As every year, we visit, exclusively for Italy, the most important watch fair in Asia Pacific: the Watch and Clock Fair in Hong Kong. Organised by theHong Kong Trade Development Councilis being held from 2 to 6 September at the ultra-modern Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The fair has over 700 exhibitors including watch brands mainly from Hong Kong and China and component manufacturers (from straps to movements, mechanical and quartz).
The Hong Kong watch industry relies on Chinese factories for components and assembly, but remains the best link with the People's Republic for foreign companies wishing to invest in this business. Thus, more and more foreign exhibitors are offering original brands and designs made in China by Hong Kong companies. Similarly, fashion brand licences acquired by Hong Kong companies for the production and distribution of fashion watches are growing.
Another important aspect is the increasing supply of good quality mechanical movements. In this sector, according to the opinion of American and European entrepreneurs, the Hong Kong manufactures still offer a higher quality than the Chinese ones in terms of assembly and finishing. Even if we are still talking about workmanship that we cannot honestly compare with the medium-high range of Swiss production.
There is a strong interest on the part of the organisers in promoting local companies engaged in the production and distribution of original brands and designs. To them is dedicated the area of the fair called Brand Name Gallery, which this year, for the first time, is open to the public (the rest of the fair is reserved for trade operators) on Sunday. In the photos, some images of the Gallery.
A full report on this important fair, and on trends in Asian-made watches, will be published soon in the magazine Chrono World.
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