The 43rd Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition has revealed its winners, with the award presentation ceremony taking place at the 45th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME, held from September 3 to 5. The 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, attracted over 17,000 trade buyers from 115 countries and regions to the physical exhibitions.
Since its inception, the competition has aimed to elevate design standards and quality in Hong Kong's watch industry, encourage creativity, enrich the fair's content, and boost sales of Hong Kong-made timepieces globally. This year's themes—'Transcending Time' for the Open Group and 'Contours of the Breeze' for the Student Group—challenged participants to push boundaries. The Open Group theme invited designers to translate sensory experiences into abstract designs that transcend time, while the Student Group encouraged capturing the essence of wind and life's possibilities.
Out of 130 entries, the judging panel, consisting of eight industry representatives and celebrity guest judge Joey Thye, selected 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. This timepiece, inspired by pebble geometries, uses angled facets and a sculpted void to integrate the crown, turning time reading into a spatial and tactile experience. The First Runner-up, 'Channel' by Wong Ting Bong, incorporated a VU meter scale from audio equipment to visualize time and sound. The Second Runner-up was 'Moment of Stillness' by Pang Sze Nga, depicting mountain ranges with gold wire and enamel.
In the Student Group, Yip Yuen Sze, Christine from the Hong Kong Design Institute won the Champion with 'Traces of Storm', featuring cyclone-like patterns and lightning-shaped hands. She also received the Made-to-Sell Award, recognizing commercial potential, and her design will be produced and sold through the HKTDC's Design Gallery. The First Runner-up was 'Running through the breeze' by Tam Hei Yiu from Pope Paul VI College, and the Second Runner-up was 'Carpe Diem' by Lo Hoi Pui from the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong.
These results highlight the vibrant creativity and technical skill within Hong Kong's watch industry, particularly among emerging designers. The competition not only celebrates innovation but also serves as a platform to nurture young talent and bring fresh ideas to the market, ensuring the industry's continued growth and global competitiveness.
