Though in its infancy, the Watch and Clock Pavilion at the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show is fast becoming the launch pad for Hong Kong-made timepieces looking to attract global buyers.
Hong Kong-born watch designer Roger Khemlani is launching what he calls a 'revolutionary' watch with a triple time-zone chronograph and 10 hands laid out on the watch face in the shape of the number eight.
Originally slated for the world's largest jewellery show, Baselworld, in Basel, Switzerland, the launch of the watch was brought forward to the Hong Kong show to take advantage of Asia's association of the number eight with wealth and fortune.
The watch, which uses stainless steel from Japan, a casing from China and Swiss-made movement, is being made in Hong Kong to meet criteria under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement for duty-free entry into China, Mr Khemlani says.
Carrying an auspicious retail price tag of US$888, the watch is the 12th and highest priced model in Mr Khemlani's Voila range, launched in April 2002.
Distributed in 30 countries, the range has been given the cold shoulder so far by Hong Kong distributors as 'Hong Kong people don't respect Hong Kong brands', Mr Khemlani says.
'Local distributors say Hong Kong is the most difficult place to sell [Hong Kong-made] watches. Hong Kong people would rather pay two or three times more to buy a Swiss or French brand.'