Cortina Curates Local: Weaving Mid-Autumn Festival Stories with Glass Artist Chen Chien-Chih

Hsinchu was once a thriving hub for glassmaking in Taiwan, though many of its traditional glass factories have since closed amid industrialisation and rising labour costs. Chen has dedicated himself to recording, preserving, and reimagining this endangered craft, a commitment that lies at the heart of why Cortina Watch chose to collaborate with him: to sustain the vitality of local craftsmanship, and to honour those who continue to safeguard tradition.

Born in 1994 in Nantou, Chen Chien-Chih entered the glass industry out of a passion for craftsmanship, apprenticing for more than six years under Mr. Lin Yao-Nong, a recognised preserver of Hsinchu’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. Working primarily with glass, Chen blends traditional techniques with a contemporary sensibility, allowing the beauty of cultural evolution to emerge naturally in his work. His creations have earned recognition over the years, including a Silver Award at Hsinchu’s 3rd “Craftsman’s Dream” National Cultural and Creative Crafts Competition in 2025, a Gold Award at the 2023 edition of the same competition, a finalist placement at Taipei’s Golden Pin Design Award in 2022, and the Rising Star Award at Hsinchu’s “Golden Glass Award” in 2020.

Just as a watchmaker sculpts time by hand, Chen shapes glass with breath and flame, both embodying a maker’s spirit of safeguarding culture through the work of one’s own hands. His pieces retain the delicate marks and warmth of hand-finishing, echoing the same precision and care central to fine watchmaking, turning this collaboration into a deeper dialogue about the spirit of craft itself.