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WAN CHAI, Hong Kong — Horologists and industry leaders were united for the Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair held at the HK Convention and Exhibition Center from Sept. 2-6, where 650 exhibitors from all over the world showcased their timepieces.
Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the event is the largest of its kind. Beginning in 1982 with the council, the annual event aims to highlight the region’s growing watch industry, particularly its adoption of quartz technology, and promote it globally.
Since its inception, it has become a vital platform for sourcing finished watches, components, and packaging and fostering international trade within the horology sector.
With the theme “Our Time, Our Moments,” the event brought together leading figures from around the world to address the rapidly changing timepiece market.
Salon de TIME
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Salon de TIME featured renowned watch brands and designer collections that showcased what the future has in store for the luxury horology market.
In an exclusive interview with The Manila Times on Sept. 4, Paul Anthony Yuen, director of Dayton Industrial Co. Ltd., a wearable technology company based in Hong Kong, explained how their unique smartwatch, called Link2care, goes beyond conventional fitness tracking and shifting the paradigm toward preventive health care.
“None of the smartwatches today are doing preventive health care. They are doing a lot of fitness tracking — only monitoring,” said Yuen.
By integrating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles, such as using the fingers to monitor a person’s health, the smartwatch infuses this principle with advanced data science. Unlike traditional smartwatches that simply record heart rate and steps, Link2care has specialized sensors and algorithms developed in collaboration with the Academy of Chinese Medicine in Beijing.
As the global smartwatch market increases, innovations like what Link2care is doing are crucial to ensure its steady growth.
Global watch market trends
Hong Kong, as the host city, continues its status as a premier hub for the watch trade, citing the city’s strong logistics and infrastructure that continue to support seamless imports and exports.
Benjamin Hui of the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades Industries Limited noted that despite a 10-percent decline, Hong Kong retained its position as the world’s second-largest exporter and importer of completed watches in 2024, with exports totaling HK$48.8 billion. Early 2025 figures signal HK$44 billion in watch exports, with the US, Switzerland, mainland China, and the EU representing the leading markets.
The event also stressed cross-border cooperation in training and talent development, noting that embracing innovation while respecting traditions will be key to transforming market challenges into new opportunities.
When The Times asked how smaller countries like the Philippines can help penetrate the global market, Dr. Guido Grohmann of Bundesverband Schmuck + Uhren (BVSU), or the German Federal Association for Jewelry, Watches, Silverware, and Related Industries, said, “Talk to people,” highlighting the need to network with different brands and manufacturers globally to know what the trends are in the global industry demands.
Rahul Rawal of India-based Taratec echoed this, sharing insights into their business expansion. “We operate two setups: one focused on lower-cost, higher-volume watches for the local market, and another emphasizing quality for export. For exports, volume matters less than quality,” Rawal explained. Taratec produces 70 million watch hands and 5 million dials annually, solidifying India’s role as an emerging market leader.
In the Philippines, the watch market reached USD 351.00 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 549.81 million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.59 percent. Interest in both classic and smart timepieces, along with a mix of brand variety, affordability, and expanding online retail, is driving growth. Shifting lifestyles and increased online access are especially shaping preferences among younger consumers, boosting the country’s market share.
Since early 2024, Filipino microbrands have drawn increasing interest, as locally inspired artisanal timepieces — such as those from Makina — blend traditional Filipino craftsmanship with contemporary design.
True to its global affair, the event also reintroduced its Exhibition+ hybrid model, along with “Click2Match,” an online smart business matching platform that will operate from Aug. 26 to Sept. 13, offering convenience and efficiency for traders to connect.
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