New Vignette Dials in 38mm Cases
First revealed in 2024, Awake’s Sơn Mài‑Silver Leaf collection marks a landmark moment for the independent brand, blending high‑grade watchmaking with revered Métiers d’Art craftwork. Four new gradient “Vignette” dials debut within a fully redesigned 38 mm case: three join the permanent line‑up, and one exclusive variant is limited to just 200 pieces globally. This launch also introduces Awake’s fluid hand‑written new brand identity, paying homage to artisan craftsmanship.
The Art of the Són Mài‑Silver Leaf Dial
Every dial is a miniature hand‑crafted artwork, combining silver‑leaf gilding with traditional Vietnamese Sơn Mài crystalline lacquer, created in partnership with master artisans in Hanoi. Each dial requires over ten hours of painstaking work: fine pure silver leaf is laid, then covered in roughly twelve individually sanded and polished layers of natural‑pigment lacquer. Light plays dynamically across the surface for constantly shifting depth and colour. Production is intentionally scarce, with permanent‑edition colours capped at approximately 100 units per colour annually, limited by hand‑work capacity.
The Four New Vignette Dial Interpretations
Drawing inspiration from 1970s watch aesthetics, the Vignette design features a graceful gradient, darker at the dial edge and lighter toward the centre, now elevated to richer, more vivid effect:
Purple Viola (Limited‑Edition, 200 pieces): Enigmatic and singular, this individually numbered dial balances bold character and refined sophistication.
Indian Red: Evoking smouldering embers, it delivers deep, enveloping warmth with the feel of time‑worn natural patina.
Java Green: Lush and organic, shifting through endless colour spectrums as light hits its lacquered silver‑leaf surface.
Gentian Blue: Sitting between azure and royal blue, this calm shade evokes quiet serenity.
Exclusive “Chiaroscuro” Luminous Signature
Awake’s proprietary Chiaroscuro lume concept draws inspiration from Japanese light‑shadow contrast, rethinking standard watch luminescence. Rather than coating hands and markers with luminous paint, sculpted steel caps sit atop Super‑LumiNova® BGW9. Subtle and almost invisible by day, they cast a soft atmospheric glow in darkness, highlighting the dial’s layered depth and the shimmer of the silver leaf.
Movement, Case & Finishing Details
The restyled 38 mm 316L stainless‑steel case has a 44.75 mm lug‑to‑lug measurement, 20 mm lug width and 11.50 mm total thickness including anti‑reflective sapphire crystal. It offers 10 ATM (100 m) water‑resistance and a sapphire display case‑back. Power comes from the Swiss‑made La Joux‑Perret G101 automatic movement with a 68‑hour power reserve, fitted with a custom solid‑tungsten rotor. The movement ring bears Awake’s engraved mission and brand philosophy.
Technical Specifications
Case: 316L stainless steel.
Diameter: 38 mm.
Lug-to-lug: 44.75 mm.
Lug width: 20 mm.
Thickness: 11.50 mm including crystal / 10 mm excluding crystal.
Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
Métiers d’Art Dials: entirely handcrafted using two centuries-old artisanal techniques brought together in watchmaking for the very first time by Awake: silver-leaf gilding and traditional Vietnamese Sơn Mài lacquer.
Hour Markers and Hands: Super-LumiNova® BGW9, featuring Awake's exclusive “Chiaroscuro” luminous signature.
Water Resistance: 10 ATM (100 m), with push-in crown.
Caseback: Screw-down caseback with sapphire crystal.
Movement: Swiss-made La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement, offering a 68-hour power reserve.
Finishing: New custom-designed tungsten rotor featuring alternating recessed and raised surfaces, with brushed, microblasted and polished finishes. Microblasted movement retaining ring with recessed engravings.
Straps: Handcrafted in France from Alcantara or nubuck, lined with rubberized calfskin. Fitted with curved quick-release spring bars and the new Fitwell M1 adjustable pin buckle.
Warranty: 3-year international warranty.
Sơn Mài - Silver Leaf “Indian Red - Java Green - Gentian Blue” : production will be limited to a maximum of 100 pieces per year, per dial color, depending on the production capacity of our lacquer artisans.
Sơn Mài - Silver Leaf “Purple Viola” : a limited and individually numbered edition of just 200 pieces worldwide.