The blue glass dial on the Shanga SB04-E is seriously appealing

That swirling blue dial looks fantastic. I like the way the applied numerals sit over the glass, and the sharp hands give me something clear to follow through all the color. The Sartory-Billard SB04-E Shanga is much more interesting to me than a plain blue dial with a complicated finish description. I'd give it 108 out of 120 bezel clicks.

The brand's November 11, 2026 introduction establishes this specific collaboration, reference SB04-ESHG2026. The dial is made from recycled glass at Shanga in Tanzania. This is a source-based first look, and I haven't handled the watch. The photographs show why I'd want to, but they can't settle the glass's depth or legibility under changing reflections.

The glass gives it its own face

The dial has circular blue variations running around the center, rather than a uniform flat color. I like that the pattern remains visible between the numerals. The applied shapes have a slightly loose, hand-drawn character that suits the material instead of making it feel like a standard dial with a different surface dropped underneath.

The hands are a good choice visually. They are broad enough to find in the close-ups, with pointed ends and polished surfaces that separate them from the blue. I would still want to see how they behave against the lighter and darker parts of the glass. A beautiful dial that keeps hiding the time would irritate me eventually.

The ordinary crown has blue lacquer, while a very limited tanzanite-set option is also described. The current order area marks the tanzanite choice unavailable. I'd be happy with the lacquer visually; I don't need the additional gemstone to make this watch interesting.

Practical dimensions, unresolved edition details

The steel case is 39.5 mm across, 10.2 mm thick and 44 mm lug to lug. Those are proportions I like, especially with a dial that deserves most of the attention. The automatic La Joux-Perret G101A has a stated 68-hour reserve, and water resistance is 100 meters. The supplied blue leather strap and pin buckle look appropriate for the case.

The official page needs clarification on production. One section says 100 pieces in total with two crown options; another describes 100 lacquer-crown watches plus 10 Friends & Family tanzanite pieces. I won't add those into a definitive total while the maker's own descriptions disagree. Delivery wording also varies between two weeks and late November or early December.

The stated price is €4,800 excluding VAT. A verified dollar quote and US allocation are unknown, so this retains its rating without a point on the USD chart. Before buying, I'd want written confirmation of the exact edition, delivery date, final local price and service arrangements. Then I'd want to see a few different finished dials, because the variation in that blue glass is a large part of what makes the watch attractive.