Son Mài - Silver Leaf Atlantis Blue
Limited to only 100 pieces made and this is the last one available!
The result of Awake's constant experimentation with new techniques to extract their quintessence and fuel their creativity, the dials of these five new versions recall the magnificent "Vignette" dials, emblematic of the 1970s and 1980s, and their "smoky gradient" effects, drawing attention to the center by creating a strong contrast with the surroundings.
The term "Vignette," borrowed from photography and optics, originally referred to a lens defect that reduced the light intake at the periphery of the image, leaving the center brighter.
Transposed to our vision of watchmaking, this aesthetic becomes an asset: a 10-hour creative process to create, by hand, this unique visual depth and chromatic intensity, generated by subtle color transitions achieved through different pigments and a meticulous layering of lacquer, irrevocably drawing the eye to its center.
39mm diameter case in Recycled 316L Steel.
Unique dials designed by hand as works of art in their own right, ancestral techniques brought up to date with a contemporary approach blending creativity and innovation.
Unique and exclusive luminous signature
5ATM - Sapphire crystal
11.8mm thickness. 20mm lug width
Renowned La Joux-Perret G101 Swiss caliber (68h power reserve)
Handcrafted Strap by the master saddlers of the Bouveret company located in Franche-Comté, their production requires no fewer than 60 steps following strict specifications prioritizing comfort and longevity.
The result of meticulous know-how, the Sơn Mài - Silver Leaf technique requires unparalleled concentration and dexterity from the master lacquerers, and is based on a long and complex process carried out entirely by hand.
Inherited from a centuries-old tradition, the Sơn Mài technique consists of applying, superimposing, and then polishing multiple layers of natural lacquer until a mirror-like finish of unparalleled depth is achieved. Unlike Chinese and Japanese schools, Vietnamese artisans incorporate precious materials into the lacquer—gold, mother-of-pearl, and here, silver leaf—creating unique textures, reliefs, and plays of light.
On a first layer of dried lacquer, sanded and polished to perfection, the pure silver leaves are delicately applied. This extremely precise gesture gives the dial an organic texture, a vibrant relief and changing reflections that capture the light with intensity.
Once the silver leaf is applied, natural pigments are sprayed onto the dial to give it its color and contrasts. Then a dozen successive layers of lacquer are applied and polished one by one, providing shine, protection, and almost infinite visual depth.
Moving away from traditional construction methods, Awake's hands and indexes are crafted from a thin, solid base of BGW9 Super-LumiNova®, delicately machined and then coated with a layer of faceted polished steel. This unique construction, very subtle by day, creates a stunning backlighting effect in the dark, with exceptional depth, allowing one to understand the work of the lacquer through its hypnotic reflections.