A fusion of material and light, the Royal Blue dials are entirely hand-crafted in the manner of a “mille-feuille”, composed of successive layers of lacquer, pure gold leaf and natural blue pigments in varying shades. A chromatic combination at once subtle and noble, steeped in history and meaning, this edition carries a poetic and philosophical resonance that transcends the boundaries of mere aesthetic refinement.

A silent dialogue between what passes and what remains, it unites two absolutes that seem to stand in opposition. On one side, time – elusive, inexorable. On the other, gold – imperishable, immutable.

One flows, and never stops. The other is eternal.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Pure gold – a first: AWAKE unveils a limited edition with unique dials marrying, for the first time in watchmaking, ancestral Vietnamese Sơn Mài lacquer and pure gold leaf gilding. A chromatic combination at once noble and powerful, steeped in history and meaning.

200 pieces: inspired by the silent dialogue between gold and time – between what passes and what endures.

15 hours per dial: A complex process, entirely executed by hand, where every gesture matters with one sole purpose : the pursuit of perfection.

New 38mm case: perfectly balanced, with refined proportions and an assured elegance.

New handwritten logo: with fluid, organic lines – a tribute to the gesture of the artisans.

Swiss La Joux-Perret movements: offering 68 hours of power reserve, fitted with our new rotor.

Jean Rousseau straps: in Alcantara, equipped with our new micro-adjustable pin buckle.

PRESERVATION, MODERNIZATION AND TRANSMISSION

AWAKE’s vision and interpretation of Métiers d’Art extends far beyond the watch itself, becoming an opportunity to cast light on craftsmanship – here, Vietnamese – while transcending borders and celebrating identities and cultures within the intimate space of a dial, all while championing a love of beauty, of handwork, of slowness, and of timelessness. Each of the Maison’s projects is driven by a commitment to preserve and celebrate artisanal savoir-faire by anchoring it firmly within our contemporary lives.

INSPIRATION : “WHERE TIME FLOWS, GOLD ENDURES”

There exist materials that do not merely adorn – they signify, they symbolize. Pure gold, which we introduce for the first time into our dials, was not chosen solely for its brilliance, but for what it embodies: permanence in the face of the ephemeral, the essential over the accessory. In this sense, incorporating pure gold into our watch dials reflects a desire to weave a silent dialogue between what passes and what remains… At once material and light, the gold present in the Royal Blue dials is, in its own way, an expression of our refusal of the ephemeral : gold as a silent victory over time…

“Choosing to incorporate pure gold into our watch dials is a decision that transcends aesthetics. It is a way of affirming, without words, that one believes in what endures and never fades.»

Lilian THIBAULT – Founder of AWAKE

BLUE AND GOLD : A FASCINATING DUO, STEEPED IN MEANING AND HISTORY

Gold is perhaps the most universal and powerful symbol that exists. Across virtually every culture, gold carries a divine and spiritual dimension, embodying that which is rare, precious and worthy of preservation. In the collective imagination, it represents above all perfection and the absolute. And while it naturally evokes power and wealth, we prefer the idea of an immaterial richness that transcends mere money : a lasting, imperishable wealth – to be preserved and passed on. In a word : gold is that which is never lost… Blue, for its part, is omnipresent in our daily lives. Evoking by turns the sky, the sea, the infinite, it is most often associated with wisdom, serenity and spirituality. A symbol of vastness and depth, its influence extends far beyond the purely visual, shaping our emotions and our perception of the world…

Brought together at the heart of the Royal Blue dials, blue and gold form a chromatic combination that is universally noble and powerful, built on strong contrasts : as a backdrop, the varying shades of blue – from deep sapphire to soft sky blue – create a sense of depth and recession, while the gold, warm and luminous, comes forward and draws the eye. Each magnifies the other, creating a timeless contrast of rare beauty, synonymous with elegance and refinement.

“SEEKING THE GOLD OF TIME”

For the very first time, AWAKE introduces pure gold into the crafting of its Sơn Mài lacquer dials, in a poetic and philosophical approach that transcends the boundaries of mere aesthetic refinement – uniting two absolutes that seem to stand in opposition. On one side, time : elusive, fleeting, inexorable. On the other, gold : immutable, eternal. One flows, and never stops. The other is imperishable. At the heart of the Royal Blue dials, gold becomes a witness to that which must not be forgotten.

Where silver leaf once reflected the light, gold holds it, warms it, and lends it a new depth. Imperishable by nature, pure gold does not age. Elevated by the brilliance of the lacquer, enriched with layers of natural blue pigments, gold here does not merely adorn : it signifies. A deliberate choice, symbolizing our commitment to push, with each new collection, the boundaries of our savoir-faire. To bring pure gold into our dials is to inscribe each timepiece within a millennia-old tradition of perfection, while affirming, with quiet conviction, that there exist materials which do not justify themselves – they simply impose themselves… Royal Blue is conceived as an invitation to open one’s eyes wide, to look beyond what is obvious or visible, and to seek out what lies hidden or forgotten…

“For AWAKE, ‘seeking the gold of time’ is a perpetual quest for the beauty, the magic and the enchantment that surround us everywhere. »

Thibaut SACRE – COO of AWAKE

THE ROYAL BLUE DIALS

Royal Blue offers a sensory and deeply intimate experience: the warmth of gold and its quiet brilliance at the wrist create a sense of reassurance and protection. Yet far beyond mere adornment, wearing Royal Blue becomes an act laden with meaning – conscious or not – that speaks of the one who wears it, of what they value, and of what they wish to pass on. An ordinary watch measures time, while Royal Blue transcends it, reminding us at every moment of that duality between the eternal and the ephemeral. In this sense, Royal Blue was conceived as a silent dialogue between what passes and what remains…

Months of work, boundless creativity, a constant drive to push the boundaries of their art, and an exceptionally high level of dexterity were required of our master lacquer artisans to obtain, from natural pigments alone, the ideal palette of blues – and to envision how to marry them with Sơn Mài lacquer and pure gold leaf through a complex and demanding technique known as “glacis” (Frosted), enabling the creation of organic, deep and mysterious dials with an icy, frosted luminescence.

15 HOURS OF FOCUS PER DIAL

An exceptional savoir-faire, the technique employed in crafting the Royal Blue dials demands remarkable concentration and skill from our master lacquer artisans. A lengthy, complex process – entirely executed by hand – where every gesture matters, driven by one sole purpose: the pursuit of perfection.

• A rare and delicate raw material: It all begins with the sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree, which grows in northern Vietnam. After a decade of growth, each tree yields only 200ml of sap per year, harvested exclusively in the early morning hours of June and July. Purified and dehydrated, this sap becomes a transparent lacquer, renowned for its brilliance and protective qualities.

• A unique ancestral Vietnamese art: Inherited from a centuries-old tradition and requiring many years of practice to master, the Sơn Mài technique consists of applying, layering and polishing multiple coats of natural lacquer until an unmatched mirror-like depth of finish is achieved. Unlike Chinese and Japanese schools, Vietnamese artisans incorporate precious materials into the lacquer – here, pure gold – to create unique textures, relief effects and interplays of light.

• The quiet, warm brilliance of gold leaf: : The artisans first apply a base layer of lacquer and deep blue pigments to the dial, then varnish it. A first layer of pure gold leaf is then laid down, applied by brush and delicately sanded to remove any excess material, lending the dial an organic texture with warm metallic reflections that capture light with remarkable intensity.

• Symbolic colors and exceptional depth: This is where our technique known as “Frosted” (“Glacis”) comes into play, considerably increasing the complexity of our dials. Rather than beginning the layering process as on a “classic” dial, our master artisans repeat the previous process, once again suspending delicate gold leaf within the lacquer – this time enriched with lighter blue pigments. Between each layer, the material rests, breathes and matures – a reflection of a technique that demands patience and repetition, and follows the slow rhythm of time itself…

• Passion down to the very fingertips: This « mille-feuille” of material then passes into the hands of the workshop’s most experienced artisan, for a long finger-sanding process that gradually reveals hypnotic reliefs and patterns, rendering each dial utterly unique. Several further coats of lacquer – each sanded and polished in turn – are applied to bestow upon the dial an impeccable brilliance and seal it for eternity. A demanding and methodical process of some fifteen hours, throughout which the slightest lapse in attention would condemn the dial entirely.

• A unique work of art: The entire process – mobilizing patience, dexterity and extreme concentration – transforms each Royal Blue dial into a unique, living piece upon which light and time seem to pause, the better to enter into dialogue. Born of an entirely artisanal process, each dial carries within it the breath of an artisan, the ancient gestures of an expert hand connecting centuries of savoir-faire to the modern world.

NEW 38MM CASE
Royal Blue is fitted with our new 38mm case, with refined proportions and an assured elegance. Perfectly balanced, it captivates with its polished bezel featuring concave lines that allow the dial to take centre stage, its gently domed sapphire crystal, and its slightly downward-sloping lugs, extended by a subtle stepped profile evoking the aesthetics of the 1960s while retaining a resolutely contemporary feel. The interplay of contrasts between polished surfaces and brushed flanks underscores this refined modernity, while the crown – slightly resized and now screw-down for water resistance to 100 meters – is adorned with a new emblem symbolizing our commitment to Artisanship. On the case back, a redesigned rehaut, more legible and authentic, engraves this vision into the very heart of the material.

NEW BRAND IDENTITY
The Royal Blue dials also bear our new visual identity : a handwritten logo with fluid, organic lines – a tribute to the gesture of the artisans. More than a mere aesthetic evolution, it reflects a deeper intention : to place tradition, savoir-faire and Métiers d’Art at the heart of a contemporary expression. Accompanied by an emblem evocative of transmission and dialogue between cultures, this ensemble embodies a sensitive and committed vision, where every detail celebrates the richness of artisanal heritage and our determination to preserve it.

ELEVATING MATERIAL AND ILLUMINATING SAVOIR-FAIRE
Royal Blue incorporates our exclusive luminous signature, designed to unite innovation, elegance and emotion, while enhancing the depth and interplay of materials across the dials – by day and by night. Hands and indices adopt an innovative construction combining Super-LumiNova® BGW9 with steel caps in polished, brushed and chiseled finishes, ensuring a subtle diffusion of light and clear legibility without altering the dial. During the day, discretion prevails, while in darkness, the luminescence reveals its full intensity. A soft halo then emanates, enhancing the brilliance of the lacquer and the intense contrast between the blue pigments and the pure gold. The result : an immersive visual poetry, between shadow and light, where technique and emotion converge.

LA JOUX-PERRET G101 MOVEMENT
Royal Blue is powered by the G101 automatic movement – reliable, high-performing and beautifully finished – from Swiss manufacture La Joux-Perret. A modern, precise caliber boasting a 68-hour power reserve, it is fitted with our new custom-developed rotor, machined from a solid block of tungsten. Combining raised and recessed surfaces, it benefits from an exceptional level of finishing – polished, brushed and micro-blasted – ending the ensemble a presence that is at once technical and elegant. The whole is framed by a redesigned rehaut, more legible and more authentic, engraved with our mission : “Illuminating the hands and heritage behind rare crafts”, as well as our brand signature : “Artisanship, Awakened ».

JEAN ROUSSEAU STRAPS
To complement the Royal Blue dials, we have selected a blue Alcantara strap, handcrafted by the artisans of the Jean Rousseau manufacture. Considered in every detail, it combines refined finishing, tone-on-tone stitching and a rubberized calfskin lining, while incorporating lugs perfectly suited to the 38mm case for a flawless fit. The Royal Blue strap is fitted with our new Fitwell M1 micro-adjustable pin buckle, offering precise adjustment in 3mm increments for optimal comfort throughout the day. A technical and refined ensemble, conceived for the most discerning enthusiasts, where every detail enhances the daily wearing experience. Dimensions : 115×75 – 20/16.
AN UNMATCHED VALUE PROPOSITION
Unique dials incorporating pure gold for the very first time, entirely handcrafted according to two ancestral Métiers d’Art, an exclusive and unprecedented luminous signature, a renowned Swiss movement, and handcrafted straps made in France – all at a price of €3,000, taxes and shipping included. True to our vision, we work tirelessly to offer, within our price range, a singular proposition uniting aesthetic excellence, horological quality, artisanal savoir-faire and pure emotion.

The post ROYAL BLUE – Seeking the gold of time – appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

AWAKE is celebrating the Year of the Snake with an original creation combining Asian tradition and rock’n’roll spirit: ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’ by The Dial Artist.

AWAKE’s recent entry into the world of Métiers d’Art has not gone unnoticed. Today, it is attracting daring talents and personalities who are keen to join us in our quest for excellence and creativity, and in our desire to pass on traditional skills by reinventing them with a resolutely contemporary approach.

It is to the tradition of the Chinese zodiac – and more specifically to the Year of the Snake – that AWAKE is paying tribute through an exclusive collaboration combining the ancestral art of Vietnamese lacquerware Sơn Mài and the offbeat universe of Scottish artist Chris Alexander, aka The Dial Artist.

The fruit of this unexpected encounter between the Master Lacquerers of Hanoi and one of the most singular artists on the watchmaking scene, ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’ by The Dial Artist embodies a striking fusion of tradition and modernity, craftsmanship and artistic expression. A veritable bridge between cultures, this creation tells a story in which every detail – from the gesture to the material – celebrates personalities, skills and worlds that are as different as they are complementary…

Produced in a very limited edition of 50 pieces, ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’ stands out for its aesthetic as impertinent as it is refined: a rock n’ roll nod to the Year of the Snake, carried by an execution of the utmost precision. A rare watch, conceived as a manifesto of creative freedom.

“For even more pleasure, we ssstrongly recommend that you pronounce all the Sss sssounds in this presss release like a sssnake sssnort!

The Dial Artissst.

Key points to remember:

50 unique and certified pieces: Each of the 50 dials in this special edition ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’ is a work of art to be worn every day. 50 mysterious dials with bewitching reflections, handcrafted by artisans and a creative artist, idealistic and eager to understand others. Values and qualities often attributed to people born in the Year of the Snake. Each of the 50 watches in this limited edition will be delivered with a certificate of authenticity, attesting that it is indeed a work by The Dial Artist.

15h of work by hand, on two continents: Each dial in the ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’ edition is the fruit of an artistic dialogue between two continents, two traditions, and the same passion for colour and material. Handcrafted in 15 hours of meticulous work, each dial embodies the encounter between an age-old craft and a contemporary vision of watchmaking.

A bold, artistic nod to the Year of the Snake: With ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’, AWAKE signs a wink to the tradition of the Chinese zodiac that is both artisanal and artistic. This limited edition of 50 combines oriental astrology, contemporary creativity and Vietnamese ancestral skills to celebrate the Year of the Snake with boldness – and an assertive rock n’ roll style.

Exclusive collaboration AWAKE x THE DIAL ARTIST: Since 2017, Chris Alexander, aka The Dial Artist, has established himself as one of the most singular talents on the contemporary watchmaking scene. Known for his dials bursting with color and life, he blurs the boundaries between watchmaking and modern art with panache. This first exclusive collaboration with AWAKE marks an important step since our entry into the world of Métiers d’Art. It is the result of a human and artistic encounter based on deep affinities: a love of color, a passion for materials, and respect for the craftsman.

Exclusive light signature, between mystery and chiaroscuro: Stripped of all logos and indexes, the limited edition “Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake” boasts a radical artistic statement, leaving plenty of room for visual emotion and the bewitching texture of its unique dials, inspired by the snake’s skin. But it’s when night falls that the magic takes full effect: the hour and minute hands come to life in a subtle halo of light, diffused by AWAKE’s exclusive luminous signature, inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of chiaroscuro.

Manufacture La Joux – Perret (La Chaux de Fonds) for Awake: This ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’ edition is equipped with the LJP G101 automatic calibre, developed by the Swiss Manufacture La Joux – Perret. Reliable and high-performance (68-hour power reserve), it features a tungsten rotor designed exclusively for AWAKE, with elegant contrasts between raised and recessed surfaces, and a bead-blasted ring laser-engraved with the artist’s name, the Swiss Made designation and the limited series number. If you take a closer look, you’ll notice that it conceals a few amusing special features for lovers of details !

“Ancestral Vietnamese craftsmanship imagined as a canvas to express the unbridled modern creativity of The Dial Artist, and pay a bold, rock’n’roll tribute to the Chinese tradition of the zodiac, and more particularly to the year of the snake… ”

Lilian Thibault – Founder of AWAKE

The modern creativity of The Dial Artist and traditional Vietnamese lacquerware Sơn Mài combine to anchor age-old skills in our contemporary lives.

The starting point: A shared love of lacquer and colors.
Chris Alexander, aka The Dial Artist, was one of the first people to encourage our approach of (re)highlighting and modernising ancestral skills from around the world. The launch of the Sơn Mài collection at the end of 2024, based on the age-old traditional art of Vietnamese lacquerware, was a trigger for this artist, renowned for his love of materials (particularly lacquer), colors and his ability to give watch dials an extra soul and life, a new energy.

When we asked him to come up with an unexpected – and resolutely rock’n’roll – tribute to the tradition of the Chinese zodiac, and more specifically to the Year of the Snake, the ideas quickly sprang to life to find the best way of highlighting different identities, cultures, traditions and know-how in the confined space of a dial.

This collaboration, limited to 50 pieces made entirely by hand on two continents, by an artist and craftsmen united by the same love of lacquer and colours, transcends borders and perfectly embodies our vision of the fusion between modern art and ancestral craftsmanship, to give life to an original, daring and non-conformist timepiece!

Portrait of Chris Alexander aka The Dial Artist.
A graduate of a master’s degree in design from Gray’s School of Art (Aberdeen), and better known as The Dial Artist, Chris Alexander is a Scottish artist who draws his inspiration from his childhood spent in South Africa, and from his many passions: street art, pop culture and astrology.
Chris founded The Dial Artist in 2017, drawing on twenty years’ experience in the creative industries, during which time he has been able to experiment with and master a wide range of paints, lacquers and techniques, honing his skills and artistry.
In just a few years, he has made a name for himself in the global watchmaking community for his colorful, vibrant dials and his sophisticated style, which blurs the boundaries between contemporary art and watchmaking. Watch brands and collectors all over the world turn to him to customize existing dials or create unique, made-to-measure projects that stand out and tell a new story every time.

When Astrology inspires creation.
At AWAKE, we regularly explore themes that touch and inspire us, and which we choose to reinterpret through a personal and creative approach. It was in this spirit that the idea for ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’ was born, when a conversation with Chris revealed his deep attachment to astrology, a constant source of inspiration in both his life and his artistic work.
From this chat arose an obvious idea: to pay tribute to the Chinese zodiac, an ancestral system steeped in legend, still regarded in China today as a guide to understanding one’s personality or directing one’s destiny.
Unlike Western astrology based on solar months, the Chinese zodiac – 生肖 (shēngxiào) – is based on a cycle of twelve lunar years, each placed under the sign of an animal with powerful symbolic traits.

The year 2025 marks our entry into the Year of the Serpent – Shé (蛇): a sign that is complex, mysterious, intuitive and refined. All qualities that we wanted to subtly evoke on the dials of this special edition, limited to 50 pieces. A free and daring interpretation of the snake, a symbol of wisdom and transformation, brought to life here through a totally new reptilian aesthetic.

Ancestral Vietnamese lacquerware Sơn Mài as a canvas for The Dial Artist.
Chris wished to combine his creativity and love of lacquer and colors with the traditional Vietnamese skills of our lacquer craftsmen to help, in his own small way, to bridge the gap between the rich art of lacquer and a younger audience, and so pass on this heritage to future generations.

STEP 1 – HANOI – VIETNAM 🇻🇳: It all starts with the sap of the Rhus Verniciflua, a tree that grows in northern Vietnam and produces, between June and July, in very small quantities (just 200ml per tree), a natural lacquer considered to be the best in the world because it contains the highest proportion of gloss.
A first coat of lacquer is applied to the brass dial base. Then, with care and precision, the lacquerers spray on several thin layers of natural black pigments, obtained from minerals, plant derivatives or other organic sources, to obtain a deep, intense color. Several coats of pure lacquer are then applied, each time dried, sanded and polished, to give the dial a timeless shine.
It’s a long, meticulous process that requires both great artistic talent and cutting-edge technical expertise on the part of our craftsmen, to provide Chris Alexander with the perfect “canvas” on which to express his art and techniques.

STEP 2 – PERTH – SCOTLAND 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿: To bring this contemporary interpretation of the Serpent to life, Chris Alexander immersed himself in a meticulous study of the textures and reflections of snake skins. After much experimentation, he carefully selected a palette of matte paints with unique optical properties, capable of reacting to different light wavelengths. Yellow, blue, green and violet are applied by hand to each dial to create an organic, iridescent and ultra-realistic chromatic effect.
Once the colours have stabilised, the artist applies with extreme precision a thin textured pellicle, produced in his workshop in Scotland using advanced UV techniques. This exclusive pattern, inspired by snakeskin, creates the illusion of three-dimensional scales, with uncanny realism. Then comes the final step: a delicate layer of gloss black paint, applied with an ultra-fine brush, accentuates the contrasts and reveals all the visual complexity of the composition.

The result: a living, hypnotic dial that captures and plays with light. Each piece differs subtly from the last, making each copy of the limited edition ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’ a truly unique creation. From Vietnam to Scotland, from traditional gestures to technological know-how, this dial requires 15 hours of handwork, and in itself embodies the spirit of this extraordinary collaboration.

“Their techniques and gestures are precise and mastered, inherited from an ancestral know-how that has made Vietnamese lacquering craftsmen famous the world over. It’s an honor and a real source of pride to have the opportunity, thanks to AWAKE, to express my creativity on a dial steeped in history and tradition. We come from different countries and cultures but our passion for lacquer and colors is an imaginary thread stretched between us.”

The Dial Artist.

50 dials hand made to bring good luck, wisdom and light.
The 50 unique dials in this limited edition have been imagined and designed with patience and passion, between Vietnam and Scotland, to bring good luck to their future owners, promoting regeneration and growth while warding off negative energies. Each complex and mysterious dial is the work of craftsmen and an artist who is curious, warm, generous and profoundly human – qualities often associated with people born in the Year of the Snake, a sign of wisdom, intuition and finesse of mind.

With no logo, no index, these dials embody a clear artistic approach: to let the full visual power of the motif express itself freely. The strikingly realistic reptilian design interacts with the light through a subtle alternation of matt and shiny finishes. And when night falls, the hands come to life to reveal our exclusive luminous signature, inspired by Japanese chiaroscuro; diffusing a discreet, magnetic halo of light, extending the mysterious aura of the snake.

Creations full of meaning and symbolism, designed to instill patience, love, wisdom and good fortune in those who wear them, as predicted by the Year of the Snake 2025.

“50 ’Designed to Be Different” dials will soon be gracing the wrists of enthusiasts who want to stand out from the crowd and see their watches not as status symbols but as personal statements of daring and style!”

The Dial Artist.

A case back featuring carefully studied details and finishes.
On the back of each ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’ watch beats the LJP G101 automatic calibre, with unidirectional winding, designed by the Swiss Manufacture La Joux-Perret. Renowned for its robustness and precision, this movement has a power reserve of 68 hours and is equipped, exclusively for AWAKE, with a tungsten rotor featuring refined contrasts, combining hollowed surfaces and polished reliefs. A play of textures and finishes that adds depth and modernity to the movement’s design.

The movement is adorned with a custom-made bead-blasted ring, meticulously laser-engraved with the artist’s name, the words ‘Swiss Made’ and the serial number of each piece. Lovers of detail will appreciate the little surprises hidden in the caseback: the word “Sssnake”, lengthened by several ‘s’ to make playful spirits sssiffle, and whose final ‘e’ stretches out like a forked tongue… a playful reference to the animal totem of this edition.

Marine leather straps for the ultimate reptilian effect!
To equip this limited edition ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’, we have chosen an iridescent and metallic purple LUNA® trout leather, whose fine scales and subtle colour nuances extend the reptilian appearance of the dial in an elegant and harmonious way, and give the sensation of a snake coiling all around the wrist. The leather is very fine-grained and regular, changing colour under the effect of light for a hypnotic visual experience at every glance.

Lined in ‘Burgundy’ calfskin and hand-stitched tone-on-tone, this exceptionally hard-wearing and elegant marine leather has a soft, perfectly smoothed feel and meets all the technical requirements of the watchmaking industry. Dimensions: 115x80mm / 20x16mm – Mounted on our 316L recycled steel pin buckle – fitted with presto pumps.

Certificate of authenticity and personalized cases:
Each of the 50 watches in this limited edition will be delivered with a certificate of authenticity, attesting that it is indeed a work by The Dial Artist. And for even more pleasure and exclusivity, The Dial Artist has customized each of the 50 cases in this ‘Sơn Mài – Year of the Sssnake’ project with his signature, the limited series number of the watch it houses and a word characterizing this limited edition and the relationship we have developed over time: Fearless, Create, Dream, Freedom, Excel, Defy, Daring, Timeless, Love, Friendship… and many more!

The post « Sơn Mài – Year of the The Sssnake » appeared first on Arab Watch Guide.

Maybe you weren’t born yet.
Almost exactly 32 years ago, Steven Spielberg introduced us to a new cinematic era with the premiere of Jurassic Park.
Who could ever forget opening scenes?
AWAKE unveils the Jurassic Watch, the first chapter in its series, ‘A Tribute to The 7th Art.’
A creative homage to cult classics through the lens of Métiers d’Art, this project revisits the films that shaped our childhoods and continue to resonate with us.

Jurassic Watch: two limited-edition models – T-REX and RAPTORS – as a tribute to Spielberg’s 1993 masterpiece, based on Michael Crichton’s best-selling novel.

Jurassic Watch – Key Takeaways:
Handcrafted dials: Each dial is hand-lacquered by our master artisan, drawing inspiration from the reptilian gaze of prehistoric creatures. Using techniques from our Sơn Mài collection, the layered lacquer – infused with natural pigments and silver leaf – creates a rich play of depth, texture, and reflection. A meticulous process that captures the hypnotic stare of these ancient beasts.

AWAKE Lume Signature: Featuring a custom construction of indexes and hands coated in BGW9 Super-LumiNova®, the Jurassic Watch delivers a refined interplay of light and shadow. The result? A glowing, cinematic chamber of reflections between the dial and the sapphire crystal – a luminous signature unique to AWAKE.

Marine Leather Straps: Each strap is crafted from scaled salmon leather sourced from ICTYOS. With its distinctly reptilian texture and natural sheen, this sustainable material offers bold visual impact and endless creative potential – perfectly in line with AWAKE’s avant-garde spirit.

Swiss Made: Both editions are assembled in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the cradle of Swiss watchmaking. Inside beats the G101 automatic movement from La Joux-Perret, offering robust performance and a 68-hour power reserve.
Two Limited Edition Models:
• T-REX – a fiery orange dial and matching marine leather strap evoke the raw power of the saga’s most fearsome predator.
• RAPTORS – a shimmering green palette pays tribute to the cunning Velociraptor, with razor-sharp details echoing its on-screen menace.
Each model is limited to just 50 pieces. Made famous by the first Jurassic Park movie, the T-Rex and the velociraptors –the most popular predators of the prehistoric era – continue to inspire awe and fascination in the world’s museums.

Starting Point

Since its founding in 2019, Art has been at the core of AWAKE’s philosophy – a driving force behind our constant push to redefine the boundaries of creativity.

Launched in 2024, the Sơn Mài collection marked a turning point in our journey, taking our vision to the realm of Métiers d’Art – a sanctuary of craftsmanship where artisans are elevated to the status of artists, and where heritage is expressed through the beauty and poetry we are proud to share. In other words:

Artisanship, Awakened.

Awake illuminates the hands and heritage behind rare crafts, connecting centuries of savoir-faire to contemporary culture.

And today, we bring that spirit to the 7th Art: Cinema.
With Jurassic Watch, we channel the skill of our artisans into a tribute to the films that shaped our youth and ignited our imagination.

Reliving the Magic!

Jurassic Watch is a collaborative creation uniting artisans and technicians to craft a poetic, horological tribute to one of the most iconic films of the 1990s.

This limited-edition series speaks to the watch connoisseur and the movie lover alike – offering a nostalgic keepsake to cherish and share with future generations.

To bring these cinematic memories to life, our master lacquerer meticulously blended and layered pigments to recreate the piercing, merciless gaze of the film’s most legendary creatures – the very ones this edition so vividly honors.

The T-REX Edition

The T-REX version features a fiery orange dial with a gradient finish, alive with vivid reflections. Just above the 6 o’clock marker, two applied rip marks subtly reference the T-Rex’s fearsome two-clawed forelimbs…

It is combined with a bright iridescent orange marine leather strap with a reptilian appearance, lined with orange calfskin featuring tone-on-tone hand stitching.

It’s paired with a bold, iridescent orange marine leather strap – scaled and textured like reptile skin – lined with orange calfskin and finished with tone-on-tone hand stitching.

On the caseback, the quote “Spared No Expense” is engraved – a line delivered repeatedly by John Hammond, the eccentric billionaire who brings dinosaurs back to life on Isla Nublar. His vision, grand and unrestrained, gives rise to Jurassic Park… and the chaos that follows.

This model evokes one of the film’s most unforgettable moments: the nighttime scene in the pouring rain, when the T-Rex escapes its paddock and attacks the tour vehicles – an image seared into the memory of every kid growing up in the 1990s.

The RAPTORS Edition

The RAPTORS edition is inspired by the film’s most cunning predator, the Velociraptor. Its dial shimmers with layered shades of green, capturing the eerie intensity of the creature’s gaze. Three applied claw marks slash across the surface, echoing the raptor’s lethal precision.

The watch is paired with an iridescent green marine leather strap – scaled and textured like reptile hide – lined with khaki calfskin and hand-stitched in matching tones.

On the caseback: the prophetic line “Life Finds a Way”, spoken by Dr. Ian Malcolm, the film’s chaotic voice of reason. It’s a quote that encapsulates the film’s central theme – and the inevitable unraveling of its grand experiment.

This model brings us back to one of the film’s most suspenseful moments: the kitchen scene, where two raptors stalk their prey with unnerving intelligence, opening doors and closing in on the terrified children…

The Caseback: An Evocative Canvas
Both editions feature a completely reimagined movement ring – designed in harmony with the theme of this special release and reflecting our obsessive attention to detail.
A laser-engraved jungle motif evokes the lush, tropical foliage so iconic to the film’s setting. Around the ring, the Jurassic Watch name appears at 12 o’clock, with Swiss Made engraved at 6 o’clock in a typeface that instantly recalls the visual world of the saga. At 3 o’clock, each piece is individually numbered.
At 9 o’clock on the T-REX version, you’ll find the line “Spared No Expense,” a tribute to John Hammond’s grand vision.
On the RAPTORS version, “Life Finds a Way” honors Dr. Ian Malcolm’s prophetic warning – a line that has echoed through pop culture ever since.

GOLDEN TICKET
One of the 100 Jurassic Watch sets will contain an incredibly rare and highly sought-after object: a genuine Carcharodontosaurus tooth, from a dinosaur that dominated North Africa between 93 and 100 million years ago, and known as one of the biggest predators ever recorded. This 10-centimeter (!) tooth, discovered at Kem in Morocco, will be accompanied by its certificate of authenticity.

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