The French Indie brand Awake, founded in 2019, was founded with the idea of sharpening the limited resources of our planet. The first publications were based on a rather unique perspective, such as the “Mission to Earth” spaums of the brand, which contained an NFC chip that enabled access to exclusive views of our planet from the International Space Station. In 2024, Wack changed with the introduction of son Mai Silver Leaf Collection. The main discussion was the dial, which was handmade with a polished paint and the use of silver leaf guild, an old technology from Vietnam. According to the numbered start editions and several limited models, it is now time that the permanent collection to Taste to Toping with the waking son Mai Silver Leaf Vignette.
The new son of son Mai Silver Leaf Vignette still remains on paper, the numbered start models from 2024, which were limited to 50 pieces and are now sold out. The idea with this son -May Collection was to bring a fairly special Métier d'Art to the table. Lilian Thibault, founder of the brand, discovered the old Vietnamese art of paint – Sơn Mài – on a trip to the country in 2008. This artistic craft begins with the juice of the Rhus Verniciflua tree, which grows in North Vietnam. This juice is cleaned and dehydrated into a transparent paint that is known for its shine and protective properties. The Sơn Mài technology is to use several layers of natural paint, to leave it and then to polish until a mirror-like finish is reached of the unprecedented depth. In contrast to Chinese and Japanese schools, Vietnamese craftsmen integrate valuable materials in the paint gold, pearl nut, and in the case of the waking sheet, silver leaf creation of unique textures, reliefs and light pieces.
On a first layer of dried lacquer, sanded and polished, the pure silver leaves are finely applied with a brush. As soon as the silver leaf is applied, natural pigments are sprayed onto the dial to give it color and contrasts. Then a dozen consecutive layers of paint are used individually and polished. The first collection of 2024 integrated lively colors – Lava, Emerald, Outre Bleu and Amethyst. For 2025, the brand brings 4 new colors to form the permanent collection (and a fifth as a limited edition) and adds a trendy gradient -vignette -vignette for beatings: Ultra Violet, Palladium, Carmine Red and Moonlight Blue. In addition, the quintet completes a 100-part gold hour with warm red, orange and yellow colors.
The rest remains identical to earlier editions. The collection of the waking son Mai Silver Leaf Vignette retains the same 39 -mm housing made of recycled stainless steel with brushed flanks and polished surfaces. The wide bezel frames an anti-reflecting sapphire crystal, and the screwed housing also benefits from such a feature. It opens up the view of the movement, an automatic engine from La Joux-Perret and delivers a solid 68-hour electricity reserve. It has a personalized rotor and is framed by a microblasted ring.
Apart from the appealing texture and the lively colors The son Mai Silver Leaf Vignette is the layout the same. This means a fairly fascinating luminescent effect. Instead of applying it to the upper surfaces of the hands and indices, Awake reverses the formula. The hands and indices consist of a thin, solid base of SLN BGW9, and then with a faceted, polished steel overlay that works like backlight. All watches are equipped with a handmade strap in France, in Nubuck Bull Calfskin or suede.
The Ultra Violett, Palladium, Carmine Red and Moonlight Blue Editions of the Awake Son Mai Silver Leaf Vignette are now available in the permanent collection of the brand (online and by retailers). The Golden Hour Edition is limited to 100 pieces. All versions are evaluated EUR 2,000 EUR before tax. For more information, see Awakewatches.com.
https://monochrome-watches.com/2025-awake-son-mai-silver-leaf-vigneten-collection-5-new-