Awake Son Mai Fragments Blue Limited Edition Automatic – SMFB25AW

The Awake Sơn Mài Fragments Blue Limited Edition, a rare expression of artistry and watchmaking, produced in a strictly limited edition of only 100 pieces. The Fragments collection represents a bold step in Awake’s creative journey, uniting Vietnamese lacquer, natural mother-of-pearl, and the ancient Japanese art of Raden in a luminous and captivating harmony. In this striking interpretation, deep blue tones inspired by the ocean evoke the silent poetry of the sea. As light moves across the dial, iridescent fragments shimmer and transform—blues soften into silver while subtle grays reveal hints of azure—creating a living surface that captures the fluid beauty of time itself.

Continuing the artistic exploration of Hanoi’s remarkable lacquer craftsmanship, Awake reimagines traditional Vietnamese Sơn Mài techniques with luminous mother-of-pearl, treasured for its shifting colors and natural elegance. Inspired by the centuries-old Raden technique of embedding mother-of-pearl into lacquer, master artisans carefully select and place each fragment by hand, forming a delicate mosaic that reflects light with mesmerizing depth. The lacquer itself comes from the sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree, harvested in small quantities after years of growth, then purified to produce a finish prized for its extraordinary clarity and brilliance. Each dial requires nearly fifteen hours of meticulous handwork, followed by the application, sanding, and polishing of multiple layers of lacquer that seal the fragments beneath a surface of remarkable depth and shine.

Awake enhances this artistic dial with its signature luminous “chiaroscuro” aesthetic. Faceted polished steel hands and indexes filled with Super-LumiNova® BGW9 remain elegant and discreet in daylight, yet glow softly in darkness, revealing the hypnotic reflections of the lacquer beneath. The result is a refined reading of time that complements, rather than competes with, the dial’s artistry.

Encased in recycled 316L stainless steel measuring 39mm, the watch features a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, 50 meters of water resistance, and a sapphire display caseback. Inside beats the reliable Swiss automatic La Joux-Perret G101 movement with an impressive 68-hour power reserve. Completing the piece is a beautifully handcrafted Jean Rousseau matte black calfskin strap, lined with Alcantara and fitted with a refined pin buckle.

With its handcrafted métier d’art dial, sophisticated luminous signature, and exceptional Swiss mechanics, this limited-edition creation embodies Awake’s dedication to craftsmanship, sustainability, and emotional design—an extraordinary timepiece where art, culture, and watchmaking converge.