The 43rd Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition results have been announced, highlighting the innovative work of emerging designers in 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 elevate design standards and foster creativity in Hong Kong's timepiece sector.
This year's competition saw 130 entries across two categories: the Open Group, themed 'Transcending Time', and the Student Group, themed 'Contours of the Breeze'. The Open Group encouraged participants to explore sensory experiences and abstract concepts, while the Student Group focused on capturing the fluidity and movement of wind. A judging panel of industry experts and celebrity guest judge Joey Thye selected the winners.
In the Open Group, the Champion award went to Chan Pak Hei and Yang Tianxu for their design 'Tectonic Indeterminacy', sponsored by Golden Hawk Manufactory Ltd. The timepiece draws inspiration from pebble formations, using subtractive carving to create geometric facets that transform the dial into a tangible representation of time. The design integrates the crown into the watch body, elevating time reading into a spatial and tactile experience. The First Runner-up, 'Channel' by Wong Ting Bong, incorporates a VU meter scale and pointer, linking time and sound into visible traces. Pang Sze Ngawho's 'Moment of Stillness' earned Second Runner-up, depicting mountain ranges and enamel work with a swallow as a messenger of time.
In the Student Group, Yip Yuen Sze, Christine from the Hong Kong Design Institute took the Champion with 'Traces of Storm'. The design features cyclone-like patterns and lightning-shaped hands, symbolizing courage and breaking new ground. Tam Hei Yiu of Pope Paul VI College received First Runner-up for 'Running through the breeze', where the hands represent a girl, a tree, and a windmill, conveying perseverance. Lo Hoi Pui of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong earned Second Runner-up with 'Carpe Diem', inspired by dandelion seeds and featuring a weathervane-inspired central hand.
The competition also presented the Made-to-Sell Award to recognize commercial potential, which went to Yip Yuen Sze, Christine for 'Traces of Storm'. This design will be produced and launched through the HKTDC's Design Gallery, bridging student creativity with market opportunities.
The results were showcased at the 45th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME, which concluded their physical exhibitions on 5 September, attracting over 17,000 trade buyers from 115 countries and regions. For more about the event, visit the Salon de TIME website. The competition continues to serve as a platform for nurturing design talent and reinforcing Hong Kong's position as a global hub for watch and clock innovation.
