Lin Bingqiang is a prominent Chinese entrepreneur and designer who serves as the founder and CEO of Behrens, an independent watchmaking brand based in Shenzhen. His career is marked by a transition from high-end jewelry design to the technical world of horology, where he has become a key figure in the emergence of Chinese independent watchmaking on the global stage.
In the 1990s, Lin began his professional journey as a high-end jewelry designer, even teaching courses in the field. His interest later shifted toward the watch industry supply chain, leading him to establish an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) production facility in Shenzhen more than 15 years ago. During this period, he developed a deep expertise in R&D, manufacturing, and technical design, providing components and complications for various international clients.
Driven by a passion for “mechanical enthusiasm,” Lin founded the Behrens brand in 2012. He named the company as a tribute to Peter Behrens, a pioneer of modern industrial design. Lin’s vision was to move beyond the supply chain and create a brand that offered unconventional, disruptive timepieces featuring unique mechanical structures and complications.
Under Lin’s leadership, Behrens has achieved significant milestones. In 2020, two of the brand’s models, the Rotary and the Apolar, were nominated for the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), bringing international attention to the young label. Lin has personally overseen the development of in-house movements, such as the BM01 and BM02, and has pushed the boundaries of material science with ultra-lightweight designs like the 11G and the Pupil Ultralight 8G.
Lin is recognized for his collaborative approach, often working with renowned independent watchmakers like Konstantin Chaykin and Vianney Halter. His design philosophy frequently incorporates cultural and scientific themes, ranging from space exploration to traditional Chinese artifacts, such as 3,000-year-old Sanxingdui bronze relics.
In 2024, Lin’s efforts culminated in Behrens becoming the first Chinese independent brand to exhibit at Watches and Wonders Geneva. Today, he manages a team of nearly 50 designers, engineers, and watchmakers in Shenzhen, continuing to focus on original thinking and the creation of timepieces that serve as a form of “eloquent expression” for his mechanical vision.