The results of the 43rd Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition have been announced, coinciding with the conclusion of the 45th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME. The events, jointly organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Limited, and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Limited, attracted over 17,000 trade buyers from 115 countries and regions, underscoring the global significance of the competition and the industry's vitality.
Since its inception, the competition has aimed to elevate the design standards and quality of Hong Kong watches and clocks, encourage innovative ideas, enrich the fair's content, and promote sales of Hong Kong-made timepieces both locally and internationally. This year, the competition featured an Open Group and a Student Group, with themes 'Transcending Time' and 'Contours of the Breeze' respectively. The Open Group theme invited participants to translate sensory languages such as visual, auditory, and tactile experiences into design elements, creating an abstract realm that breaks through time boundaries. The Student Group theme encouraged capturing the movement and flow of wind through watch design, reflecting the limitless possibilities in life's journey.
The competition received an enthusiastic response with 130 entries. A judging panel comprised eight industry representatives and celebrity guest judge Joey Thye selected the winners in both categories. In the Open Group, the Champion was 'Tectonic Indeterminacy' by Chan Pak Hei and Yang Tianxu, sponsored by Golden Hawk Manufactory Ltd. Inspired by the organic geometric form of pebbles, the design features angled geometric facets carved from a solid form, transforming the dial into a tangible representation of time. The sculpted void integrates the crown seamlessly, turning time reading into an experience of spatial depth and tactile tension. The First Runner-up, 'Channel' by Wong Ting Bong, incorporates a VU meter scale and pointer, commonly used in audio equipment, to visualize the abstract concepts of time and sound. The Second Runner-up, Pang Sze Ngawho's 'Moment of Stillness', depicts mountain ranges in gold wire with enamel rivers and peaks, and a relief swallow as a messenger of time.
In the Student Group, the Champion was 'Traces of Storm' by Yip Yuen Sze, Christine of the Hong Kong Design Institute. The watch face features patterns resembling cyclones in satellite cloud images, with lightning bolt-shaped hands, symbolizing that true limitless possibilities begin with courage. The First Runner-up, 'Running through the breeze' by Tam Hei Yiu of Pope Paul VI College, uses hour, minute, and second hands shaped as a girl, a tree, and a windmill, respectively, to convey continuous striving towards goals. The Second Runner-up, 'Carpe Diem' by Lo Hoi Pui of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, draws inspiration from dandelion seeds and a weathervane.
The competition also presented the Made-to-Sell Award to recognize a Student Group entry with strong commercial potential. The award went to Yip Yuen Sze, Christine, for her winning design 'Traces of Storm'. The Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd. and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Ltd. will bring the design into production, launching it to the market through the HKTDC's Design Gallery. This initiative bridges the gap between creative design and market viability, providing a platform for emerging designers to see their work reach consumers.
The announcement of these winners highlights the continuous innovation within Hong Kong's watch and clock industry. By nurturing new talent and encouraging bold design concepts, the competition reinforces Hong Kong's position as a global hub for horological excellence. For more information on the winning designs and the fair, visit the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TIME websites.
