Awake's Son Mai Silver Leaf Collection: New Vignette Dials and Refined 38mm Case Unveiled

Awake, the distinguished French independent watch brand established in 2019, has once again captivated watch enthusiasts with its innovative spirit and dedication to artisanal excellence. Following the success of its space-themed "Mission to Earth" series and the 2024 debut of the Son Mai Silver Leaf collection, known for bringing sophisticated craftsmanship to a broader audience, Awake is now introducing an enhanced iteration. This latest release features four fresh Vignette dial designs alongside a refined case, further cementing the brand's reputation for creativity and thoughtful watchmaking.

The current range proudly incorporates a re-engineered 38mm stainless steel enclosure, bringing the Son Mai Silver Leaf timepieces into a more streamlined form factor, first seen with the brand’s Guilloché line earlier this year. Crafted from 316L steel, the case spans 44.75mm from lug to lug and boasts a thickness of 11.5mm, including the anti-reflective sapphire crystal, or a sleek 10mm without it. The rear of the watch features a sapphire crystal caseback, offering a glimpse into the automatic movement within. It provides a water resistance of 100 meters. The caseback bears an inscription of the brand’s philosophy: “Illuminating the hands and heritage behind rare crafts” and “Artisanship, Awakened.”

The intricate dial is a masterpiece, achieved through a blend of silver leaf gilding and the traditional Son Mai lacquer method. This process involves meticulously applying fine sheets of silver leaf onto a lacquered foundation, followed by the careful integration of colored pigments. The creation culminates in approximately twelve successive layers of natural lacquer, each meticulously sanded and polished to perfection.

For these novel iterations, Awake unveils four striking gradient Vignette hues, drawing inspiration from the watchmaking aesthetics of the 1970s and 1980s. 'Indian Red' presents a spectrum of deep, inviting crimson tones, while 'Java Green' delves into a rich palette of verdant shades. 'Gentian Blue' offers a tranquil fusion of blues, and 'Purple Viola' makes a bold statement. While the former three are destined for the permanent collection, with production capped at 100 dials per color annually, 'Purple Viola' is offered as an exclusive limited edition of 200 pieces.

The hour and minute indicators, along with the applied hour markers, maintain Awake's distinctive design approach. The brand employs robust BGW9 luminous bases, which are then crowned with intricately sculpted steel caps. These caps cleverly obscure the luminous material during daylight hours, only to reveal a gentle, radiant glow in the dark.

Driving this collection is the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic caliber, a noteworthy alternative to the prevalent ETA 2824. Operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, it ensures a substantial power reserve of 68 hours. The transparent exhibition caseback showcases a custom-designed tungsten oscillating weight, precision-machined from a solid block and adorned with a captivating interplay of recessed and raised surfaces, meticulously finished with brushing, micro-blasting, and polishing techniques.

Awake has collaborated with esteemed French leather artisans, Maison Jean Rousseau and Bouveret, for the watch straps. These straps are available in Alcantara or nubuck, each lined with rubberized calfskin, and feature curved quick-release spring bars for convenience. The pin buckle allows for micro-adjustments, enabling the wearer to achieve a perfect fit, with up to 3mm of fine-tuning. A selection of green, gray, blue, and red options is available, varying by model. Each watch in this collection is uniformly priced at EUR 2,640, inclusive of VAT, and is currently available for purchase.