My Honest Review of CIGA Design Mechanical Watches

Table Of Content

• Series Z Watch: Skeletonized Dial
• Six Affordable GMT Watches Similar to the Rolex GMT-Master II
• The Art Of Movement
• Related Products
• This Affordable Timex Has a Feature You Used to Only Find on Vintage Military Pilot’s Watches
• Expert Watch Reviewers Love CIGA‘s Unique Designs
• CIGA Design Customized Movement

For starters, it features some very exaggerated curves, that end at about a 40mm (by my crude measurement) bottom of the case. So, to be clear, while at it’s widest point it’s 46mm, it drastically lowers by the time it hits your wrist making for quite a unique wear. I never forgot I was wearing it, but it also wasn’t a bother either. But where others satisfied themselves copying established designs, Jianming dreamt bigger. He yearned to push boundaries by fusing Chinese culture and avant garde industrial styles with classical Swiss and Japanese watchmaking. Most models range from $250 to $500 – using modified workhouse Swiss and Japanese movements.

Series Z Watch: Skeletonized Dial

Genuinely, it’s difficult not to be excited for what lies in this young brand’s future. Research, photo editing, book design, deluxe edition design, and 10-CD set packaging design. Art direction, design and photo-illustration for the History of the Eagles documentary film key art, advertising and DVD packaging. Deluxe package includes limited edition lithographs and hardcover book. LP, CD and box set packaging, zine, singles, tour key art and merchandise.

Six Affordable GMT Watches Similar to the Rolex GMT-Master II

Thinking out of the box can often be deemed impractical by the typically rigid watch industry juggernaut. Let’s start with the case, because it sets the stage for how well the rest of the watch comes together. Measuring 46mm x 15mm in Titanium, the case itself is an almost UFO-esque shape. It’s a perfect circle, which would normally make the measurements a bit daunting but it truly wears differently than any “oversized” watch I’ve ever worn.

The Art Of Movement

Founded in 2007, Gear Patrol is the definitive buying guide for enthusiasts. Our independent experts test the best in cars, tech, home, outdoors, style and watches. We combine hands-on testing, decades of experience and original photography to craft reports, reviews and guides. It’s a conversation topic for that reason (and those mentioned above), but for my tastes, it felt a bit over-the-top at times. Again, its 46mm width doesn’t compromise wearing comfort or practicality, but it does have a big visual presence. In other words, although it’s far from the brashest design you can find in watches, you need either the mood or the overall personality to wear a Ciga Blue Planet.

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Logo design, stationery, signage, window installations, lamp pole banners, event posters and website design. Book design for Autumn de Wilde's Beck monograph, illustrating 15 years of friendship and creative collaboration between photographer and artist. Art Direction and design of film titles, and CD & LP packaging for P! Art Direction and design for Girls of the Golden West, John Adams’ eighth music theater work to be released by Nonesuch Records. Adams’ stage works are among the most performed contemporary operas of our time and include Nixon in China, The Death of Klinghoffer, El Niño, and Doctor Atomic. Much of the customization on this movement has gone into hollowing out as much of it as possible.

When it comes to dimensions, the Series Z’s stainless steel case measures 40.8mm across, 48mm lug-to-lug, 12.5mm in height, and has a strap size of 22mm. The case is crafted entirely from stainless steel that has been precisely CNCed to produce the tonneau shape; it also boasts chamfered, polished edges that smoothen out the face of the watch. Watches such as this are more about art than pragmatism, of course. The designers worked hard to get the aesthetic balance of elements just right — and did a pretty good job, in my opinion. However, making the numerals and indicator (here, the compass rose) stand out more would lend the watch not only usefulness but purpose.

Expert Watch Reviewers Love CIGA‘s Unique Designs

Art direction, illustration and packaging design for the band's 6th studio album, Strange Little Birds. Art Direction and packaging design for The Everly Brothers Hey Doll Baby – a 17-track compilation album curated with an eye towards celebrating the band’s deeper rockabilly tracks and great covers. I was glad to see that the Series Z box set included two accessory straps in silicone and leather, each of which has its own CIGA Design-branded steel buckle.

Art Direction, packaging design, website design, animations, event and social media graphics. Mike’s Cigars was opened in Miami Beach by a WWII veteran in 1950. Decades before cigar bars made stogies a white-collar lifestyle accessory, Mike Mersel was selling cigars to old guys in Miami Beach, when there were very few cigar shops in the country. Mike, an American hero, once sold socks in a pushcart in Manhattan’s lower East Side in New York City in the 1930’s, Mike came to South Florida in 1938 with his brother Albert nick-named “Ossie” because he got tired of winters. Mike died of natural causes on 2008 at the age of 97 but Mike’s legacy lives on, at 1030 Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands, FL.

CIGA Design Customized Movement

All in all, I was quite surprised with the Series Z. Aesthetically, I was able to appreciate the effort that the brand put into creating a detailed and cohesive product. From the box to the watch to the minute details in the movement, CIGA Design wanted to put forth the best experience possible at this price and I think they achieved it. Considering my personal experience, it’s not a surprise that Series Z won a German Design Award in 2020. Looking over the case of the CIGA Series Z, it’s not difficult to see the idea behind the watch’s design. This tonneau or “barrel-shaped” case is one that has become very well-known in recent times thanks to the popularity of the insanely-priced Richard Mille models.

While the majority of the case is simple matte black, CIGA Design does add a slim polished chamfer to the case edges and the bezel to act as effective rim highlights on the wrist. This bezel design also acts as the Series X Gorilla’s only set of hour and minute markers, with a sharp corner to indicate each five-minute interval on the dial. While this is a clever solution to making a full skeleton design more legible on paper, in practice this can still lead to some difficulties in accurate at-a-glance reading, especially thanks to the square case shape.

CIGA Design's Minimalist, Mechanical, and Mystical Eye of Horus Wristwatch - Design Milk

CIGA Design's Minimalist, Mechanical, and Mystical Eye of Horus Wristwatch.

Posted: Fri, 15 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

As an avid watch collector and enthusiast for over 10 years, I‘ve developed a keen eye for quality craftsmanship and subtle design details that set remarkable timepieces apart. From Swiss icons like Rolex and Omega to avant-garde brands making waves on Kickstarter, I‘ve handled hundreds of watches across the spectrum. Lastly, it’s only natural as watch collectors ourselves to want to root the up-and-coming brands, not just because they’re new, but because they’re facing off against the titans of the watch industry. With relatively limited resources, CIGA Design has been able to innovate, producing unique timepieces at accessible prices.

And given the current price point of $259, I highly doubt you’ll be able to find this look, manufactured at this level of quality and with as much attention to detail, with any other brand at all. The hands at center have likewise been hollowed out and possess red accents as well as a bit of lume. For improved legibility, there’s also a minimalist minute track surrounding the entire dial.

With the recent explosion of speculation and price increases throughout the watch space, it’s always exciting to find brands bringing forth new horological propositions at competitive price points. And after previously exploring the history of watchmaking in China, it’s even more enticing to cover CIGA Design, a young brand that proudly touts the Chinese origin of its timepieces. I came across the brand on Watch finder and co and couldn't resist the Black Friday sale. The packaging was surprisingly excellent and the gorilla watch stand was a nice addition I wasn't expecting. I was so impressed I bought two more watches including a Z series. If you're after something different give Ciga Design a go, don't write them off as just another 'Chinese Watch'.

Book design documenting a 10 year creative relationship between artist and photographer. Art Direction and design for Rose Ave., the debut album by You+Me (aka, Alecia Moore and Dallas Green). Art direction and design for composer John Adams' recorded works, spanning the last 20 years. Annual Reports, annual fund appeals, magazine, merchandise and special event graphics for Los Angeles area K-12.

Still, step back, and the globe motif is recognizable even from a distance. That being said, the Sea-Gull x CIGA Design movement, while technically unspecified does come with a pretty standard spec list. It carried 30 jewels with a 40-hour Power-Reserve and is visible through a sapphire caseback. It’s well-decorated, so it definitely gives the wearer something visually interesting to look at. CIGA Design uses a proprietary timekeeping system for the Blue Planet. So that means that the brand needed a movement capable of being developed alongside CIGA to accomplish this.

CIGA Design fits the Series X Gorilla with a pair of strap options. The first and most striking of these is a bespoke perforated strap in black rubber. This soft, flexible strap features a repeating raised three-pointed motif that nicely echoes the futuristic feel of the case and dial, while also helping to make this strap comfortable and breathable.