French watchmaker Awake has revisited its Son Mai Silver Leaf collection, launched in 2024, with a new 38mm format. The brand, founded in 2019, has shifted its focus from space-inspired designs to emphasizing artisanal craftsmanship. The new Son Mai Silver Leaf 38mm watches combine Vietnamese craftsmanship with modern watchmaking, showcasing attention to detail and a focus on artisanal heritage.
The new watches feature a 38mm case made of 316L stainless steel, with a thickness of 11.5mm and a sapphire crystal. The case design is inspired by Awake's previous Guilloché collection. The watches have a 100-meter water resistance, making them suitable for daily wear and ordinary aquatic activities. The brand has collaborated with French specialists Maison Jean Rousseau and Bouveret for the straps, which are available in Alcantara or nubuck with a calfskin lining.
The Son Mai Silver Leaf 38mm watches boast four unique dials, crafted using traditional Vietnamese Son Mai lacquer techniques combined with pure silver leaf application. Each dial requires a dozen layers of natural lacquer, applied and polished individually. The dials feature colored pigments and silver leaves that create varying reflections under different lighting conditions. The four dial options are Indian Red, Java Green, Gentian Blue, and Purple Viola, with the latter being a limited edition.
The watches are powered by the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic caliber, developed by Swiss movement maker La Joux-Perret. This caliber offers a 68-hour power reserve, allowing the watch to be left unworn for nearly three days without needing to be rewound. The movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 alternations per hour and features 24 rubis to minimize friction on mechanical components.
Awake has paid close attention to the finishing of the movement, visible through the transparent caseback. The personalized rotor is crafted from a tungsten block, showcasing a mix of brushed, micro-beaded, and polished surfaces. This decoration aligns with the brand's artisanal approach to watchmaking.
The new Son Mai Silver Leaf Vignette watches are available for order on Awake's official website. The Indian Red, Java Green, and Gentian Blue versions are part of the permanent collection, with a limited production of 100 pieces per color per year. The Purple Viola edition is limited to 200 numbered pieces. All four models are priced at €2,640 TTC.
Awake's strategy allows the brand to differentiate its creations by availability while maintaining a consistent price point across all color options. This approach enables collectors to choose from a range of unique dials without affecting the overall pricing.
Key points
- The new Son Mai Silver Leaf 38mm watches feature a 68-hour power reserve and a unique blend of Vietnamese craftsmanship and contemporary watchmaking.
