AWAKE’s Son Mai Collection Incorporates Vietnamese Lacquerwork
Available in Lava, Outre Bleu, Emerald and Amethyst color dials.
With the new Son Mai collection, French indie watch brand, AWAKE, is demonstrating a new approach to Métiers d’Art horology. Arriving in four vivid colorways spanning Lava, Outre Bleu, Emerald and Amethyst, the new model features a slim and easy-to-wear 39mm case size.
Every dial is crafted and finished by hand, and according to the brand’s founder, Lilian Thibaut, took over 10 hours to complete the base alone. The dial is brushed in with gold or silver leaf that gives it a unique texture, which is coated with 10 layers of lacquer by master lacquers in Hanoi. Each layer had to be dried thoroughly and polished before the next was applied.
Previously, AWAKE had released a collaboration with NASA, which allowed the timepiece’s owner to see the otherworldly sight of Earth from a satellite’s point of view — taking the wearer out of space through an implemented NFC chip For Son Mai, Thibaut told Hypebeast that he wanted to take things in a different direction.
“I wanted to create a more classic-looking timepiece that still incorporated innovative elements,” he said. Inspiration struck him one day as he was immersed in a lacquer painting in his office, which led him to delve deeper into various lacquer techniques from around the world.
The AWAKE founder then stumbled across Vietnamese lacquering during his travels in Asia. Unlike the Japanese Urushi where the beauty of the finish is the lacquer itself, Vietnamese lacquering serves as a protective layer to what’s underneath. This technique is no stranger in the world of artisanal crafts, as it has been used by Hermès for years.
Housed in a polished build composed of recycled stainless steel, the assortment of Son Mai references are all incorporated with Super-LumiNova indices and hands, alongside AWAKE’s luminous “coiffe” signature. Geared with 68 hours of power reserve, the watches run on the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement.
Retailing for $2,150 USD, the Son Mai collection is now available for order via AWAKE’s official website.
