A vintage Audemars Piguet watch given by Li Ka-shing to his son Victor Li Tzar-kuoi more than 20 years ago unexpectedly became the main talking point at the online results conference for CK Hutchison and CK Asset on Thursday.
The briefing initially focused on routine business updates. Towards the end, a reporter asked about the watch Li wore in a photo released by the company the day before during CK Infrastructure's results announcement.
Li explained that the watch holds deep personal significance: it was a gift from his father when he was appointed managing director over two decades ago. He has worn it ever since, coinciding with his tenure in the role.
Records show Li took up the managing director position at CK Asset in 1999. Earlier annual reports depict him wearing a different watch.
The timepiece is an Audemars Piguet Regulator from the Museum Collection, produced in the 1990s and influenced by Art Deco style.
It features a rectangular case roughly 37 by 26 mm (including lugs) and a distinctive regulator layout with hour, minute, and second hands on separate axes, a design rooted in historical marine chronometers for maximum readability.
Experts note the series is typically crafted in 18K rose gold, yellow gold, or white gold, with some later pieces engraved "Museum Collection" and individually numbered on the case back.
