HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair Opens Today

Hong Kong, Sept 3, 2014 (Korea Bizwire) – The 33rd HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, the largest event of its kind in the world, opened today with over 760 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions taking part. The fair, which runs from 3-7 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, is organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd and the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades and Industries Ltd.

“This event is an annual highlight for the timepiece industry. We are delighted to have first-time participating companies from Belgium, India, Iran and United Arab Emirates here this year,” said HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau. “During the fair’s Public Day on Sunday, the general public will be able to enjoy the excitement of the fair while industry representatives can make direct contact with end consumers and receive valuable feedback on their products and brands.”

Global spotlight

The Watch & Clock Fair gathers leading brands and industry players from around the world for a five-day timepiece journey. Following its highly successful debut last year, “Salon de TE”, which is organised concurrently with the Watch & Clock Fair, returns this year featuring 145 luxury brands. “Salon de TE” includes five thematic zones: World Brand Piazza, Chic & Trendy, Craft Treasure, Renaissance Moment and the inaugural Wearable Tech zone.

The World Brand Piazza features 12 leading brands: Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Breguet, BVLGARI, Chopard, DeWitt, FRANCK MULLER, Glashutte Original, H. Moser & Cie, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget and Zenith. The Wearable Tech zone makes its debut this year featuring brands that have become pioneers of smart watch innovation by incorporating smartphone technology into timepieces. On the final day of the fair (7 September), “Salon de TE” will open to the public with events including celebrity performances, watch parades, an antique clock repair demonstration, lucky draws and retail sales of selected items.

Market Pitch

Exhibitors are taking full advantage of the trade fair to pitch new watch designs and timepiece technologies to the market. This includes product launches and parades by such high-profile names as MINI, Van Gogh, Longio, LOCMAN, Giorgio Fedon 1919 and MEMORIGIN. Special Zones include the Small-Order Zone and Pageant of Eternity. The Small-order Zone caters primarily to the sourcing needs of small and medium-sized enterprises, while Pageant of Eternity is dedicated to premium complete watches. Other major exhibit categories are complete watches, clocks, machinery & equipment, packaging, parts & components and trade services.

Clock Watch

More than 30 signature events, including networking and knowledge-sharing activities, are being staged during the fair period. They include the Hong Kong International Watch Forum (3 September), the Asian Watch Conference (4 September) and Buyers Forums (4-5 September) with experts coming together to discuss key trends and issues related to the industry.

Also under the spotlight are the prospects for specific overseas markets at events including the ASEAN Markets Networking Reception (4 September) and a seminar entitled Russian Watch Market: Past, Nowadays, Future (5 September).

Winning Designs

Final entries and winning pieces of the annual Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition will be on display at the Watch & Clock Fair. This year, the Design Competition attracted around 180 entries under the themes of Time Controls World and Smart World for open and student groups respectively.

The 2014 Open Group champion is Leung Ho-him, with a nostalgia-inspired design entitled The Catcher, featuring a watch display that is divided into 24 time zones. In the Student Group category, Wan Nok-yiu from the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, was crowned champion with a smart watch design entitled Essence.

Time Trader

Hong Kong, the leading importer of complete watches in the world, has seen continued strong growth for the industry this year. In the first seven months of 2014, the value of Hong Kong’s imports of watches and clocks reached US$6.2 billion, representing 8.9 per cent growth compared to the same period last year. Over the same period, Hong Kong’s exports of watches and clocks increased 5.3 per cent to US$5.7 billion. Hong Kong’s top export destinations for watches and clocks are Switzerland, the Chinese mainland, United States, Macau and Japan.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Anthony Cheung, Secretary for Transport and Housing of the Hong Kong SAR Government, said the city has established itself as a premier international logistics hub.

“A study last year concluded that Hong Kong is among the most competitive locations as a regional distribution centre for high-value goods, especially luxury goods and wine, in Asia,” Mr Cheung said.

Winning entries of the 31st Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition
http://filesharing.tdc.org.hk/hktdc/download.php?fid=_phpgEa13N

Fair Websites -
HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair:www.hktdc.com/fair/hkwatchfair-en
Salon de TE: http://www.hktdc.com/fair/te-en/TE.html

Video: Smart Designs: Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_9wA4p5sg8&feature=youtu.be

About HKTDC

A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 global offices, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises trade fairs and business missions to connect companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online. For more information, please visit:www.hktdc.com. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.

Google+: http://plus.google.com/+hktdc
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdc
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-council

Source: HKTDC via ACN Newswire