A $400 skeleton to rival the Swiss? CIGA Design X Series Gorilla

Chinese watch brand CIGA Design beat a raft of Swiss brands in 2021 by winning a coveted GPHG award. A few years on and is Chinese watchmaking able to compete with the Swiss watch industry?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments! You can also join in with the conversation and post your wristshots on the Escapement24 Discord server here / discord
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[@watcheswithabdullah]

The cool thing about CIGA is that they're not afraid to take risks. Which means that not every watch will be a huge hit. But they will have new ideas, and those ideas will evolve. And hopefully, we'll see a lot more brilliant stuff from them in the future. Speaking of skeleton dials, their M-Series Magician is just awesome!

[@Escapement24]

💯 agree...and I think with some small improvements they will be a force to be reckoned with in 3-5 years

[@Chenxi_love_music_fairy]

400 price tag is very affordable. This is another fun and casual watch for watch collectors.

[@omadayusjones6414]

Great commentary about where watch parts are manufactured. Thanks for this perspective. Love the Ciga design language.

[@lakota_stu]

I think they should have made the hands contrast better against the rest of the watch as they don't stand out enough for me.

[@Escapement24]

Often an issue on skeletonised watches

[@mrgee007]

Great vid Simon, what a lot of watch for the money, a lot better than the plastic Swatch releases, in the fact that it will last. Yeah, the need to make this a tad smaller, but what a great watch brand! Someone to look out for in the near future....

[@markianwoodbury]

I think that if you are going to take CIGA Too seriously you will miss the point of their watches. I have the Gorilla in plane Titanium with blue accents and I have to say - it's a lot of fun to wear. I have all sorts of brilliant swiss and Japanese watches - but this one is just so unusual and bold that It makes a great statement when being worn. You can personalize it with many straps - I bought both and orange and blue one. I think they look awesome on the watch.

[@tuck1760]

totally agree with your criticisms. i would seriously consider this watch if it was smaller and didn't have that gorilla logo.

[@Escapement24]

It's frustratingly close to being brilliant, but I think it shows that CIGA Design has the potential to produce some seriously good watches

[@shaggy791]

I do like the look of this watch, and wouldn't mind owning it, but I do have some issues with it. First off let me say that I absolutely LOVE the completely visible innards of the watch. It is one of the most visible that I have seen. Now, onto the issues. Although I do love the square design, and even the industrial look, the watch is a tad too large in my honest opinion. But I think my MAIN issue with it is that there are no visible number markers to tell the time. What good is owning a watch if you have to guesstimate the time when you look at it? Pair that with no lume for number markers, and this one is kind of a hard sell in my opinion. Had it had some sort of number indication, I would have scooped this up in a flash! Ok Ciga, can we get a redesign with some numbers or at least number markers or indentations? :)

[@thegorn]

Boderry also make a skeletonised watch like this. Check that one out. EDIT: It's called the Boderry Storm.

[@SoCalWatchReviews]

I’m here to support my brother Simon ❤️

[@Escapement24]

Thanks Miguel, appreciate your support as always brother 🙏🙏🙏

[@chrisjones6439]

@@Escapement24 I never get called that 😂😂 Quite jealous now 😂😂

[@Escapement24]

You're more like my Dad Chris 🤣🤣🤣

[@chrisjones6439]

@@Escapement24 😂😂😂 Coming from you I'm just glad you said Dad 😂😂 Great vid as always dude

[@Escapement24]

Cheers buddy....sorry, brother 🙏🙏🙏🤣

[@CanalUnoMx]

Kinda looks like that new Hublot Square Bang! 🤔

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Skeleton watches are fun. I have a zeroo I bought for $350 and it’s one of my favorites. The one complaint I have is they don’t produce contrasting color hands. The cases and case backs, the beautifully presented movements and I can’t tell the god damn time because the hands match the movement. Wtf. They have to see or not see the same thing I see. Great review. Won’t buy because of this.

[@Escapement24]

Thanks buddy 🙏 Legibility is often an issue with skeleton dials, even with the big brands. My brother has the Omega Speedometer Apollo 8 and never wears it because he can't read the time easily.

[@shaggy791]

Wow! Where were you able to score a Zeroo for only $350? Man, I'd love to get a deal like that.

[@stevehilliard202]

Not sure on that watch but the z edge series looks more to my taste. Any views on that ??

[@Escapement24]

I haven't yet had the chance to get hands on with that one so reserving judgement, but the case proportions look a little more sensible and I'd bet it's built as well as the other models I have reviewed

[@michaelfierman3256]

Well I have to say I FAR prefer this to the globe watches they hatched in the last couple of years. In fact until you showed me that atrocious gorilla I was thinking that it;'s a pretty cool watch...and it is to be fair. But wearing a barn door isn't in my wheel house unfortunately. So ...How's the lume? i would have loved a lume shot.

[@Escapement24]

The lume looks pretty cool...for about 5 seconds before it fades 😕

[@michaelfierman3256]

Well the main point is that they keep improving their designs; at least that's how I see it. @@Escapement24

[@andrewwade6597]

I love it. Its bonkers.

[@Escapement24]

Cheers Andy it certainly is!

[@NgamissCleo]

What up my Ciga!

[@johnrbh]

No thank you, IMO it is hideous