CIGA Design marks 65th anniversary of first successful Chinese Everest ascent
Andrew O'Connor- CIGA design celebrates the 65th anniversary of China’s first ascent of Mt. Everest via the North Ridge.
- The watch features an automaton of Liu Lianman’s “human ladder” that allowed his fellow climbers to successfully pass the “Second Step,” and continue onward to a successful summit.
- The CIGA design Mechanical Automaton Watch Everest China 65th Anniversary is priced at US $1,699.
CIGA design has grown in significant ways since its inception in 2016, accumulating design awards, and gaining more widespread watch enthusiast admiration with its 2021 GPHG award-winning Blue Planet model. The brand’s more recent Edge collection feels oddly more mainstream, catering to fans of modern skeletonised sport watches.
2026 marks the 10th anniversary for the brand, and it appears that CIGA design is not slowing down. Looking to the brand’s native China for inspiration, 2026 also marks the 65th anniversary of China’s first attempt to climb Everest via the North Ridge. To mark the occasion, CIGA design unveils the CIGA design Mechanical Automaton Watch Everest China 65th Anniversary.
In addition to the significance of China’s first attempt to ascend the North Ridge, the 1960 expedition carries significance for the tale of the journey. The climbing team was halted at the “Second Step,” where a large ledge prevented the team from climbing any further.
Team member Liu Lianman decided to help fellow climbers ascend the ledge by standing on his shoulders and serving as a human ladder, thereby sacrificing his ascent to allow his team members to succeed.
In 1975, the Chinese Mountaineering Team returned and installed a six-foot ladder at the “Second Step,” and it became known as the “Chinese Ladder.” From 1975 to 2008, the ladder allowed more than 1,300 climbers to climb the “Second Step,” and now rests at the Mount Everest Mountaineering Museum in Lhasa, China.
The CIGA design Mechanical Automaton Watch Everest China 65th Anniversary celebrates the 1960 expedition and Liu Lianman’s ingenuity and selfless resolve. This new model builds upon the previously released CIGA design Central Tourbillon Mount Everest. On the left side of the dial, an automaton scene depicts Liu Lianman’s human ladder. At 0:00 and 12:00, the CNC micro-engraved scene features a climber ascending the dial and returning to its resting position over five minutes.
Serving as the backdrop, the dial is made from bedrock sourced from Mt. Everest. The dial is crafted over 30 days through a process of cutting and laser shaping to preserve the natural colour and texture of the bedrock. At twelve o’clock, there is a depiction of Mt. Everest’s North Ridge and a 65th anniversary emblem, treated with Swiss Super-LumiNova C1. To tell the time, the watch features two ice axe-shaped hands: the red ice axe indicates the minutes, and the silver ice axe indicates the hours. There are indicators and a triangle engraved into the bezel of the case to help orient the wearer and tell the accurate time.
The grade 5 titanium case of the CIGA design Everest 65th Anniversary measures 45mm in diameter and 13.6mm thick. The dial is covered with a sapphire crystal, and the case is rated to 5 ATM of water resistance. To quell any concerns about the timepiece’s durability, CIGA design made a customised edition of this watch for mountaineer Li Haibo, who wore it during his 2025 climb of Mt. Everest via the North Ridge, reaching the summit on May 20th of that year.
Powering this CIGA design Mechanical Automaton is the self-developed calibre CD-10. This automatic calibre operates at 21,600 bph, has a 42-hour power reserve, and 21 jewels.
The CIGA design Mechanical Automaton Everest 65th Anniversary comes with a 24mm fluororubber strap and a butterfly deployant clasp. On the underside of the strap, one end features a 65th Anniversary emblem with Mt. Everest in the background, and the other end depicts the North Ridge route.
When it comes to watches associated with human achievements in exploration, most watch enthusiasts likely think of those worn by famed explorers. The modern versions of those watches likely symbolise admiration for those people and the tools they used. With that in mind, it is novel that CIGA design took a markedly different approach to celebrate China’s first ascent of Mt. Everest via the North Ridge. While the watch is fully capable for mountaineering adventures, CIGA design seemingly drew on Liu Lianman’s quick thinking and ingenuity as inspiration for a creative timepiece that celebrates the achievements of mankind.
CIGA design Mechanical Automaton Watch Everest China 65th Anniversary pricing and availability
CIGA design is allowing interested clients to register their interest for the CIGA design Mechanical Automaton Watch Everest China 65th Anniversary on the brand website. Price: US$1,699
| Brand | CIGA design |
| Model | Mechanical Automaton Watch Everest China 65th Anniversary |
| Case Dimensions | 45mm (D) x 13.6mm (T) |
| Case Material | Grade 5 titanium |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Everest bedrock |
| Strap | Black rubber, hidden folding clasp |
| Movement | Self developed CD10, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | US$1,699 |
Made in partnership with CIGA design, however, the opinions expressed in this article are our own, in accordance with our Editorial Policy