Not too long ago, a beautiful box, about the size of a small book, landed on my desk. Its front cover artwork depicted a globe in beautiful relief, surrounded by two rings with numerals. This is the imaginative packaging of the CIGA Design Blue Planet, the watch that won last year’s Challenge Category of the GPHG, making history the first Chinese watch to do so. It triumphed over the other ambitious competition, including Anordain’s impressive Model 1, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five, and the Massena Lab Uni-Racer. 

Back to the Box 

The packaging highlights both the beauty and the fragility of the Earth, intentionally chosen for the message CIGA Design seeks to communicate with Blue Planet. On the wrist, the watch is a constant reminder to do good to Mother Nature, as the illustrations inside the packaging show the effects of global warming and the possible results of the rising sea level. A few pages further, we find the watch itself, presented on a blue strap made from food-grade silicon, which attaches smoothly in seconds thanks to quick-release spring bars. A short instruction on how to use and read the watch compose the final chapter.
The Truth About Chinese Watchmaking

There was a time when the work of craftspeople from China was held in high regard around the world. Nowadays, people associate the Middle Kingdom more with mass production and ‘hommage’ watches. Even still, Chinese producers are an essential partner for many ...