43rd Hong Kong Watch Design Competition Celebrates Innovation at Expo 2026
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
The 43rd Hong Kong Watch Design Competition concluded its award ceremony during the Hong Kong Watch Expo 2026, which ran from September 1-5, attracting more than 17,000 buyers from 115 countries and regions . The Open Division featured the theme "Beyond Time Sequence," challenging designers to transform sensory languages—visual, auditory, and tactile—into design elements that transcend traditional notions of time. The Student Division explored "The Shape of Wind," encouraging emerging designers to capture the invisible trails of air as metaphors for life's boundless possibilities . Celebrity judge Joey Thye (戴祖儀), an entertainer who served on the judging panel, noted that entries demonstrated exceptional professionalism and distinct characteristics, with aesthetically pleasing and feasible designs standing out clearly .
Key Points
- Open Division Champions Chan Pak-hei (陳栢熙) and Yang Tianxu (陽天旭) designed "Floating Geometry" inspired by organic pebble shapes and traditional Chinese Go game concepts, using sculptural and architectural language to reshape how people interact with time .
- Open Division Runner-up Wong Ting-bong (黃定邦) created "Time Frequency," linking sound level indicators with watch mechanisms, allowing the watch hands to pulse in rhythm with music on a luminous dial .
- Student Division Champion and Market Potential Award winner Ip Un-sze (葉婉詩) crafted "Storm Traces," incorporating clouds, lightning, and tornadoes to represent different phases of life's journey, with wind-erosion textures on the case symbolizing meaningful life experiences .
- Student Division Runner-up Tam Hei-yo (譚晞瑤) designed "Running with the Breeze," using a girl, tree, and windmill to represent hour, minute, and second hands, symbolizing relentless pursuit of life goals .
- The five-day expo, jointly organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association, and Hong Kong Watch Trade Association, saw significant growth in buyers from North America, ASEAN, and Latin America .
Why It Matters
The competition highlights Hong Kong's evolving role as more than a manufacturing hub—transforming into a creative design center where traditional craftsmanship merges with innovative concepts, reinforcing the city's position as Asia's premier watch procurement hub while nurturing the next generation of design talent .
The competition highlights Hong Kong's evolving role as more than a manufacturing hub—transforming into a creative design center where traditional craftsmanship merges with innovative concepts, reinforcing the city's position as Asia's premier watch procurement hub while nurturing the next generation of design talent .