Category: AWAKE

Awake returns with a new trio of timepieces in its Sơn Mài collection—this time channeling the serene beauty of Earth as seen from above. The Frosted Leaf series, introduced as a limited edition, continues the brand’s commitment to combining traditional craftsmanship with modern, responsible watchmaking. Each model—Moka, Blue, and Green—offers a refined dial inspired by land, water, and forests respectively, rendered through Vietnam’s centuries-old lacquerware tradition.

Compact, Conscious Design

Each watch in the Frosted Leaf collection features a 39 mm case made from recycled 316L stainless steel, measuring 45.60 mm lug-to-lug and 11.80 mm thick including a sapphire crystal. With 50 meters of water resistance, these watches are tailored for daily wear while maintaining a refined presence on the wrist.

The cases are characterized by polished top surfaces that complement the mirror-like finishes on the dial hardware. Horizontally brushed sides and smoothly curved lugs contribute to a sophisticated, ergonomic silhouette. A polished, knurled crown bearing Awake’s logo in relief completes the case design with tactile precision.

Each watch is fitted with a 20 mm Delugs gray nubuck leather strap, secured with a skeletonized pin buckle, offering comfort and style in equal measure.

Sơn Mài Dials with a Multi-Layered Silver Leaf Technique

The standout element of the Frosted Leaf series is undoubtedly the multi-layered lacquer dial, handcrafted using a refined Sơn Mài process. Traditionally derived from the sap of the Rhus verniciflua (Chinese lacquer tree), the dial begins with a layer of black pigment and silver leaf. A new innovation in this edition introduces an extra application of silver leaf, followed by added pigments. Each dial is then manually sanded, lacquered, and polished multiple times.

This meticulous process takes over 15 hours per dial, resulting in a textured surface that plays dynamically with light, giving an almost three-dimensional impression. Each color in the trio is symbolic—blue for oceans, green for dense forest canopies, and moka for fertile terrain.

Luminous Details and Sculptural Indices

To enhance readability and visual intrigue, polished steel hands and applied indices are layered over the lacquer. They float just above the surface, with each component filled with Super-LumiNova BGW9, offering a cool blue luminescence in low light. The hands and markers stand in stark contrast to the organic textures beneath, making timekeeping effortless without detracting from the artistry.

Swiss Caliber with Modern Performance

Powering the Frosted Leaf models is the automatic La Joux-Perret G101 movement, a reliable and increasingly favored Swiss caliber. It features a 68-hour power reserve, beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), and includes hacking seconds and quick-set date.

The tungsten rotor, visible through the sapphire caseback, is decorated with custom engraving and laser detailing, while the movement itself boasts clean finishing with Côtes de Genève on the bridges.

In Summary

The Awake Sơn Mài Frosted Leaf Collection combines sustainability, artisanal tradition, and technical refinement. With its thoughtful case proportions, responsibly sourced materials, and elaborately hand-crafted dials, this release is a strong continuation of Awake’s design ethos—paying tribute to Earth not just in theme, but in practice.

Read more here.

General Specifications:

Brand: Awake

Model: Sơn Mài Frosted Leaf Watch Moka, Blue, and Green

Dial: Brown, blue, green

Lume: Super-LumiNova

Case Material: 316L recycled stainless steel

Case Dimensions: 39 mm Diameter, 11.80 mm thickness, 45.60 mm lug-to-lug

Crystal: Sapphire Glass

Case Back: Sapphire Glass

Water Resistance: 50 Meters

Strap: Delugs gray nubuck leather strap with a steel pin buckle

Caliber: La Joux-Perret G101

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds

Winding: Automatic

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 Vph)

Jewels: 28

Power Reserve: 68 hours

Price: € 2,644.50

Availability: Now

Limited Edition: Yes, 50 pieces each

Awake expands its Sơn Mài collection with a new limited-edition duo that pays homage to two of the most iconic prehistoric creatures of cinema: the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Velociraptor. These timepieces, named T-Rex and Raptors, showcase the brand’s continued commitment to environmentally conscious materials and artistic expression, this time through a bold thematic link to the world of dinosaurs.

Inspired by the Irises of Legends

Each dial is hand-crafted by Vietnamese artisans using the Sơn Mài lacquer technique, a centuries-old process combining silver leaf gilding, natural lacquers, and multiple layers of sanding to achieve a richly textured finish. The orange dial of the T-Rex model and the green dial of the Raptors are directly inspired by the eye colors of these creatures as portrayed in popular film, reimagined through artful abstraction.

Both dials feature a claw slash appliqué in polished silver — a twin slash for the T-Rex and a three-pronged mark for the Raptors — adding a dramatic visual anchor to the watch face. The polished metal hands and sharp, tooth-like hour markers are filled with Super-LumiNova BGW9, providing strong legibility and a subtle nod to the creatures’ iconic features.

Case and Construction

Encased in recycled 316L stainless steel, each watch measures 39 mm in diameter and 45.60 mm lug-to-lug, maintaining the streamlined, modern silhouette introduced with the first Sơn Mài editions. Both front and back crystals are made of sapphire, and the watches are rated for 50 meters of water resistance.

The reverse side reveals a custom-engraved case back, featuring a jungle motif, unique serial number, and typography that echoes the style seen in vintage cinematic graphics. Each piece is further personalized with one of two engraved quotes: “Spared no expense” for the T-Rex edition, and “Life finds a way” for the Raptors — subtle references that deepen the storytelling without overpowering the design.

Movement

Powering the Jurassic Watch models is the Swiss-made La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement, offering 68 hours of power reserve and a smooth 28,800 vph frequency. The movement is dateless, manually windable, and equipped with hacking seconds — offering precision and practicality in equal measure.

Sustainable Straps with a Prehistoric Texture

Continuing Awake’s focus on ethical sourcing, the straps are produced in collaboration with Ictyos, a French tannery that upcycles salmon skin from the food industry. This sustainable leather, treated for strength and durability, features a reptilian scale-like texture and iridescent finish, perfectly complementing the theme of each watch. The straps are hand-stitched in matching colors, lined with calfskin, and secured by a 16mm signed steel buckle.

Limited Availability

Each variant is strictly limited to 50 individually numbered pieces, underscoring the rarity and collectible nature of this release. Priced at €2,075, the models also include one extraordinary surprise: a genuine fossilized Carcharodontosaurus tooth will be gifted to one randomly selected owner, linking the watches even more directly to their Jurassic inspiration.

Read more here.

General Specifications:

Brand: Awake

Model: Sơn Mài Jurassic Watch T-Rex (orange) and Raptors (green)

Dial: Orange or green sanded lacquer

Lume: Super-LumiNova

Case Material: 316L recycled stainless steel

Case Dimensions: 39 mm Diameter, 11.80 mm thickness, 45.60 mm lug-to-lug

Crystal: Sapphire Glass

Case Back: Sapphire Glass

Water Resistance: 50 Meters

Strap: Deep green or bright orange scaled salmon leather strap by Ictyos with a 316L recycled steel pin buckle

Caliber: La Joux-Perret G101

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds

Winding: Automatic

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 Vph)

Jewels: 28

Power Reserve: 68 hours

Price: € 2,075

Availability: Now

Limited Edition: Yes, 50 pieces each