Introducing AWAKE Expands the Frosted Leaf Collection with the Royal Red Edition

AWAKE expands its Frosted Leaf collection with a new limited edition of 100 pieces: Royal Red. A singular creation born from the dialogue between two universal colors ‘’red and gold’’ whose union has transcended civilizations, art, and time. Inspired by Asian ritual objects and shaped through the ancestral gestures of Vietnamese Sơn Mài lacquerware, Royal Red introduces a new expression of AWAKE’s Frosted Leaf technique.

Red a timeless symbol of life, energy, and passion, meets the delicate glow of silver leaf infused with copper-toned pigments, evoking wisdom, transmission, and mastery of craft. More than a simple aesthetic variation, Royal Red embodies AWAKE’s philosophy: to preserve, modernize, and pass on exceptional craftsmanship within a contemporary, thoughtful, and conscious approach to watchmaking.

The AWAKE Sơn Mài new edition is housed in a 39 mm case crafted from recycled 316L stainless steel. The polished bezel, case middle, and lugs are highlighted by an elegant chamfer running from lug to lug, while the case sides feature a contrasting horizontal brushed finish, reinforcing the watch’s refined yet purposeful character.

A new interpretation of the Frosted Leaf technique, Royal Red marks a significant technical and aesthetic evolution of the process developed by AWAKE. For the first time, pure silver leaf tinted with copper pigments forms the final layer of the dial. This reversal of the traditional technique allows light to interact directly with the material, revealing organic, deep, and vibrant textures. Each dial is entirely handcrafted in AWAKE’s Hanoi workshop through a meticulous “mille-feuille” layering of lacquer, natural pigments, and silver leaf—ensuring that no two dials are ever alike.

The creation of the Royal Red dials relies on traditional Sơn Mài lacquer, derived from the rare sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree, harvested in Vietnam according to an unchanging ritual. Layering, resting periods, delicate finger sanding, and final polishing—each step is carried out entirely by hand, following the slow rhythm dictated by the material itself.

Pushing the complexity of the craft even further, silver leaf and copper pigments are suspended within the lacquer to create exceptional depth, relief, and intensity. Each dial requires nearly fifteen hours of work, and none are identical.

Departing from traditional constructions, AWAKE’s “coiffe” luminous signature extends to the hands and indices, which are crafted from a Super-LumiNova® BGW9 base and coated with polished steel. This construction ensures subtle legibility by day and a deep, atmospheric backlit effect in low-light conditions.

As all Son Mai collection, powering these timepieces is the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement, known for its 68-hour power reserve and 28,800 vph frequency. This movement features a custom tungsten oscillating weight with intricate reliefs and hollows, creating a visually captivating effect. It sits within a “clous de Paris” textured ring, adding further sophistication.

To elegantly echo the tones and nuances of the dial, Royal Red is paired with a red suede calfskin strap, handcrafted by master saddlers at Maison Bouveret in Franche-Comté. The strap is tone-on-tone stitched, lined with rubberized calfskin, and secured with a recycled stainless steel pin buckle.

The AWAKE Sơn Mài Frosted Leaf Royal Red is limited to 100 pieces and priced at EUR 2,200 (approximately AED 9,400). Delivery is scheduled in two batches: 50 pieces in January 2026, followed by the remaining 50 pieces in April 2026.

For more information, visit the company official website.