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Founded in 2016 by industrial designer Zhang Jianmin, CIGA Design emerged as a force in Chinese horology, aiming to redefine mechanical watchmaking through original design and artistic expression. Their Artist Collection embody this vision, approaching watchmaking as a discipline deeply connected to art and cultural expression. Each model within this series is conceived not merely as a functional timepiece but as a medium through which symbolism, history, and emotion are conveyed. Drawing inspiration from mythology, environmental awareness, and traditional Eastern aesthetics, these watches offer more than time-telling—they aim to initiate a dialogue between the wearer and the world around them.
Design Language And Iterations
Among the defining pieces of the Artist Collections is the Legend of Serpent. Reimagining the serpent as a modern symbol rooted in ancient mythology, the design draws on the motif’s longstanding associations with rebirth, healing, and the cycle of life. The Blue Planet series stands as a defining pillar within CIGA Design’s Artist Collections, beginning with the original Blue Planet, which won the Challenge Watch Prize at the GPHG, Genève in 2021. It featured a micro-engraved Earth dial and a single-hand display reflecting the planet’s rotation. The Blue Planet Gilded Age followed, combining gold accents with environmental symbolism, while Blue Planet II drew inspiration from the ancient Silk Road, deepening the series’ cultural and ecological narrative.
Further pushing creative boundaries, CIGA Design introduced the world’s first Mount Everest-themed central tourbillon. The central tourbillon, placed at the heart of the dial, mirrors the grandeur and isolation of Mount Everest, combining technical excellence with symbolic depth. The Year of the Dragon tourbillon continues the brand’s exploration of mythology, focusing on the Eastern dragon. A golden titanium sculpture of the dragon animates the dial and represents power, prosperity, and resilience, aligning cultural significance with mechanical sophistication. Lastly, the Ice Age brings a minimalist, nature-inspired design into focus. Targeted specifically towards women, it features glacier-inspired aesthetics, a ceramic case, and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. With refined detailing and ergonomic design, it reflects the evolution of the Blue Planet concept in a feminine direction.