CIGA Design × Label Noir Black Star

In 2021, CIGA Design's Blue Planet became the first Chinese watch to win at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève—watchmaking's Oscars. Instead of resting on that achievement, they partnered with Swiss customisation studio Label Noir to create this: a watch inspired by black holes rather than planets. The Black Star swaps the rotating Earth for something darker and more conceptual.

The centrepiece is an 8.5mm concave pit coated in Super Black pigment that absorbs 99.6% of visible light. Surrounding this void, a CMYK-printed galaxy spirals outward in blue and white. Time is shown through CIGA's Asynchronous-Follow Technology: the hour disc rotates 30 degrees whilst the minute ring spins 390 degrees. A luminous polar star hand points to both. When the hand aligns with an hour marker, the minute track always reads "00." It's unconventional but surprisingly intuitive once understood.

Forty-six millimetres sounds massive, but integrated lugs keep the lug-to-lug measurement identical to the diameter. Grade 2 titanium with black DLC coating keeps weight manageable—lighter than you'd expect from something this substantial. The 15.6mm thickness creates a UFO-like profile, emphasised by the domed sapphire crystal. Thirty metres water resistance. Display caseback showing the Swiss-made CD-04-S automatic movement: 28,800 vph, 41-hour power reserve, 26 jewels. Accuracy rated +15/-30 seconds daily.

The dial required six hours of CNC machining with 0.07mm diamond-tipped tools to achieve nanometre precision. The Super Black coating creates genuine depth—looking into it feels like peering into space. Label Noir's influence shows in the monochromatic aesthetic and the DLC-treated titanium. Black fluororubber strap with quick-release system.

CIGA Design doesn't pretend to be Swiss. They're Chinese, they're independent, and they make watches that prioritise concept over heritage. The Black Star won't appeal to traditionalists, but that's not the audience. This is for people who want their watch to provoke questions rather than signal affiliations. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.