Want to know everything about the CIGA Design Blue Planet watch? We present an expert review with a detailed breakdown of the model.
In this review, we will take an in-depth look at the Blue Planet watch from the brand CIGA Design. Here you'll find all the necessary information about it.
About CIGA Design
The company CIGA Design was founded in 2013 by Chinese industrial designer Zhang Jianming. The brand's main mission is to "rethink the aesthetics on your wrist with modern mechanical art."
The acronym CIGA stands for Chinese International Great Art. In a relatively short period, the brand has received several prestigious design awards. Their catalog shows a tendency towards skeletonized models.
In my opinion, the Blue Planet is a key model in their collection in terms of both aesthetics and mechanics. In this review, we will explore why.
In 2021, CIGA received its first award in watchmaking at the Swiss GPHG (Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève) competition.
Taking first place in the Challenge Watch category, Blue Planet competed with well-known brands like Doxa and Oris, with a price under 3,500 Swiss francs.
Although there were other unconventional models in the competition, none offered such an innovative dial layout as the CIGA watches.
Packaging and Presentation
The watch comes in a stylish book-like box. Inside, there is a small poem dedicated to the value of the planet and an attempt to draw attention to the impending consequences of climate change.
While the idea is pleasant, there is no evidence that CIGA is actually taking steps to save the planet, except for using "eco-friendly" packaging. This can be perceived as greenwashing, and conscious consumers may find such positioning somewhat patronizing.
Dimensions and Materials
The Blue Planet is available in two versions: stainless steel and titanium. This review covers the titanium version. It is worth noting that product photos can be misleading.
- Case diameter: 46 mm
- Case size with crown: 48 mm
- Lug width: 21.8 mm
- Case thickness: 15.5 mm
- Case weight: 55 g (85 g on a rubber strap)
- Water resistance: 30 meters
The titanium model has a darker gunmetal coating, but in person, it is almost indistinguishable from the steel version. The main distinguishing parameter is the weight difference of about 20 grams.
Design of the Blue Planet Watch
The Blue Planet case is perfectly round and features radial brushing. Despite the 46 mm diameter, the watch looks more compact due to the absence of traditional lugs - the case smoothly transitions into the strap. The curved back of the case allows the watch to sit comfortably on the wrist, reminiscent of a smooth stone.
This comparison with a stone polished by erosion fits well with the planetary theme. The case is almost devoid of details, which emphasizes the main visual component - the stunning dial.
CIGA chose a unique projection of the Earth. The dial focuses on the Indian Ocean, and the planet is depicted in the familiar orientation, with the compass located between the 6 and 7 o'clock marks.
On the dial, Africa can be distinguished to the west, Asia to the north, Australia to the east, and Antarctica to the southeast. Perhaps as a nod to the brand's Chinese origin, the north points to China, located at the top of the globe.
This decentralized view of the planet looks fresh and avoids the clichéd depiction of continents.
The embossed globe looks great from any angle. The contrast between the electroplated ocean and the topographic land elements creates a sense of depth. Around the Earth are minute and hour scales.
Their convex markers shine in the light, reminiscent of stars in the cosmic darkness. The double convex sapphire crystal symbolizes the atmosphere and its fragility.
The graduated scales and marine compass give the watch the appearance of an antique navigational instrument. This feeling is enhanced when working with the crown - the rotation is reminiscent of entering coordinates.
The crown is recessed into the case cutout, and its lower part protrudes, allowing it to be easily pulled out with a fingernail. The crown's design is unique - a rounded shape with deep grooves reminiscent of a stainless steel cap from a water bottle.
The crown's movement is smooth when setting the time but somewhat awkward when winding the mechanism due to the recess.
The overall finish of the case and details is of high quality. However, I noticed a slight defect in the ocean's paint - just above the compass, there is a small color change, noticeable only under bright light and at a certain angle.
It's unclear whether this is related to a defect in the electroplating or a surface stain. Under normal lighting, the defect is almost invisible, but it is worth mentioning.
Watch Mechanism
The Blue Planet mechanism was created in collaboration with CIGA and the Chinese watch company Sea-Gull. It is not a completely new caliber but a modified one with a changed gear ratio.
The mechanism is visible through the mineral glass case back.
The mechanism has no official name; it is referred to as an "asynchronous follow" system. Below we explain the principle of operation.
Technical Specifications:
- 30 jewels
- Power reserve - 40 hours
- Accuracy - from -15 to +30 seconds per day
- Minor perlage finishing on the mechanism
The crown has three positions: the first is extended by one click but inactive (possibly, there was a date in the original mechanism). The second position is time setting with the stop-second feature.
The outer ring is fixed and displays a 12-hour scale with 5-minute divisions. The globe serves as the hour hand, rotating 30 degrees per hour.
The inner ring rotates and shows the minute scale over 60 minutes. To determine the time, you need to look at which numbers the compass points to on each ring.
The uniqueness of the design is that time is read with one hand. The minute ring rotates not 360, but 390 degrees per hour, shifting the zero mark forward. It is visually more complex to understand, but in practice, it is convenient.
Critique: reading the minutes is less intuitive than the hours. As the scale rotates clockwise, minutes need to be counted counterclockwise. For example, in the photo above, the time is more likely 2:33 than 2:37.
Overall, the design is interesting, but the lack of a second hand reduces the sense of dynamics. Without second indication, it's hard to tell if the mechanism is working without flipping the watch.
It would be great if the designers could add a moving second hand.
Strap
The package includes a matte blue fluororubber strap. FKM material is resistant to extreme temperatures and chemicals, while remaining soft and pleasant to the touch. It is comfortable on the wrist.
The clasp with engraving and mechanical processing is also well-made. The strap is equipped with two locking loops, one of which is held by a pair of small spikes on the edges.
The only downside is the tendency to collect lint.
Quick-release spring bars make changing the strap easy, but at the moment CIGA does not offer alternative options for the Blue Planet. However, I can imagine that tropic-style rubber straps or a black canvas strap with orange contrast stitching would look great on this watch.
Final Assessment
From a design perspective, the watch evokes polar emotions - it is either loved or not. Personally, I find the Blue Planet very beautiful, but the innovative design brings its own challenges.
Time readability leaves much to be desired. Determining which markers the compass points to can be difficult, and the numbers on the dial are very small - some of the smallest I've seen.
If you have vision problems, this watch may be a challenge. The absence of luminescent coating makes reading time in the dark almost impossible.
There have been times when I urgently needed to know the time, and I looked at the watch and ended up pulling out my phone instead.
The price - $899 for the steel version and $1099 for the titanium one - corresponds to the "entry-level" Swiss luxury. Comparing them to other models in this price segment is difficult, but the finish quality is on par (provided there are no quality control issues).
Personally, I find the price slightly inflated. Many will perceive this watch as a novelty and consider the purchase unjustified.
As mentioned, the titanium coating is very similar to steel. I don't have both versions for comparison, but I would recommend saving $200 and getting the steel model if the weight difference is not critical for you.
It's important to understand that these are not typical "everyday" watches. Their avant-garde style is not universal and not always practical. Trying to use Blue Planet as an everyday watch is likely to lead to disappointment.
Therefore, I believe these watches are suitable for a narrow audience - those who appreciate watchmaking craftsmanship and are looking for a truly unique item. If you are one of those people, you probably already know whether to buy them.
Despite some shortcomings, I enjoy wearing the Blue Planet and simply admiring them, flipping them in the light. It is a beautifully crafted object that also tells time.
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