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There is a particular energy that settles over the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and having just returned, I can say it was as electric as ever. From 1 to 5 September, the 45th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME took over the venue under the theme “Sparkling Moments Through Time,” and for five days, the city once again proved why it remains the world’s largest one-stop watch and clock marketplace.
This was a milestone edition, more than 630 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions filled the halls, with new faces from Norway, Singapore and the US joining established pavilions from Francéclat, the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion, Guangzhou and Taiwan, alongside a first-time appearance from Hengyang in Hunan province. By the time the fair concluded, it had welcomed over 17,000 trade buyers from 115 countries and regions, with notable growth from North America, ASEAN and Latin America, a clear signal of how far the fair’s reach continues to extend.
To mark its 45th anniversary, the organisers (Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Limited, and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Limited) created a “Time Tunnel,” a walk-through installation tracing the fair’s evolution since its inception in 1982, from its early days as a sourcing platform, through its transformation into a hub for brand development, to the multifaceted, cross-sector marketplace it has become today. Walking through it felt like watching the entire industry’s story unfold in a few short steps, and it was a lovely reminder of how much this fair has grown alongside the watchmakers it serves.
Salon de TIME, for its part, reached a new record this year, drawing more than 150 watch brands across six thematic zones. The Microbrands zone alone attracted 29 brands from eight countries, more than double last year’s figure, a trend that says a great deal about where the industry’s energy is heading. Younger, design-driven labels like BREDA, CIMIER and Robotfigs shared the floor with icons of the World Brand Piazza, now in its 16th consecutive year, which showcased six internationally renowned names including Baume & Mercier, Corum, DeWitt, Franck Muller, Montblanc and Sarcar.
What struck me most while walking the floor was the sheer range of stories being told through timepieces this year. Sustainability had a genuine presence, with brands like Sunrex and its solar-powered movement, and Robotfigs’ upcycled Cubot watch, showing that eco-conscious design has moved well past being a niche. Sports and outdoor performance watches were everywhere, and the Guochao-inspired pieces from Chinese Mainland brands such as Zbioland, Shanghai Watch and Sea-Gull brought a distinctive cultural voice to the fair, drawing genuine interest from international buyers.
I have to admit a soft spot for one moment in particular, I had the privilege of sitting on the judging panel for ‘Tick-Tock Showtime: The Media Spotlight Pitch’, organised in collaboration with Watch CataVlog, alongside fellow media representatives from Indonesia and Hong Kong. Watching ten brands pitch their vision, craftsmanship and ambitions in real time was genuinely inspiring, and I was struck by how much creativity and genuine craftsmanship each one brought to the stage. After much deliberation, my award went to ZRC 1904 (Grands Fonds MN64 full titanium), with its confident design language and clear sense of identity standing out. Berney (8423T – NOS Valjoux 23) and Artra (Camera One) were also awarded by my fellow judges:
Ms. Kristel Hanna, COLLECTION Magazine (Middle East) → ZRC 1904
Mrs. Lulu Pasha, CG Watches (Indonesia) → Berney
Mr. Anson Tang, WILDCARD (Hong Kong) → Artra
It is one thing to read about brands in a press release, and quite another to hear founders speak with such conviction about what they are building. It reaffirmed something I already believed, the future of this industry is being shaped as much by these story-driven labels as by its most established names.
Beyond the exhibition floor, the fair’s programme of over 40 forums and seminars gave the week real intellectual weight. The Hong Kong International Watch Forum and the Asian Watch Conference brought together voices from watch associations and market analysts across the Chinese Mainland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan and Korea, along with perspectives from Chrono24 and Lazada Hong Kong on resale platforms and e-commerce growth. A survey conducted during the fair, gathering insights from around 890 exhibitors and buyers, found that half expect sales to grow over the next 12 to 24 months, with the Middle East, Latin America, Korea, Australia and South Africa named as the most promising markets ahead.
Numbers aside, what came through clearly in conversations with exhibitors was that business was genuinely happening. MicroMilspec’s team told us over 170 visitors came to their debut booth on day one alone. Sun International Concepts reported 17 bespoke enquiries generating HK$4 million in customised orders. Dayton Industrial sold over 100 watches on their opening day and had to restock mid-fair. These are not just impressive figures, they are proof that Hong Kong’s convening power still delivers real, on-the-ground results for brands at every scale.
Leaving the fair this year, I came away with the same feeling I always do after a good edition, that watchmaking, in all its forms, from centuries-old craftsmanship to solar-powered microbrands, continues to find its most compelling stage right here in Hong Kong. If this is what a 45th anniversary looks like, I can only imagine what the years ahead have in store.
