By Brent Robillard
A Bold, Cinematic Tribute in 88 Pieces
Just when it felt like I had a handle on AWAKE’s creative impulses, the brand shifted gears again. I should have seen it coming—this is the same team that released the Jurassic Watch, after all—but after spending time with the Sơn Mài Golden Hour at the Toronto Timepiece Show, I had been lulled into imagining a more meditative trajectory for the brand. Its dial work was quiet and mesmerising, rooted in craft and texture. What arrived next caught me completely off guard in the best possible way.
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The Deadly Watch
The new Sơn Mài The Deadly Watch leans unapologetically into cinema, colour, and graphic symbolism. For someone who considers Tarantino one of the finest stylists in modern filmmaking, this edition lands squarely in that sweet spot where watchmaking meets pop-cultural memory. There’s a playful irreverence to it, but it’s layered with intention. Exactly what AWAKE seems to do best.
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Tribute to the Seventh Art
The watch is the second chapter in the brand’s “Tribute to the Seventh Art” series, following the runaway success of the Jurassic Watch. This time, the inspiration comes from Kill Bill Vol. 1, released in 2003, and the aesthetic cues are unmistakable. The edition is capped at 88 pieces, a nod to the film’s “Crazy 88,” whose stylised violence has become one of Tarantino’s most enduring cinematic signatures. Rather than falling into parody, AWAKE treats the reference as material for its artisans, and that shift from homage to craft is what gives the watch its depth.
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Vietnamese Sơn Mài
The dial, created entirely by hand using Vietnamese Sơn Mài lacquer techniques, is where the watch truly comes alive. Yellow becomes a symbol of purity and energy lost, red evokes danger and vengeance, and black speaks to the opacity and turbulence that drive the film forward. There is even a tactile nod to the infamous blood-spatter sequences, executed in tiny strokes of red lacquer. None of it feels gimmicky; instead, the dial reads like a concentrated panel of visual storytelling reinterpreted through traditional craft.
Devil’s in the Details
Other details draw from the film’s iconography: the Western-inspired typography of the logo, the paired katanas at six o’clock recalling the Okinawa forge sequence, and a caseback ring engraved with quotes, motifs, and even four M16 bullets—a subtle acknowledgement of the chapel opener that sets the film’s revenge narrative in motion. The limited numbers are presented playfully as “Crazy 01/88,” “Crazy 02/88,” and so on, a detail that reflects the brand’s sense of humour without overshadowing the object itself. Inside is AWAKE’s La Joux-Perret G101 calibre with a 68-hour reserve, framed by a tungsten rotor that catches the light in alternating brushed and micro-blasted textures.
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Strapology
The strap, handmade by saddlers in Franche-Comté, extends the visual language of the dial. Its black Barenia leather is lined in bright yellow, echoing Beatrix Kiddo’s suit, with yellow and red stitching marking the transition from surface to lining. It is a small but thoughtful flourish, integrating the watch’s narrative into the tactile experience on the wrist.
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The Golden Ticket
And then there is the Golden Ticket. In keeping with the spirit of Tarantino’s Hattori Hanzo mythology, AWAKE will draw two winners from the 88 owners, each of whom will receive a replica katana crafted in honour of The Bride. It’s the kind of detail that pushes the project from a limited watch into a fully realised cinematic gesture.
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Final Thoughts
What AWAKE achieves here is something more than a themed watch. The Deadly Watch is a demonstration of how film, craft, and horology can collide in a meaningful way when handled with a sense of respect and play. By channelling Sơn Mài lacquer techniques into a contemporary pop-cultural reference, AWAKE manages to hold onto the authenticity of craft while tapping into the imagination of anyone who remembers watching Kill Bill for the first time.
Sơn Mài The Deadly Watch is limited to 88 pieces and priced at €1,650 excluding tax. It is available now through AWAKE’s website and authorised points of sale.
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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