Timepieces are a key industry in Hong Kong, with exports of finished items and components amounting to HK$54.8 billion (US$6.98 billion) last year and the United States, Mainland China and Europe the main destinations.
Both buyers and sellers of timepieces and components will make a bee-line to the city for the 42nd HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and 11th Salon de TE – jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades and Industries.
The events are set to welcome more than 700 global exhibitors from 17 countries and regions. Under the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, the physical fair will run from 5 to 9 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre . Salon de TE will open its doors to both industry buyers and the public on the final two days, 8 and 9 September.
From 29 August to 16 September, exhibitors and buyers from across the world can engage in online and offline meetings through the AI-powered Click2Match smart business-matching platform.
Design excellence from China
Salon de TE, dedicated to showcasing internationally renowned watch brands, will feature five thematic zones: World Brand Piazza, Chic & Trendy, Craft Treasure, Renaissance Moment and Wearable Tech. These zones will present more than 130 prominent watch brands and designer collections from France, Switzerland, Italy, the United States and more.
The debut Guo Chao theme welcomes several remarkable Mainland China watchmakers. They will showcase timepieces that intricately blend Chinese cultural elements. Mainland watchmaker Ma XuShu is an Academie Horlogere Des Createurs Independants member. He will present his masterpiece Starry Night wristwatch, a silver-award-winning timepiece at the first China Watch Design Competition.
Mr Ma’s peer Wei Guang Wen will showcase his interpretation of Guangzhou clocks, a timepiece of historical, cultural and artistic value. Inspired by the classic Guangzhou clocks style from the Qianlong period, which spans the mid-to-late 18th century, the clock features three sub-dials and chimes every hour, complemented by various rotating designs.
Swiss watchmakers
Swiss Independent Watchmaking Pavilion (SIWP) and Franceclat return this year, together with a debut by the International Luxury Group, presenting a range of Swiss and international watch brands, including H992, Pilo & Co, Adriatica, Epos and Ollivier Saveo, showcasing unique designs and delicate artisanship.
Sponsored by Prince Jewellery & Watch for the 13th consecutive year, the World Brand Piazza remains a fair highlight. This year, it will feature an impressive line-up of 10 international watch brands, including Bovet, Carl. F Bucherer, Franck Muller, Jacob & Co., , Parmigiani Fleurier and Sarcar Geneve.
Scan2Match, EXHIBITION+ expand opportunities
In addition to the hybrid EXHIBITION+, the fair will also launch Scan2Match, bringing communication from offline to online. Buyers can use the HKTDC Marketplace app to scan exhibitors’ QR codes during the exhibition period, bookmark their favourite exhibitors, browse product information and the e-floor plan, and chat with exhibitors online.
Forums, seminars, watch parades and networking events will provide first-hand market information. At the Hong Kong International Watch Forum on 5 September, watch association representatives from all over the world – including Mainland China, France, Germany, Japan, Korea and Switzerland – will discuss the global trade situation and industry trends.
