Where East Meets West: Memorigin Brings Chinese Art to the Tourbillon
The Hong Kong watchmaker connects Chinese artistic traditions with Western mechanical watchmaking, drawing on a family collection of woodcarvings and the cultural character of its home city.
In its feature, "Hong Kong, Seen Through a Tourbillon," Memorigin explores how that meeting of cultures finds expression on the wrist. The story begins with art and family, tracing the influence of Shum's father Shum Mak-ling and his collection of Chinese woodcarvings.
Growing up around those carvings, literature and history encouraged an interest in depth, expression and the stories carried by an object. When Memorigin was established in 2011, the wristwatch offered a smaller setting in which to explore those ideas. Sculptural figures and familiar cultural references could become part of a mechanical composition.
The tourbillon gives that composition a moving center. Its rotating mechanism becomes part of the scene around it, connecting the watch's mechanical structure with its artistic subject. This approach brings a tradition of mechanical watchmaking into conversation with Chinese visual and cultural references.
Verdant Resonance illustrates this approach. Its design draws on the image of playing the guzheng, a traditional Chinese string instrument, while burning incense. A miniature guzheng forms the seconds display, while luminous green lines suggest rising smoke. Set within a luminous carbon fiber case, the references connect the atmosphere of a scholar's studio with a contemporary material and silhouette.
The watch is one expression of a broader design philosophy. Across its work, Memorigin explores how sculpture, cultural memory and movement can give a mechanical timepiece a distinct identity. Hong Kong provides the connecting perspective, allowing traditional subjects and international popular culture to enter the same design language.
Memorigin supports its work with design and technical teams, with research, quality-control and repair support in Hong Kong. Private viewings offer an opportunity to examine the watches and explore the woodcarving collection behind the brand's story.
The full feature is available on the Memorigin Store website. Media enquiries and requests for further information can be directed to Memorigin PR at pr@memorigin.com.
Read the feature: https://memorigin.store/blogs/articles/memorigin-hong-kong-tourbillon-east-meets-west?utm_source=prcom&utm_medium=press_release&utm_campaign=
hong_kong_tourbillon_202610&utm_content=east_meets_west
About Memorigin
Memorigin is a Hong Kong watch brand founded in 2011 by William Shum, JP. Its tourbillon watches combine mechanical watchmaking with Chinese cultural references, sculptural design and contemporary themes.
Ivy Kung
+852 2976 0108
https://memorigin.store
Unit 803-4, Chai Wan Industrial City Phase 1
60 Wing Tai Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
Media guide and article index (PDF)
PDF guide to the five article choices, accompanying JPEG photographs and media contact.
East meets West: article (PDF)
PDF article on Memorigin’s Hong Kong identity, Chinese artistic roots and Western mechanical watchmaking.
Chinese woodcarving: article (PDF)
PDF article on the family woodcarving collection and Memorigin’s cultural design story.
Signature watches: article (PDF)
PDF article on Crescent Moon, the Explorer and Genesis.
Cinema and character: article (PDF)
PDF article on Captain Phasma and Spider-Man within Memorigin’s mechanical watch design.
Short brand story: article (PDF)
PDF introduction to Memorigin, its Hong Kong identity and Chinese artistic roots.
Verdant Resonance: day and night
Original 2400 × 1350 photograph. Guzheng-inspired details and luminous carbon fibre in day and night views.
Harmony of Dragon and Phoenix: front
Original 2500 × 2464 photograph. Black edition, front view.
Harmony of Dragon and Phoenix: detail
Original 2500 × 2464 photograph. Black edition, detail view.
Harmony of Dragon and Phoenix: dial
Original 2500 × 2464 photograph. Black edition, sculptural dial.
Harmony of Dragon and Phoenix: alternate
Original 2500 × 2464 photograph. Black edition, alternate view.
Crescent Moon: front
Original 1024 × 1024 photograph. Cushion-shaped case and exposed movement.
The Explorer: steel bracelet
Original 2500 × 2464 photograph. Meteorite dial and steel bracelet.
Genesis: blue dial
Corrected 2500 × 2464 JPEG. Centered complete watch on embedded #ededed grey, matching the Explorer canvas.
Star Wars Captain Phasma: front
Original 2500 × 2464 photograph. Helmet-inspired dial with visible tourbillon.
Marvel Spider-Man: front
Corrected 2500 × 2464 JPEG. Centered complete watch on embedded #ededed grey, matching the Explorer canvas. Resampled from the original packshot.
Marvel Spider-Man: rear
Original photograph showing the rear of the Spider-Man tourbillon watch and movement.
Marvel Spider-Man: alternate view
Original 2500 × 2464 alternate photograph. Original background and framing retained.
Marvel Spider-Man: additional view
Original 2500 × 2464 additional photograph. Original background and framing retained.
Crescent Moon: lifestyle photograph
Original 2368 × 1760 lifestyle photograph. Original background and complete supplied composition retained.