I am one of those girls who does not like cut flowers and does not expect them from the man I love on every occasion or without. But I really love watches. And now you can give roses even to such pragmatic young ladies as me - CIGA Design Danish Rose.
When a watch is made by a designer
We are accustomed to considering Chinese technology as “bad”. But in recent years this perception has been changing. Chinese phones have long proven that they are no worse than Korean ones. The machines are showing this right now. Looks like it's time for the clock.
CIGA Design is a young Chinese watch company. While Swiss mass brands (from Tissot to Longines and Tag) focus on history and seasoned style, CIGA decided to play on design. They take an idea and express it through a watch (and sometimes even design a watch around the idea, following the example of independent watchmakers). It can take a lot of work (even manual labor), but the end result is a fantastic, recognizable design.
The founder of CIGA Desian, Zhang Jianming, is not a watchmaker at all, but a designer. Real, certified. He is known as one of the best industrial and graphic designers in China. In particular, he worked on navigation systems in cities before the Beijing Olympics and before the Shanghai Exhibition. One day he was invited to serve on the jury of the Chinese watch exhibition CWCF, and he got involved in the industry. Then in 2012 he created the company CIGA (China International Great Art) Design.
CIGA watches have received international design awards 16 times. The loudest of them is the victory in the Challenge category at the most famous watch competition in the world, the Swiss GPHG-2021. By the way, this is (so far) the only victory of Chinese watchmakers at GPHG. By the way, here is a review of this watch.
And here is the “space” watch Event Horizon, which in the language of design talks about a black hole.
“What's the name? A rose smells like a rose..."
I have in my hands a watch that embodies the story of Danish roses. The rose is the most famous flower in Denmark, just as the tulip is in the Netherlands. Here, for example, is the Queen of Denmark variety.
Now take a closer look at the watch called “Danish Rose”: the same multi-layer structure, where one petal peeks out from under the other, the same light tips of the petals above delicate mother-of-pearl.
The pattern on the dial seems to emerge from the plane into the three-dimensional real world, flowing into the outline of the case. It is made of three layers of steel with smooth, flower-like outlines - they also overlap each other in an offset manner, like the petals of a flower.
The same pattern is repeated on the back of the watch. Do you know where else? On the pendant! Yes, the watch comes with a pendant made in the same style. I think it's a brilliant idea to give flowers along with decorations. And needless to say, I have never seen anything like this in any other watch.
"Rose" in practice
The time is a little hard to read here: the light polished hands do not contrast enough with the light, pearl-white dial. The designers did not clutter the dial with minute markings, so only positions divisible by 15 minutes are read with absolute accuracy.
If your train leaves at 8:17, you arrive exactly 10 minutes in advance and keep track of the time using your wristwatch, you will have a hard time with Danish Rose. In more realistic life situations everything is fine. True, setting the exact time is inconvenient, because you have to wait 00, 15, 30 or 45 minutes. On the other hand, this is a quartz watch - you set the time once and adjust it only after six months/year.
The mechanism here is very simple - quartz Miyota GL36. Three hands, a stop second and... nothing else. The accuracy is normal for inexpensive quartz: the error is no more than plus or minus 20 seconds per month (according to other sources, up to 15 seconds, but in fact it will be at least twice/three times more accurate - I know from experience that Miyota’s accuracy is indicated with a margin). And since there are few functions, the SR 621 SW battery will last at least three years. But there is no warning function about insufficient charge, so you will have to monitor the replacement time yourself.
Water resistance of 30 meters - enough to wash your hands. Well, it’s better to swim or fall into the pool while wearing a different watch.
The glass, alas, is mineral, which upset me. I don't want this beauty to get scratched quickly! But still, one day it will happen. By the way, this also applies to the case: of all types of finishes, polishing scratches the fastest. But the Milanese bracelet, despite its elegance, will last a long time without losing its appearance. True, it will be difficult to replace with a belt - the bracelet has a non-standard design mount. I was pleased with how the bracelet clasp was made - comfortable and strong.
Holiday every day
The first time I wore this watch was at the opening of my project. I was wearing an elegant white pantsuit and the watch matched it perfectly. The second time I wore them under casual office clothes - and again everything was harmonious. Plus, the feeling that today I have a special occasion again never left me - the watch and pendant look so festive.
In general, if we evaluate the “Rose” as a watch, I will give it 7 out of 10 points: quite practical and suitable for real life. As an accessory - 11 out of 10! Well, as a gift for a girl aged 18 and older, it’s all 12 points: the box is large, aesthetically pleasing, tied with a bow. And inside there is a surprise in the form of a pendant. Don't know what to give to your daughter, sister, wife? Give CIGA Design Danish Rose. Guaranteed to impress!
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