By Brent Robillard
Cultural and artistic dialogue
Earlier this year, we explored AWAKE’s first venture into Vietnamese lacquer with the Silver Leaf Golden Hour—a piece that captured light and texture in remarkable harmony. Now, the brand returns to its Hanoi workshops with a new expression of cultural and artistic dialogue: the Sơn Mài Fragments collection.
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Key Features of the AWAKE Sơn Mài Fragments
The art of Raden
This latest chapter continues AWAKE’s exploration of craftsmanship, sustainability, and poetic timekeeping. Drawing from the Vietnamese tradition of Sơn Mài lacquer, the iridescent beauty of mother-of-pearl, and the Japanese art of Raden, each dial is composed of hand-laid fragments that catch and transform light with subtle grace.
Three interpretations of light and colour
Limited to 100 pieces per colourway—Green, Blue, and Pink—Fragments explores the interplay between material and emotion. Each dial requires close to fifteen hours of manual work, the process involving multiple layers of lacquer, pigments, and shell, polished and refined until the surface becomes a mosaic of light.
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La Joux-Perret
At the heart of each watch beats the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement, offering a 68-hour power reserve and fine finishing visible through the sapphire caseback. The 39mm case, crafted from recycled 316L stainless steel, measures 11.8mm in thickness and maintains a balanced, elegant profile on the wrist.
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Jean Rousseau, Paris
True to AWAKE’s philosophy of sensory design, the watches are paired with Jean Rousseau Paris straps in black calfskin lined with Alcantara. Each is colour-matched to its dial—forest green, midnight blue, or violet—and features quick-release spring bars and a recycled steel pin buckle.
Luminous
In daylight, the dials shimmer with organic texture; at night, the hands and markers emit a soft glow through Super-LumiNova® BGW9, revealing the brand’s signature chiaroscuro effect inspired by Japanese aesthetics.
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Final Thoughts
During a seminar at the Toronto Timepiece Show in September, founder Lilian Thibault described his desire to unite artisans and creatives from diverse parts of the world. That is why—more than a continuation of the Sơn Mài series—Fragments feels like an evolution in collaboration bringing together Vietnamese lacquer masters, French artisans, Japanese inspiration, and Swiss precision. It reflects AWAKE’s ongoing pursuit of meaning in material, where timekeeping becomes a quiet act of contemplation.
Pricing & Availability
The Sơn Mài – Fragments collection is available now through AWAKE and select retail partners, priced at €2,250 (approx. $3,650 CAD).
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About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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