Hong Kong's Memorigin Blends Chinese Craftsmanship with Swiss Tourbillon Tradition
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago4 MIN
Summary
William Shum, a Hong Kong-born entrepreneur who founded Memorigin (萬希泉) in 2011, has built the brand into an internationally recognized tourbillon watchmaker by fusing Chinese woodcarving traditions with Swiss precision engineering. His journey began in childhood visits to his grandfather's ancestral home in Hangzhou, where he witnessed master craftsmen assemble delicate mechanical components. Today, the brand's collaborations with Hollywood franchises and local institutions demonstrate how traditional craftsmanship can find new audiences through strategic partnerships.
Key Points
- Memorigin was established in 2011 by William Shum (沈慧林), who holds a Master's in Economics and Management from Cornell University
- The Shum family spent over 40 years collecting more than 10,000 woodcarvings from rural Chinese villages to preserve cultural heritage
- The brand name combines "Memorial" and "Original," reflecting its core philosophy of creating timeless pieces with unique design value
- Recent collaborations include two tourbillon watches with the film "Kung Fu Soccer Girls," following partnerships with Spider-Man and Stephen Chow productions
- Memorigin has partnered with the University of Hong Kong and St. Joseph's College, donating watches for charity auctions to support educational development
Why It Matters
Memorigin's success demonstrates how Hong Kong entrepreneurs can leverage cultural heritage as a competitive advantage in global luxury markets, offering a model for other heritage brands seeking international recognition while giving back to the community through educational partnerships and charitable initiatives.
Memorigin's success demonstrates how Hong Kong entrepreneurs can leverage cultural heritage as a competitive advantage in global luxury markets, offering a model for other heritage brands seeking international recognition while giving back to the community through educational partnerships and charitable initiatives.