The 43rd Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition concluded with the announcement of its winners, marking a significant moment for the watch and clock industry. 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, aims to raise design standards, encourage innovation, and promote Hong Kong-made timepieces globally. This year’s event attracted 130 entries, with a judging panel of eight industry representatives and celebrity guest judge Joey Thye selecting the top designs in both the Open and Student Groups.
The Open Group, themed ‘Transcending Time,’ challenged participants to translate sensory experiences into design elements, breaking the boundaries of conventional timekeeping. The Champion, ‘Tectonic Indeterminacy,’ designed by Chan Pak Hei and Yang Tianxu, drew inspiration from the organic geometry of pebbles. Through a process of subtraction, the designers carved angled facets into a solid form, transforming the dial into a tangible representation of time. The sculpted void integrating the crown into the watch body elevates the timepiece beyond mere functionality, turning the act of reading time into an experience of spatial depth and tactile tension.
The First Runner-up, ‘Channel,’ by Wong Ting Bong, incorporated a VU meter scale and pointer commonly found in audio equipment, visually translating the abstract concepts of time and sound into physical traces. The Second Runner-up, ‘Moment of Stillness,’ by Pang Sze Nga, depicted mountain ranges with gold wire and enamel, featuring a relief swallow as a messenger of time, blending traditional craftsmanship with artistic expression.
In the Student Group, themed ‘Contours of the Breeze,’ participants explored the movement and flow of wind through watch design, reflecting the limitless possibilities of life’s journey. The Champion, ‘Traces of Storm,’ by Yip Yuen Sze, Christine, from the Hong Kong Design Institute, featured a watch face resembling cyclone patterns from satellite images, with lightning bolt-shaped hands. The design symbolized the courage to gather storm clouds and break new ground, embodying the theme’s spirit.
The First Runner-up, ‘Running through the Breeze,’ by Tam Hei Yiu of Pope Paul VI College, used hour, minute, and second hands shaped as a girl, a tree, and a windmill, respectively, to depict a girl running across a grassy field, conveying perseverance toward one’s goals. The Second Runner-up, ‘Carpe Diem,’ by Lo Hoi Pui of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, drew inspiration from dandelion seeds, with a central hand modeled on a weathervane, capturing the essence of seizing the moment.
A notable highlight this year was the reintroduction of the ‘Made-to-Sell Award,’ which recognizes 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, launching it to the market through the HKTDC’s Design Gallery.
The competition’s results were showcased at the 45th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME, which attracted over 17,000 trade buyers from 115 countries and regions. The fair provided a platform for emerging designers to gain exposure and for the industry to discover fresh talent. As the watch and clock industry evolves, such competitions play a crucial role in fostering innovation and ensuring Hong Kong’s continued prominence in the global market.
For more information about the event and the winning designs, visit the [Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair](http://hkwatchfair.hktdc.com) and [Salon de TIME](https://www.hktdc.com/event/te/en) websites.
