Buyers hold great stock in the “Swiss Made” label because they believe their watch is entirely handcrafted in Switzerland. In reality, to meet this classification (as determined by the Swiss government), only 60% of the production cost needs to be Swiss-based. That’s why timepieces are made in other regions. A large bulk is manufactured in China, and incorrectly, this is associated with cheap, mass-produced goods. In 2021, Chinese brand CIGA Design rocked the watch industry by winning the coveted Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Their fantastic Blue Planet was awarded the GPHG Challenge Prize. Fast forward to 2026 and the company have just unveiled another stunning timepiece called the Vector.
Within the brand’s history, CIGA Design have been bestowed with 17 international awards — including the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, Red Dot and German Design Award. The company is the brainchild of Zhang Jianmin, who has an uncompromising approach to design. All their watches are meticulously considered and are described as ‘tangible art’. Certainly, I’m a huge fan of innovative design, and that’s why the Vector appealed to me.
Normally, you would be paying a large amount of money for a minimalist skeleton movement. Certainly, brands like Richard Mille and Hublot are perfect examples. However, CIGA Design have created a relatively affordable piece with a similar aesthetic. The Vector is a great-looking watch with a sophisticated architectural appearance. What makes this timepiece so special is the skeletonised dial with exposed gears and chamfered/micro blasted bridges. This is perfectly complemented by the engraved numerical bezel and open-worked hour/minute hands. Other features include a curvaceous slimline titanium and carbon case with a domed crystal. Overall, I believe the composition is effective and perfectly executed.
At the heart of the watch is a self-winding movement entirely developed in-house by CIGA Design. The Calibre CD-02X comprises 25 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. This exquisite mechanical marvel is showcased via the exhibition-style sapphire crystal case back. Functionally, the Vector features hours, minutes and seconds. The watch is also water resistant to a depth of 50 metres and has a power reserve of 38 hours. As a perfect finale, the timepiece is presented on a high-quality black rubber strap.
In my opinion, the Vector offers consumers good value for money and is well priced at $1,099. For more information about the watch and CIGA Design, follow this link.
