The 43rd Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition, jointly organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd., and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Ltd., announced its winners, underscoring the region's commitment to fostering design excellence and innovation in the timepiece industry. The competition, which concluded alongside the 45th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME, attracted 130 entries and showcased the winning and shortlisted designs at the fair.
This year's competition featured two categories: the Open Group, themed 'Transcending Time,' and the Student Group, themed 'Contours of the Breeze.' The themes invited participants to explore abstract concepts and the fluidity of time, translating sensory experiences and natural movements into horological art. The judging panel, comprising eight industry representatives and celebrity guest judge Joey Thye, selected the top entries from each group.
In the Open Group, the Champion title went to 'Tectonic Indeterminacy' by Chan Pak Hei and Yang Tianxu, sponsored by Golden Hawk Manufactory Ltd. Inspired by pebble formations, the design uses angular facets and a sculpted void to create a timepiece that transcends conventional timekeeping, turning the act of reading time into a tactile and spatial experience. The First Runner-up, 'Channel' by Wong Ting Bong, integrated VU meter scales and pointers, commonly found in audio equipment, to visualize the relationship between time and sound. Pang Sze Nga's 'Moment of Stillness' earned Second Runner-up, depicting mountain ranges and rivers through enamel and gold wire, with a swallow symbolizing the passage of time.
In the Student Group, Yip Yuen Sze, Christine from the Hong Kong Design Institute claimed the Champion with 'Traces of Storm,' a design featuring cyclone patterns and lightning bolt hands that represents the courage to break new ground. Tam Hei Yiu of Pope Paul VI College received First Runner-up for 'Running through the breeze,' where the hands portray a girl, a tree, and a windmill to convey perseverance. Lo Hoi Pui of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong took Second Runner-up with 'Carpe Diem,' inspired by dandelion seeds and a weathervane, symbolizing seizing the moment.
The competition also presented the Made-to-Sell Award to Yip Yuen Sze for 'Traces of Storm,' recognizing its commercial potential. The Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association and the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries will produce the design, which will be launched through the HKTDC's Design Gallery.
The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TIME attracted over 17,000 trade buyers from 115 countries and regions, reinforcing Hong Kong's position as a global hub for watch and clock trade. The competition, since its inception, has aimed to raise design standards, encourage creativity, and promote Hong Kong-made timepieces worldwide. For more information, visit the Salon de TIME website or the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair website.
