May 28 2025

Sơn Mài, Reimagined: Awake’s New Frosted Leaf Collection

MRSTATELESS AWAKE, NEW RELEASES 2025, Limited Edition 0

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.