Introducing CIGA Design Unveils the Time Cipher

There is a growing current within contemporary watchmaking that places industrial design on equal footing with mechanical tradition. CIGA Design stands firmly within this movement. Founded with a focus on form as a functional language, the Beijing-based manufacture has built its reputation around watches that treat the dial as an architectural surface and the movement as a visible participant in the visual identity of each piece.

With its latest release, the brand introduces the Time Cipher. It does not attempt to reinterpret heritage forms, nor does it lean on nostalgia. Instead, it proposes a different way of experiencing mechanical time through a display that unfolds gradually across the dial, placing motion at the centre of the visual composition.

The watch is housed in a round stainless steel case whose architecture introduces depth and is topped by a domed sapphire crystal that enhances the dimensionality of the dial. The case measures 45 mm in diameter and 11.8 mm in thickness and is crafted from 316L stainless steel. A sapphire exhibition caseback reveals the movement within and contributes to a water-resistance rating of 50 meters.

The dial is finished in deep black using a high-absorption coating that visually minimizes the base surface and allows the moving components to appear suspended in space. Around the outer edge, raised polished markers define the minute scale and serve as reference points against the dark background. Time is displayed through a central rotating minute pointer that traces the perimeter, while an openworked hour disc advances beneath it. The applied markers and the numerals on the hour disc are filled with Super-LumiNova, ensuring legibility in low-light conditions.

Powering the watch is the CD-08 calibre, a customised automatic movement developed on a Miyota 9000-series base. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz) and delivers a power reserve of 42 hours. The watch is paired with a black fluororubber strap secured by a deployant clasp. It joins the permanent collection at a price of USD 899, approximately AED 3,350.

For more information, visit CIGA Design’s official website.