Introducing The New CIGA Design Blue Planet II Black Star

CIGA Design is a Chinese brand founded in 2016, with a mission to offer watches that combine advanced mechanical artistry with accessible pricing. The brand first gained international acclaim with the Blue Planet, which won the Challenge Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2021, making history as the first Chinese watch to do so. This year, CIGA Design teams up with Swiss customization studio Label Noir to release the Blue Planet II Black Star.

This new release features a Grade 2 titanium case measuring 46mm in diameter and 15.6mm in thickness, coated in black DLC. Its UFO-like silhouette, enhanced by hidden lugs and a domed crystal, reinforces the watch’s otherworldly theme. The crown is kept minimal at 6mm and is traditionally positioned at 3 o’clock. Flipping the watch over reveals a titanium screw-in display caseback, offering a view of the mechanical movement and ensuring 30 meters of water resistance.

Instead of the Earth motif seen on previous Blue Planet models, the Black Star ventures into deep space. The single-piece domed dial houses a concave center, 8.5mm deep, coated in Super Black, a pigment that absorbs 99.6% of visible light. Surrounding this void is a swirl of galaxies and stars, punctuated by a luminous polar star that acts as the sole time-telling hand. Both the hour and minute rings are luminous and rotate, allowing for intuitive time reading in complete darkness.

This mechanism is made possible by the brand’s Asynchronous Follow Technology. As the hour ring rotates by 30°, the minute ring completes a full 390° rotation, keeping the minute indicator aligned with the luminous star. It’s a poetic blend of design and engineering that elevates the watch beyond typical single-hand complications.

Powering the watch is the Swiss-made CD-04-S automatic movement, operating at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4Hz) with a 41-hour power reserve. It is paired with a 22mm black fluororubber strap, secured by a DLC-coated folding clasp. The Blue Planet II Black Star joins the brand’s permanent collection and is priced at $1,980, approximately AED 7,300.

For more information, visit the official website of CIGA Design.