CIGA Design Watches

CIGA Design Watches

CIGA Design is doing what most brands claim to do: pushing boundaries, winning design awards, and making people take a second look at Chinese watchmaking

— for the right reasons.

You’re not buying heritage here. You’re buying cutting-edge design, transparent mechanics, and bold architecture — at prices that barely make sense.

A Little History

CIGA Design was founded in 2013 by Chinese industrial designer Zhang Jianmin, with a clear mission: make affordable, original mechanical watches that stand out for their design

not just their specs.

From day one, the focus has been on architecture, transparency, and mechanical storytelling — often through skeletonized dials, unusual cases, and minimalist materials.

No homage watches. No lazy copies. Just fresh ideas.

And it worked. CIGA became the first Chinese brand to win multiple iF and Red Dot Design Awards, and in 2021, they took home the Challenge

Prize at the GPHG (Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève) — a massive moment for Chinese horology.

What Collectors Love

CIGA Design watches are pure design-first mechanicals — and they wear like modern art for the wrist.

Fan favorites include:

  • Series U Blue Planet — the GPHG winner. A rotating globe with a satellite hour hand that tracks time along a micro-engraved map. Wildly cool.

  • Series Z — skeletonized automatic in a case that looks like a cross between Hublot and sci-fi armor. Big wrist presence, killer value.

  • Series X — symmetrical openwork design with floating indices and minimal branding.

  • Titanium/ceramic editions — ultralight, ultra-modern, often under $500.

Movements are mostly Chinese-made autos, some based on Sea-Gull or proprietary designs. They’re not haute horology, but they’re consistent, shock-resistant, and serviceable.

Why CIGA Design Is Actually Worth Your Time

Because they’re the rare design-focused brand that delivers on substance.

Most fashion-forward watches are quartz or gimmicky. CIGA builds real mechanical pieces — with automatic movements, sapphire crystals, and carefully sculpted cases

— at prices that feel like a glitch in the system.

And the fact that they’re doing it from China, with original design language, is a huge deal. This isn’t a clone brand. It’s a homegrown design house 

proving that watchmaking innovation isn’t limited to Switzerland, Germany, or Japan.

What’s Out There Now

CIGA produces watches across several core collections:

  • Series U (Blue Planet) — their most iconic, and the most awarded

  • Series Z / X / X-Mirror — modern skeletons in square or tonneau-style cases

  • Series C — minimalist Bauhaus-influenced dress watches

  • Titanium and Ceramic Limited Editions — for ultra-light or techwear-style fans

Most pieces are under $500, with Blue Planet editions running a bit higher due to complexity and limited runs.

Pre-owned values are stable, but the main value is in the experience: getting a watch that looks like $5K for well under $1K — and isn’t trying to copy anything.

Fed’s Take

I’ll admit — CIGA surprised me.

The first time I handled a Blue Planet, I expected a toy. What I got was serious design, sharp casework, and a watch that made people ask, “What the hell is that?”

That’s a win in my book.

No, it’s not haute horology. But if you’re into design, architecture, or just want a skeletonized mechanical that doesn’t feel like a ripoff of something else? CIGA is the real deal.

And for under $400? You almost feel guilty not trying one.

Check Out Our CIGA Design Inventory

Delray Watch is always on the lookout for unique CIGA Design watches — especially Blue Planet, Series Z, and Series X models.

If you have a CIGA Design watch you’re ready to sell or trade – reach out. We’re always buying.

To be the first to know when new CIGA watches are available subscribe for insider access here.