When was the last time you saw a genuinely novel, genuinely innovative watch design? It happens far less frequently than marketers would have us believe, but in the CIGA Design Blue Planet, we’ve found the real deal.
The striking design, as horologically interesting as it is visually arresting, is racking up awards at exclusive ceremonies. It comes with a timely environmental message and, at a price point that’s dramatically lower than other coveted watches. It’s one of those rare beasts: a new watch that’s actually worth the hype.
Plus, FashionBeans readers are invited to take an exclusive Black Friday 20% discount on both CIGA Design and Amazon (no code needed) from November 18th to December 4th, 2022.
Ready to find out why the Blue Plant is making our wrists itchy? Keep reading to learn more.
Bold Design, Big Ideas
A cursory glance will tell you that the Blue Planet is not a conventional wristwatch. The dial is a domed reconstruction of the Earth: an astonishingly detailed engraving of land and sea, where the radiant blue of the ocean pops against a three-dimensional relief that takes in Madagascar, Antarctica and Southeast Asia.
It’s as accurate as it is enchanting and, at 46mm (available in steel and titanium), this is a big watch that demands your attention. And for good reason, too. Inspired by the ever-worsening climate crisis, the Blue Planet doesn’t just tell the time – it reminds us all that it’s time for action.
That said, you’d be forgiven for wondering how this uniquely designed watch actually displays the time. It’s a good question, with an even better answer.
A Wonder of Watch-Making
You may have noticed that the Blue Planet doesn’t have conventional hands on its magical dial. There is, however, a compass rose – the kind you’d see on nautical maps. This is the key and where things get really interesting.
The compass rotates around the dial, bobbing, it seems, around the Indian Ocean. Follow the compass to two rings that encircle the dial and that’s where you’ll find the digits that tell you the time.
The outer ring tells you the hour, the inner ring tells you the minutes. It’s tempting to think of it as a cute curiosity, but it’s more than that. The design is an ingenious, intuitive way to tell the time – thanks to the minute ring rotating an additional 30º each hour so the compass always points you directly to the digits.
That makes the Blue Planet a bona fide disruptor in a sector that doesn’t always embrace innovation – something that asks us to reconsider what a mechanical watch can be. No wonder it’s picked up 17 international design awards and counting.
Horological Honors
Chief amongst CIGA Design’s growing list of plaudits is a prize at the coveted Grand Prix d’Horlogie de Genève (GPHG) in 2021. Often described as the Oscars of the watch world, CIGA is the first Chinese watchmaker to ever win at the GPHG, blowing away a certain snobbishness about Chinese watches that had lingered in the industry for too long.
And the jury was impressed by more than just that striking dial design. Under the hood, the Blue Planet boasts a new kind of dial that enables the watch’s novel way of displaying the time. Throw in a 40-hour power reserve and a screw-down crown that offers 30m water resistance and it’s clear that serious watchmaking underpins the inventive, whimsical design.
The GPHG academy has even donated a Blue Planet to Geneva’s Musée D’Art Et D’Histoire, where it will sit alongside other icons of the watch world.
A Special Edition
If you’re tempted to invest, it’s worth knowing that a special edition Blue Planet is coming very soon. Bolstering its green credentials, CIGA Design has teamed up with EarthDay.org to launch the Blue Planet x World Earth Day.
The special edition features a titanium alloy case made from recycled metal, while a new strap and commemorative note are written on the dial. Buyers also receive a necklace with a matching globe and the chance to subscribe to an EarthDay.org membership. Plus, CIGA Design will donate $30 to the organization for every watch sold.
The Details
The CIGA Design Blue Planet is available in steel ($899) and titanium ($1099). The Blue Planet Earth Day Edition is available for $1398. FashionBeans readers now can enjoy a 20% Black Friday sales discount at the CIGA Design website or on Amazon directly without using a coupon code.
The Final Verdict
The word “novelty” is thrown around a lot in the watch world, but genuine innovation and new ideas are hard to come by. CIGA Design’s Blue Planet is more than just an eye-catching design, it’s a creative and thought-provoking piece available at a bargain price.
Keep reading: Ciga Watch Review: A Closer Look At The Future Of Chinese Watchmaking
Kelly Larson 
Rachel Cascella 
Sharn Rayment