When CIGA Design first released the Everest Central Tourbillon, it caught plenty of us off guard. Here was a young Chinese brand taking on one of horology’s most challenging mechanisms while doing it in a watch that actually felt emotionally grounded. Brad’s hands-on review from last year summed it up nicely: this was a watch that didn’t just look good in photos but also had a story worth telling.
Now, for 2025, CIGA Design returns with the new Everest Summit Central Tourbillon, quietly refining what was already one of its most ambitious creations to date. I saw the watch in hand at the recent Windup Watch Fair in New York, and it’s an impressive watch to hold and wear. The 45mm Grade 5 titanium case is not small by any means, but the relatively slim 11.65mm thickness helps settle that down a little while wearing it.
Small changes, big difference
This new edition doesn’t claim to tear up the rulebook or any other classic marketing guff. Instead, it feels like CIGA Design has spent the past year quietly listening to feedback and improving the little details that matter most. The first thing you notice is the cleaner appearance. Gone is the “CIGA DESIGN” inscription at 6 o’clock on the bezel, which always divided opinion. The result is a much calmer visual flow that lets the stone-textured dial take center stage. Sadly, the inscription has moved to the side of the case now instead. I mean, it’s not a deal-breaker, but I prefer cases not to have brand-name engravings (try telling that to Blancpain…).
The signature ice-axe-shaped hands have also evolved. They are now openworked and, crucially, have a touch of Super-LumiNova for better nighttime legibility. This might sound like a small thing, but it’ll make a big difference when you actually wear it. The new rubber strap completes the update. Instead of integrating directly into the mid-case as before, it now connects via conventional lugs. That might sound less avant-garde, but it gives the watch a more traditional and versatile look, making strap changes easier and improving overall comfort. Not everyone is so fond of a hockey-puck-style watch.
The beating heart of the climb
While the exterior now feels more refined, the inside remains unapologetically complex. Beneath the sapphire crystal lies the same caliber CD-05. This is an in-house-developed movement with a central tourbillon and remains one of the most impressive achievements in CIGA Design’s catalog. It features four mainsprings, offering a 120-hour power reserve. Watching the tourbillon spin (once per minute) at the center of the dial still feels hypnotic. There’s a reason collectors are always drawn to tourbillons, and it’s not for their supposed timekeeping improvements…
The press release attempts to draw a line between the steady rotation of the tourbillon and the measured steps of climbers ascending Everest. It’s a poetic stretch, perhaps, but at least it shows the creative team is still thinking about how to give the movement emotional meaning.
Built from the mountain itself
Much of what gives the Everest Summit its visual presence is the dial. Each one is crafted from fragments of rock collected at the foothills of Mount Everest by CIGA Design’s chief designer, Jiang Xin. The stone is cut, shaped, and finished over the course of 30 days, retaining its raw texture while revealing depth and contrast under light. The luminous relief of the mountain range on the dial glows faintly in the dark, resembling dawn breaking over the summit.
The symbolism runs deep. CIGA’s messaging references Hillary and Norgay’s 1953 expedition, framing the watch as a reminder that “courage and perseverance remain timeless virtues.” Normally, that kind of storytelling could feel overly romantic, but in this case, it’s earned. The watch looks and feels like something built to celebrate human endurance.
Accessible complexity with honest ambition
At US$2,699, the Everest Summit Central Tourbillon is one of the most accessible tourbillons on the market, which is even more impressive considering it’s a central tourbillon. Purists will debate whether accessibility undermines exclusivity, but that conversation misses the point. CIGA Design has never positioned itself as a brand chasing Swiss tradition. Instead, it’s carving a lane of its own with modern, design-driven watches while remaining proud of its Chinese roots.
A brand still finding higher ground
CIGA Design has matured quickly over the past few years. Its recognition at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2021 signaled to many that this wasn’t another Kickstarter brand chasing novelty. The Everest Summit proves that momentum is still building. There’s confidence here, yes, but also humility. Rather than releasing another all-new concept, CIGA has taken one of its most successful designs and evolved it through careful, considered changes.
As someone who has handled numerous tourbillons that cost 5–10 times as much, I find CIGA’s approach refreshing. There’s no pretense about it. The brand is not trying to compete with Greubel Forsey or H. Moser. It’s trying to give enthusiasts a way to experience the wonder of a central tourbillon without spending a fortune. And in doing so, CIGA Design invites a broader audience into the most complex territory of mechanical watchmaking.
The updated Everest is proof that progress doesn’t need fanfare
The Everest Summit Central Tourbillon feels like a natural evolution rather than a redesign. It takes what already worked (the movement, the concept, the visual identity) and smooths the edges. The improved strap and luminous hands make it easier to live with, while the dial’s purity and lack of branding give it a calmer, more confident aesthetic.
If you liked the original, you’ll appreciate this even more. If you missed it the first time, this version is the one to buy. It’s proof that CIGA Design understands how to grow without losing its sense of adventure. Just as Sir Edmund Hillary said, “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” That sentiment still feels fitting for both the climbers who inspired the watch and for a brand that continues to climb toward new creative heights. You can find out more on the official CIGA Design website.
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