Sometimes good things happen very quickly.
It's been less than two weeks since I published my introductory article on the new CIGA Design Time Cipher watch. In it, I expressed my desire to thoroughly test the brand's latest model, and just a week after publishing, the watch was already on my desk. Over the past few days, I have had the opportunity to acquaint myself with the Time Cipher - a watch with an intuitive 'wandering hour' indicator. As it turns out, this is truly fascinating, and exactly what I expected. It's nice when a watch fully lives up to its promises.
Unboxing Impressions and Appearance of CIGA Design Time Cipher
Right out of the box, the new Time Cipher from CIGA Design stands out, despite its strict black design. As I mentioned, the brand released two versions of the model: the classic stainless steel and the one with black carbon coating. I received the latter version. The 45mm case looks impressive due to the combination of matte sandblasted and mirror-polished finishes. The large sapphire glass adds visual depth, making it clear that these black watches are far from as inconspicuous as one might think from the description.
Practical Use of CIGA Design Time Cipher
Since the introductory article came out only 13 days ago, I will focus on my observations and experience of daily use without repeating all the technical specifications and details. If you want to know the full information, I recommend checking out my introductory article. Nevertheless, the review would be incomplete without mentioning the key features. As is known, CIGA Design watches come in original packaging resembling a book. This is not only an interesting way of packaging but also much more practical than traditional boxes that take up a lot of space.
The attention to detail is evident from the box. The quick-release spring bars are very convenient, and installing the rubber strap takes only a few seconds. The soft black fluororubber strap is particularly noteworthy - it makes wearing the Time Cipher as comfortable as possible, while the watch is perfectly balanced on the wrist. Additionally, I like how the strap connects to the lugless case - it's a very thoughtful solution.
Design Details of CIGA Design Time Cipher
After attaching the strap, the first thing that catches the eye is the reasonable 11.8mm case thickness with a 45mm diameter. Thanks to its rounded shape reminiscent of a pebble, the watch appears more elegant than the numbers suggest, and it's comfortable to wear.
The round case is predominantly made of mirror-polished black metal, which emphasizes the elegance of the design. On the right side is a winding mechanism with a diameter of 6.5mm, and at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock positions, there are shallow matte sandblasted recesses adding volume and detail. It's an interesting case and a great foundation for the entire dial.
The slightly convex sapphire glass protects the Super Black dial, which absorbs 99.3% of light, similar to the famous Vantablack dials. This creates a magnificent backdrop for the large arrow-shaped indicator that rotates around the dial, pointing to the minutes on the CNC-raised minutes. At the end of the large minute hand is a rotating disc that shows the hours via the central indicator.
One glance at the dial is enough to understand why CIGA Design's designers chose a 45mm case diameter. They needed enough space for the watch to be easily readable on the rotating disc. Reading time is not a problem, as all elements are sufficiently large.
Wearing the Watch and Reading Time
When reading time, it's worth getting used to the fact that the 'wandering hour' disc rotates counterclockwise. It took me about three attempts to get used to this way of displaying time. After that, the process became natural and comfortable throughout the use of the Time Cipher. The more time I spent with the watch, the more I liked this unusual and original way of indicating time.
Moreover, CIGA designers ensured readability in the dark: the base and tip of the arrow indicator are coated with lume for minutes and hours. The hour numbers on the rotating disc are also equipped with bright green lume. All luminescent elements glow a bright green color in the dark. Here, it becomes noticeable that the hour and minute indicators look like an arrow piercing the hour disc.
Caliber CD-08: Technical Features
This horological magic is powered by the new caliber CD-08, based on the Miyota 9015. The automatic movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, contains 24 jewels, and provides a power reserve of 42 hours. Before receiving the CD-08 designation, the CIGA Design team significantly reworked the base movement. Most of the development time was spent creating a robust structure to support the unique 'wandering hour' mechanism and ensure stable operation. This explains the complex structure of the dial.
The massive construction allowed designers to add detailed finishing. The mostly skeletonized minute hand is adorned with polished bevels and even a Côte de Genève pattern. The open hour disc is predominantly satin-finished but has several polished accents for visual brilliance. Finally, the counterweight balancing the axis has a micro-blasted finish, adding elegance to the arrow design. In the end, despite its apparent restraint, the Time Cipher showcases a range of complex details that significantly enhance its visual impact.
Final Impressions of CIGA Design Time Cipher
Overall, I was impressed with the new CIGA Design Time Cipher watch. It's a conceptually thought-out watch with a smart design and excellent execution. I found it interesting and enjoyable to wear for several days. Despite its impressive size, the Time Cipher is comfortable on the wrist. The thin profile and very comfortable strap make wearing pleasant, and the watch easily tucks under a cuff. Obviously, this is not a model for small wrists, but none of CIGA Design's models are intended for them.
The brand's large-sized products help implement interesting concepts. The way the CIGA Design team handled this in the new Time Cipher deserves respect. Even better, these watches can be purchased for $899 on the brand's official website. In my opinion, this is a very reasonable price.
Especially noteworthy considering the conceptual and technical work invested in creating the CIGA Design Time Cipher. It's one of the most exciting hands-on watch experiences lately, so well-deserved praise to CIGA Design for another striking release in the ever-evolving world of watchmaking.