The 43rd Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition, 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, has announced its winners, showcasing the region's emerging design talent and fostering innovation in the timepiece industry. The competition, held in conjunction with the 45th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME, concluded its physical exhibitions on 5 September, drawing over 17,000 trade buyers from 115 countries and regions.
Since its inception, the competition has aimed to raise design standards and quality of Hong Kong watches and clocks, encourage innovative and creative ideas, enrich the fair's content, and promote sales of Hong Kong-made timepieces in local and overseas markets. This year's competition featured an Open Group and a Student Group, with themes 'Transcending Time' and 'Contours of the Breeze' respectively. The theme 'Transcending Time' invited participants to translate sensory languages such as visual, auditory, and tactile experiences into design elements, creating an abstract, transcendent realm that breaks through the boundaries of time. Under the theme 'Contours of the Breeze', participants were encouraged to capture the movement and flow of wind through watch design, reflecting the limitless possibilities encountered in life's journey.
Receiving an enthusiastic response, the competition attracted 130 entries. The judging panel comprised eight representatives from the watch and clock industry, along with celebrity guest judge Joey Thye, who selected the Champion, First Runner-up, Second Runner-up, and Merit Award 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 was shaped through a rigorous process of subtraction. Angled geometric facets were carved from a solid form, transforming the dial into a tangible representation of time, while a sculpted void seamlessly integrates the crown into the watch body. Through pure spatial and geometric manipulation, the timepiece transcends the conventional function of timekeeping, turning reading time into an experience rich in spatial depth and tactile tension.
The First Runner-up was 'Channel' by Wong Ting Bong, sponsored by Youngs Watch Company Limited and Po Fai Precision Company Limited. The dial incorporates the scale and pointer of a VU meter, commonly used in audio equipment to indicate volume levels, transforming the abstract concepts of time and sound into visible physical traces. The Second Runner-up was Pang Sze Nga for 'Moment of Stillness', depicting mountain ranges outlined in gold wire, with enamel forming rivers and peaks, while a relief swallow weaves through the landscape as a messenger of time.
In the Student Group, which is open to full-time students in Hong Kong to discover emerging talent, the Champion was 'Traces of Storm' by Yip Yuen Sze, Christine of the Hong Kong Design Institute. The watch face features patterns resembling cyclones seen in satellite cloud images, while the hands are shaped like lightning bolts. The design symbolizes that true limitless possibilities begin with the courage to gather storm clouds, unleash lightning, and break new ground. The First Runner-up went to Tam Hei Yiu of Pope Paul VI College for 'Running through the breeze', where the hour, minute, and second hands take the forms of a girl, a tree, and a windmill, respectively, conveying the message of continuously striving towards one's goals in life. The Second Runner-up was 'Carpe Diem' by Lo Hoi Pui of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, drawing inspiration from dandelion seeds.
This year, the Made-to-Sell Award was once again presented to recognize a Student Group entry with strong commercial potential. Judged by a panel of eight watch manufacturers, 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, after which it will be launched to the market through the HKTDC's Design Gallery.
The competition not only highlights the creativity and skill of Hong Kong's designers but also underscores the industry's commitment to nurturing new talent and driving innovation. As the watch and clock industry evolves, such initiatives are crucial for maintaining Hong Kong's position as a global hub for timepiece design and manufacturing. For more information, visit the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TIME websites.
