The 44th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 13th Salon de TIME, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Limited, and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Limited, concluded successfully in physical format yesterday. The Click2Match AI-driven business matching platform will remain open until 13 September to facilitate continued discussions between global exhibitors and buyers.
Over five days, the physical fairs attracted approximately 16,000 trade buyers from 95 countries and regions. Key buyer markets outside Hong Kong included Mainland China, Taiwan, India, Japan, the United States, and ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. This underscores Hong Kong's role as a vital global hub for watch and clock transshipment and sales. Salon de TIME was open to the public for free for the second consecutive year, and together with CENTRESTAGE, drew over 19,000 public visitors. The events featured around 400 watch and fashion brands.
HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Sophia Chong highlighted the significance of the fairs: “The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TIME are annual highlights for the industry. This year, the events brought together over 650 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions, including pavilions from Guangzhou, Taiwan, the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion (SIWP), and a French pavilion by Francéclat. We also welcomed the return of exhibitors from Germany, Japan, Lebanon, and the Netherlands. The number of brands at Salon de TIME reached a new post-pandemic high, serving as a springboard for entering international and mainland markets.” She also noted that a series of trade exhibitions will be held in the fall, including the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia from 13 to 16 October, followed by the HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) from 27 to 30 October and the Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo from 28 to 31 October.
During the exhibition, the HKTDC conducted a survey of approximately 920 exhibitors and buyers. Results showed that 59% of respondents expect overall sales to grow in the next 12 to 24 months, and 36% anticipate stable sales. Respondents identified the most promising target sales markets for the watch industry in the next two years as the Middle East (82%), Taiwan (79%), Korea (78%), Latin America (76%), Australia (76%), and ASEAN countries (73%). Regarding product trends, 47% of respondents consider smart watches to have the most significant growth potential, followed by fashion watches (30%) and casual watches (26%).
Exhibitors reported successful business outcomes. Yusuf Eyilmez, production manager of Turkey-based Saat ve Saat, which has over 160 points of sale, said: “Through the business matching meetings on the smart platform Click2Match and physical meetings, we procured automatic mechanical watches from Hong Kong exhibitor Dailywin Watch Products Mfg Ltd. The annual order value is expected to reach US$1 million.” Su Hnin Aye, founder of Myanmar's Su & Co Trading Company, stated: “This year, we purchased US$600,000 worth of branded watches and identified two new watch brands to introduce to the Myanmar market. We will also sign a sole distributor agreement with Mathey Tissot from the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion.”
Hong Kong exhibitor Dayton Industrial launched the new Watch2Care TCM smart watch, featuring digital pulsation analysis with Traditional Chinese Medicine reports for preventive healthcare. Director Paul Yuen noted: “We found potential distributors from Germany, Mainland China, Singapore, and the US, and received collaboration invitations from a Swiss watch movement company and a buyer from Myanmar. We aim to achieve on-site sales turnover of HK$1.5 million.” German brand Lilienthal Berlin introduced a new eco-friendly watch with a dial made from recycled tea leaves, following last year's watch with a case made from recycled coffee grounds. Management director Ruby Young said: “The new watch attracted buyers from Bangladesh, Israel, and we are in discussions with buyers from Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mainland China, the UAE, and the US.”
Salon de TIME also featured “Guochao” series watches, with Sun International Concepts presenting six renowned watch brands from Mainland China. Company executive director David Sun reported that feedback was more enthusiastic than last year, and they successfully found exclusive distributors to expand into the ASEAN market, with projected on-site sales reaching six figures, a 10% increase over last year. The new Microbrands zone showcased unique niche brands, and first-time exhibitor Watchcatavlog, a YouTube channel, brought four microbrands. Founder Ciff Luk stated they are in discussions with buyers from Canada, Taiwan, and the UAE for distributor collaborations.
Watch enthusiasts Jovi Ha, CK Hung, and Ricky Tsang, who attended Salon de TIME, said: “This exhibition has broadened our horizons, allowing us to admire exquisite craftsmanship and interact with independent watchmakers. The diversity and value for money led us to spend nearly HK$100,000 in total, purchasing multiple branded watches.”
