Hong Kong Watch Design Competition Winners Showcase Innovation and Market Potential

The 42nd Hong Kong Watch and Clock Design Competition concluded with winning entries that break from traditional watchmaking conventions while demonstrating strong market potential. Organized alongside the 44th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 13th Salon de TIME, the competition attracted 116 entries and drew approximately 16,000 trade buyers from 95 countries and regions to the events.

This annual competition serves as a critical platform for raising the quality of watch and clock design in Hong Kong by encouraging innovation and creativity. The event aims to boost sales of Hong Kong-made watches both domestically and internationally through enhanced exhibition offerings. The competition featured two categories: an Open Group themed "Memorable" and a Student Group themed "Believe in Yourself".

Tam Kwok Tung won the Open Group with his design "FREEZE", sponsored by Wincy Horological Ltd. His innovative design was inspired by his father's habit of covering half his face with the camera while taking pictures. The watch features a dial centered on a camera lens that breaks from traditional layouts, with the right window displaying the movement and the left window showing gears that drive the hands.

The first runner-up in the Open Group, "RB_ROBO" by Wong Ting Bong, sponsored by Youngs Watch Company Limited and Po Fai Precision Company Limited, drew inspiration from toy robots to convey that "adults can still preserve their childlike innocence". The second runner-up, "Backtrack" by Oro Time Limited, incorporated nostalgic elements like game consoles, VHS tapes, and vinyl records, allowing the watch to become a playful Y2K-inspired fashion accessory through interchangeable game cartridges.

The Student Group category, open to full-time Hong Kong students, aimed to recognize and promote young design talent. Chan Tsz Ying from Hong Kong Design Institute won with "Aspire", featuring moving beads that symbolize courageous goal-chasing and still beads representing moments of reflection. The design's commercial potential was further recognized when it won the Made-to-Sell Award, with the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Limited and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Limited committing to put it into production for sale at the HKTDC Design Gallery available at https://www.hktdc.com/event/te/en.

Lee Yuet Tung Eudora from Good Hope School took first runner-up honors with "Believe in Yourself", featuring the words "Love", "Hope", and "Faith" printed on the outer ring to highlight crucial guides for achieving success. Yip Yuen Sze Christine from Hong Kong Design Institute earned second runner-up with "Broken Stars in the Ripples", using ripple patterns and a star hour hand to convey that "even if life has ups and downs, it is still full of hope".

The competition's significance extends beyond artistic recognition, as demonstrated by the Made-to-Sell Award judging process involving eight veteran watch manufacturers and Stephen Liang, former Assistant Executive Director of HKTDC. Their selection of commercially viable designs ensures that innovative concepts translate into marketable products, strengthening Hong Kong's position in the global watch industry through platforms like the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair at hkwatchfair.hktdc.com.