CIGA Design has created a watch that tells a remarkable mountaineering story in motion. The Everest China 65th Anniversary is the brand’s first automaton timepiece, combining a piece of genuine Mount Everest bedrock with a miniature mechanical scene depicting one of the defining moments of the first Chinese ascent of the mountain.
The watch commemorates the 1960 expedition that reached Everest through the North Ridge. At the treacherous Second Step, around 8,700 meters above sea level, climber Liu Lianman repeatedly attempted to overcome the obstacle before deciding to help his teammates by becoming a human foothold. Three members of the expedition eventually reached the summit the following morning.
CIGA Design has recreated that moment directly on the dial. A tiny climber slowly makes his way upward while another figure supports him from below, turning the dial into a miniature mechanical scene. The automaton activates at noon and midnight, completing its ascent in around five minutes before returning to its starting position for the next cycle.
The dial itself is made from genuine Everest bedrock collected near the mountain’s foothills. Because the stone is brittle and difficult to work with, each piece requires an extensive manufacturing process involving cutting, laser shaping, and CNC engraving. CIGA Design says the process takes around 30 days, meaning every dial retains its own natural texture and variations.
The watch is housed in a 45mm Grade 5 titanium case measuring 13.6mm thick. Instead of conventional hour markers, engraved notches around the case indicate the hours. The skeletonized hands are shaped like mountaineering ice axes and use Swiss Super-LumiNova for visibility in low light.
Powering the automaton is CIGA Design’s self-developed CD-10 automatic movement. It operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour, uses 21 jewels, and provides a 42-hour power reserve. The movement is visible through the sapphire caseback, where the words attributed to Liu Lianman during the climb are engraved as another connection to the story.
The climbing theme continues onto the black fluororubber strap. The North Ridge route is embossed into the material, tracing the journey from approximately 5,200 meters to Everest’s 8,848.86-meter summit. CIGA Design also says that a mountaineer and longtime friend of the brand wore a one-off version of the watch while reaching the summit via the North Ridge in May 2025, completing an unusual connection between the original expedition and the modern timepiece.
The Everest China 65th Anniversary is priced at $1,699, although CIGA Design’s current international store lists it at $2,059. The watch is water resistant to 50 meters and comes with a hidden 316L steel clasp.
Rather than simply placing an Everest logo on a conventional watch, CIGA Design has built the entire object around the mountain and the people who climbed it. The rock becomes the dial, the climbing route becomes the strap, the ice axes become the hands, and the ascent itself becomes a mechanical animation. The result is less a conventional commemorative watch than a miniature piece of mountaineering history that happens to keep time. Also don’t forget to check our list of the best black watches for men.
