Introducing Awake Unveils the Sơn Mài “THE DEADLY WATCH”

Awake was founded in 2019 as an independent watchmaker with a mission to reveal the beauty of the world through objects that measure time. The brand has made revitalizing ancestral crafts a central part of its identity, building collections around traditional techniques interpreted through a contemporary lens. Today, that artisanal spirit drives the Tribute to the Seventh Art project, an ongoing series that translates beloved films into Métiers d’Art timepieces.

Following its debut Jurassic release, Awake is now unveiling the second opus in the collection, THE DEADLY WATCH, a piece inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 film Kill Bill Vol. 1.

The watch features a recycled 316L stainless steel case with a diameter of 39 mm and a thickness of 11.80 mm. The case alternates polished and micro bead blasted finishes and is laser engraved with motifs and the edition name. It uses a screw down sapphire caseback that reveals the movement and bears multiple engravings. These include the edition name, the brand motto Artisanship, Awakened, the quote “I’m gonna kill Bill and four M16 bullets” as a cinematic reference, and a unique number in the format Crazy XX/88. Water resistance is rated at 50 meters.

The dial is handcrafted in Awake’s Hanoi workshops using traditional Vietnamese Sơn Mài lacquer. Each dial is built from multiple layers of lacquer and natural pigments. The color palette deliberately references the film with intense yellow, splashes of red lacquer and a black outer rim. The Awake logo is pad printed in a Western style font, and a small katana motif sits at 6 o’clock. The indexes and hands are coated with Super-LumiNova BGW9 for enhanced visibility.

Powering the watch is the La Joux Perret G101 automatic calibre. It offers a 68 hour power reserve, operates at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz) and is fitted with a custom tungsten rotor. The straps are handmade by master saddlers in Bouveret, Franche-Comté. The design is inspired by The Bride’s yellow and black outfit with matte black Barenia calfskin on the outside, yellow calfskin lining, yellow topstitching on top and red stitching on the underside. It is fitted with a hollow pin buckle in recycled 316L steel.

The watch is limited to 88 pieces as a deliberate nod to the “Crazy 88” gang from the film. Two of the 88 owners will be randomly selected to receive an exact replica of The Bride’s katana, described as a Maru 1045 sharpened and engraved steel blade with a sharkskin inspired handle and lacquered scabbard. The watch is priced at €1,650, approximately AED 7,100.

For more information, visit Awake’s official website.