Ciga Design Series U Blue Planet – Unique Watches Review

I have a soft spot for microbrands. Even though established companies deliver some fine timepieces, microbrands often come up with unique watches. Popular manufacturers who have been in the market for quite some time tend to fall into a routine. They know what a timepiece should look like and what it should do, so that’s what they offer to the public.

Because of this, the majority of automatic watches tend to share similar designs. Unless you’re an avid watch enthusiast, you may find it hard to spot any differences in these timepieces. No matter how you see it, huge companies don’t often color outside the lines.

On the other hand, microbrands are notorious for their novelty and daring designs. Ciga Design stands out in particular. Since its foundation in 2012, the brand has become famous for their authentic and unorthodox watches. Take for example their Z-series, where everything is basically fully skeletonized.

Out of all their timepieces, the Blue Planet Watch is probably the most peculiar as it doesn’t have any hands. Once you get the gist of how it works, you’ll agree that it is one of the most attractive and eye-catching watches in the market. 

A Special Dial Inspired by The Earth

One of the features that makes this watch special is the dial, which doesn’t resemble a normal watch dial at all. At first glance, many people think this watch is a simple decorative item. However, once you inspect it up close things start to make sense.

The main part of the dial is made of a globe, which focuses on the Indian ocean. In order to mimic the shape of the Earth, the dial is slightly domed. The ocean has a deep, vibrant blue color and the shapes of the land are in silver. Different textures are used to illustrate the mountain ranges. What makes it look like a compass is the compass rose placed between Antarctica and Madagascar. This is the watch’s single indicator of the current time. With this indicator you will see both the hours and the minutes.

In order to accomplish this, Ciga Designs utilizes two sets of indexes. The first index is positioned just inside the bezel and features white markings on a white background. This index indicates the hours and uses Arabic numerals to designate each hour. Fine hashes are used to mark the five-minute positions, while longer lashes are used for the 15-minute positions. Finer hashes are used for the one-minute positions as well.

The hour index is fixed and the indicator is what points to the time. The minute index rotates in the counterclockwise direction, which allows that the current minute mark will always be at the front of the pointer.

A Fine and Elegant Case

The diameter of the case measures to 46mm, which makes this watch perfect for people with wider wrists. The edges are curved and the bezel is flat with the rest of the case. There are no lugs and the strap is secured to a pin inside the body of the watch. The crown is placed at the 3 o’clock position and it is a screw-down type, easy to grip and it doesn’t protrude a lot from the case.

Sapphire crystal is used for the lens. It is quite curved at the top, which completes the oval look of this timepiece. This element makes the watch even more three-dimensional. There are two options available: one made of titanium and one from stainless steel. The titanium is a bit more pricey, however, it is quite lighter on the wrist. The stainless steel version feels a bit heavier on the wrist since its weight measures at 3.37 ounces. Both variants come with a water resistance of 30m. 

The Movement and strap

This gorgeous and unique timepiece comes with its own movement. We didn’t expect anything less, considering the special features of this watch. Its performance is quite satisfactory. The movement is equipped with 30 jewels and it is rated for -15±30 seconds per day. It can’t compete with chrono timepieces, however, its accuracy is sufficient for a watch that serves its primary function as a fashion piece.

The strap comes in a deep and vibrant blue color which resembles the sea and perfectly matches the dial. The band is made from fluorine rubber which makes it flexible and very comfy on the wrist. The lug to lug measurement would make it difficult to replace the strap if you needed to, but I see no reason why you would. Ciga Design states that the watch case is very eco friendly.