Side by side

CIGA Design BLACK STARvsSeiko Essentials Chronograph

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

BLACK STAR
CIGA DesignBLACK STAR
MSRP $1,980
Essentials Chronograph
SeikoEssentials Chronograph
MSRP $265
What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

CIGA Design BLACK STAR

Owners widely praise CIGA Design for its unique, avant-garde designs that stand out as conversation pieces, with some finding the 46mm titanium case comfortable and wearable. Reviewers highlight the Blue Planet II Atlantic's aesthetically pleasing dial with good textures and raised surfaces, and the exotic time-telling mechanism is surprisingly readable once accustomed. However, multiple owners and reviewers flag challenges with legibility due to unusual displays and difficulty identifying details on the map. Some owners report issues with customer service and strap quality, while others consider the watch overpriced or an imitation. Overall, CIGA Design is highly regarded by owners and reviewers for its radical, statement art watch aesthetic and unique mechanics that make it look and wear like a much more expensive timepiece.

Seiko Essentials Chronograph

Owners find the Seiko Essentials Chronograph beautiful for its price, particularly on the grey market, praising its lightweight wearability for active use and college budgets. One owner notes the orange stripe on the stopwatch button can expand and fall off in heat. The watch is 41mm and was purchased for $160. On balance, owners rate the Seiko Essentials Chronograph highly for its aesthetic appeal and value, especially for active wear on a budget.

At a glance

13 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
BLACK STAR46mm
Essentials Chronograph41.5mm
Power Reserve
BLACK STAR41h
Essentials Chronograph40h
Water Resistance
BLACK STAR30m
Essentials Chronograph100m
MSRP
BLACK STAR$1,980
Essentials Chronograph$265

Full specifications

Case

5 specs
Diameter
46mm
41.5mm
Thickness
15.6mm
12.1mm
Lug-to-Lug
46.5mm
Material
Titanium
Stainless Steel
Water Resistance
30m
100m

Crystal & Dial

3 specs
Crystal
Sapphire
Hardlex
Dial Color
Black
Lume
Swiss Super-LumiNova
None

Movement

4 specs
Caliber
CD-04-S
8T63
Type
Automatic
Quartz
Power Reserve
41h
40h
Jewels
26
25

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$1,980
$265
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