Awake’s Sơn Mài Guilloché Collection: A Celestial Tribute to Timekeeping Artistry

A Celestial Journey in Time

In the vibrant heart of the watchmaking world, a new star rises: Awake. This innovative brand, known for its commitment to exquisite craftsmanship, has unveiled its latest collection—the Sơn Mài Guilloché series. Drawing inspiration from the celestial wonders of our world, each timepiece in this trio encapsulates the essence of natural beauty and traditional artistry.

Masterful Craftsmanship from Two Worlds

At the core of the Sơn Mài Guilloché collection are three captivating references: Sunset, Alba, and Borealis. Each watch is a canvas painted with the hues of dawn, dusk, and the Northern Lights, reflecting a mesmerizing gradient that tells a story of its own.

The journey begins in the enchanting city of Hanoi, Vietnam, where master lacquer artisans meticulously layer the distinctive Sơn Mài lacquer—extracted from the Rhus Verniciflua tree. Each dial is crafted through a painstaking process that involves applying and polishing ultra-thin layers of lacquer, creating a rich depth of color. Sunset features a blend of pink, violet, and blue, while Alba captures the fiery tones of red, yellow, and orange. Borealis, on the other hand, showcases a stunning mix of green and yellow, reminiscent of the aurora borealis itself.

The Art of Guilloché: A Touch of Italian Heritage

Once the lacquer work is completed, the dials embark on a journey to Italy, where they receive the final artistic touch from the Renzetti family, a lineage of artisans renowned for their expert guilloché techniques. Over the course of approximately 15 hours, these skilled craftsmen transform each dial using traditional rose and straight-line engine lathes, resulting in intricate grooves that are unique to each piece.

This marriage of Vietnamese lacquer artistry and Italian guilloché craftsmanship creates a harmonious blend of cultures and techniques, elevating the collection to an extraordinary level of sophistication.

Elegance Meets Innovation

The new collection features a refined 38mm stainless steel case, marking a first for Awake. This contemporary size is designed to appeal to a broader audience while retaining the brand’s distinctive identity. The polished concave bezel and gently domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal add to the watch’s elegance, while the downward-curving lugs ensure a comfortable fit on the wrist.

Each watch is also equipped with a custom-designed La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement, boasting a robust 68-hour power reserve. The movement is adorned with a meticulously crafted tungsten oscillating weight, showcasing a blend of brushed, micro-blasted, and polished surfaces—an aesthetic delight that aligns with the collection’s artistic ethos.

Functional Aesthetics: The Details That Matter

Awake pays meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that even the smallest elements enhance the overall experience of the timepiece. The hands and indices are crafted from steel and finished with a sophisticated mix of polished, brushed, and engraved textures, filled with Super-LumiNova BGW9. This innovative luminescence creates a soft halo effect, illuminating the dial beautifully in low light while remaining understated during the day.

To complement the exquisite dials, each watch is fitted with a strap crafted in collaboration with the esteemed Jean Rousseau. Made from Alcantara with a rubberized calfskin lining, the straps feature colored stitching and a micro-adjustable pin buckle, allowing for a perfect fit. Available in vibrant hues that correspond with each dial, they further enhance the watches’ celestial themes.

Exclusivity Meets Accessibility

Awake’s Sơn Mài Guilloché collection is limited to just 200 numbered pieces per reference, ensuring exclusivity for discerning collectors. Priced at $3,075, this collection offers an incredible value for those who appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into each timepiece.

As the first 50 pieces are set to be delivered by mid-2026, there’s an air of anticipation surrounding this collection. For enthusiasts eager to experience the extraordinary fusion of craftsmanship and celestial inspiration, the Sơn Mài Guilloché series promises to be a worthy addition to any refined collection.

Editorial note: This article was created by A Bit Lavish Miami’s Magazine as an original editorial reinterpretation based on publicly available reporting. Original source: hodinkee.com. Read the original article here: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/awake-son-mai-guilloche-main-collection.
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