piece is quite comfortable thanks to its flowing, seamless form factor and its lightweight, zirconium oxide construction.
One of the most interesting and novel aspects of the Blue Planet – Gilding Version is how the time is presented. The globe (dial) of the watch serves as the hour hand, while the compass rose points to the hour and minutes. The outer track corresponds with the hours and stays stationary, while the inner minute track rotates. This presentation makes for a display that is unique without sacrificing legibility. Powering the Gilding Version is a self-developed movement which beats at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour and features 40 hours of power reserve.
Perhaps the most impressive detail of the CIGA Design Blue Planet – Gilding Version is the dial. Following the form of the original Blue Planet, the dial of the Gilding Version features a dynamic, detailed rendering of the continents. The rendering on the Gilding Version is further enhanced by the use of 24k-gold finishing applied to the landforms. The attention to detail on the dial is particularly impressive — it takes approximately 18 hours to etch each dial. What’s more, CIGA used only the most perfect examples, discarding about 60% of all dials produced for the Gilding Version.
With the Blue Planet – Gilding Version, CIGA Design has once again challenged our expectations for what Chinese watchmaking can be. In addition to serving as another meaningful step forward for Chinese horology, this piece carries an important message about our responsibility to this planet. Perhaps most impressively, CIGA has managed to seamlessly integrate the message behind the watch into the form and function of the design. While the retail price of the CIGA Design Blue Planet – Gilding Version is normally $1,899 USD, it is now available for just $1329 USD (30% off) on Amazon Prime Day.
