As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for unique timepieces, I must admit that the Son Mai collection from AWAKE has truly captured my attention. Having traveled extensively across Asia, I’ve come across various artisanal crafts, and the Vietnamese lacquering technique used in this collection is nothing short of intriguing.
The fresh Son Mai collection by AWAKE, a French independent watch brand, showcases a unique take on artistic craftsmanship in watchmaking. Available in four vibrant colors: Lava, Outre Bleu, Emerald, and Amethyst, the latest design boasts a sleek 39mm case size that’s both stylish and comfortable to wear.
Each dial is meticulously handcrafted and fine-tuned, as confirmed by Lilian Thibaut, the brand’s founder. It takes approximately 10 hours just to finish the base on its own. Gold or silver leaf is delicately brushed onto the dial, creating a one-of-a-kind texture. Subsequently, ten master lacquers from Hanoi apply ten layers of lacquer, ensuring each layer dries and polishes completely before the next can be added.
Earlier, AWAKE had partnered with NASA for a unique feature in their timepiece. This enabled the owner to view the extraordinary sight of Earth from a satellite’s perspective using an embedded NFC chip. However, Thibaut shared with Son Mai that he wanted to explore new paths for future designs.
He expressed a desire to design a watch with a timeless aesthetic while maintaining modern features. One day, while engrossed in a lacquer painting in his office, an idea came to him. This sparked further exploration of different lacquer techniques from across the globe.
During his journeys through Asia, the creator of AWAKE happened upon the art of Vietnamese lacquer work. Unlike Japanese Urushi, which showcases the charm in its own lacquer finish, Vietnamese lacquering acts as a shield for what lies beneath. This method is well-known within the realm of artisanal crafts, having been utilized by Hermès for quite some time.
The collection from Son Mai is housed in a polished structure made of reclaimed stainless steel. It features Super-LumiNova indices and hands, along with AWAKE’s signature luminous “coiffe.” These timepieces are powered by the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement and offer a power reserve of 68 hours.
The Son Mai collection, priced at $2,150 USD, can now be ordered directly through AWAKE’s official online store.
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2024-10-28 16:26