CIGA Design is the cream of the crop when it comes to Chinese Watchmaking, and its newest release, the X Series Eye of Horus, perfectly embodies what the company can offer. With a very quirky design inspired by Ancient Egyptian mythology, the use of bioceramic material, and a price tag of under $200, this timepiece has all the ingredients to turn some heads in the community.
At a Glance
- Case Size– 48mm
- Case Material– Bioceramic.
- Bracelet Material– Silicone.
- Movement– CD-01 in-house automatic movement.
- Functionality– Hours, Minutes, and Triangular Seconds hand.
- Price– $199 (Super Early Bird Price).
- Availability– Available through the Indiegogo Website.
Very Unique Design
The most intriguing feature of CIGA Design’s latest timepiece is that back-to-front skeleton dial. Skeleton dials are pretty unheard of at this price point, and it looks surprisingly good. Granted, there is a lot going on, and it can be hard to figure out where the hands are and what the time actually is. Nevertheless, there’s always a kind of beauty within the chaos of skeleton designs, which CIGA has absolutely nailed.
At the center of the case sits a very unique triangular seconds hand, complete with an engraving of the Eye of Horus. According to CIGA Design, the symbol “represents revitalizing power, healing, strength, and luck.” Having a massive eye slap bang in the middle of your watch won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it is admittedly very satisfying to watch it spin round and round as the minutes go by.
All of this is housed in a square case, which is yet another design feature that you don’t see on watches at this price point. What’s more, the case back is entirely transparent, allowing you to see every intricate detail of the movement from both sides.
Another interesting feature is that the entire case is made from a bioceramic material, which instantly brings to mind another budget watch- the Moonswatch. Understandably, the Moonswatch received a lot of criticism for using this material, as many thought it felt way too cheap, and made the watch feel more like a toy. However, if you set the right expectations, and don’t assume that you’re getting Omega-level quality for a couple hundred bucks, the use of this material isn’t an issue. In fact, it actually suits the watch pretty well, giving it a bit of a G-Shock feel.
In-House CD-01 Movement
The Eye of Horus also makes use of CIGA Design’s in-house CD-01 movement. This uses 21 jewels, beats at 3Hz, and has a power reserve of just 40 hours. Accuracy isn’t exactly mind-blowing either at -15/+30 seconds a day. However, for the price, the mere use of an automatic movement is impressive in itself, so some leniency should definitely be given here.
Price and Availability
Interestingly, the Eye of Horus is being sold via a Kickstarter-type funding platform called Indiegogo. This means that there’s no ‘availability’ per se, but you will only be able to pre-order one until the 20th of December 2023.
Each watch costs $199 USD, which is very good value for money, considering that you’re getting an automatic movement with a Skeleton dial. You’d be lucky to find anything from Seiko, Orient, or even cheaper brands like Kenneth Cole for the money. Even the bioceramic Moonswatch costs about $60 USD more than the Eye of Horus, and it uses a quartz movement.
The only downside is that you will have to wait until February 2024 to receive your watch. But, as they say, good (and cheap) things come to those who wait!
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the CIGA Design X Series Eye of Horus watch represents incredibly good value for money and showcases just what China can bring to the industry. Sure, the design definitely isn’t for everyone. But, if you’re looking for a timepiece under the $200 mark, that will attract as much attention as a $10,000 watch, the Eye of Horus might just be what you’ve been searching for.
For more information visit the official Ciga Design website here.
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