Awake expands its Sơn Mài – Silver Leaf collection with a new limited edition, 100-piece Atlantis Blue dial, steeped in mythology.
The Atlantis Blue features a fully handcrafted dial finished in a gradient blue, using the ancient Vietnamese lacquer art technique known as Sơn Mài.
Channelling the lost city of Atlantis, this rare Sơn Mài stunner will be available at the Time+Tide Discovery Studios in London and New York.
I first wrote about Awake in 2024, which, surprisingly, marked the brand’s fifth anniversary. At the time, Awake was relatively unknown for the most part; however, the introduction of its incredible handmade dial work meant the brand quickly gained notoriety in the watch scene. The Sơn Mài artistry struck a chord with collectors, and today, when the conversation turns to microbrands with truly exceptional dials, Awake sits firmly near the top of the list.
The brand has since released several Sơn Mài variations in limited numbers, each featuring dials made with slightly different techniques and finishes. One of which is the Silver Leaf collection, which is probably one of the more restrained in the range, relying on subtle texture paired with deep, flowing gradients rather than high-impact, show-stopping mother-of-pearl inlays. But while it’s more subtle, it’s still just as fascinating, and today another rare dial has been added to the range: the Atlantis Blue. And what’s even better, this limited edition is available from the Time+Tide Studios in New York and London, as well as from our shop.
It’s not just the dials that make the Sơn Mài a success; it’s the way everything is packaged. The softly curved 316L stainless steel case is tactile and comfortable, without a flat or straight surface in sight. Proportionally, the case works perfectly at 39mm in diameter and just 11.8mm thick, including the crystal, and with a 45.6mm lug-to-lug measurement, it’s the sort of watch you can wear all day, every day, without an issue.
There’s a thin, polished bezel up front, paired with a sapphire exhibition caseback at the rear, which looks almost identical to the front, and the tidy, usable crown grants the watch a suitably everyday-ready 50 metres of water resistance. The surfaces are all polished to an exceptionally high standard, and there are no awkward features to distract you from the dial, especially given that the sapphire crystal is treated to an anti-reflective coating.
Like all other Awake pieces, the dial is where the Sơn Mài truly comes to life. As the name Sơn Mài suggests, the Silver Leaf collection uses the ancient Vietnamese art of Sơn Mài lacquer and elevates it further by adding a layer of textured silver leaf beneath.
This new Atlantis Blue version draws inspiration from the mysterious myth of Atlantis, the lost city which, some believe, remains undiscovered somewhere deep under the ocean. Naturally, to evoke this, Awake chose to decorate the dial with meticulously applied layers of aquamarine blue, turquoise, and deep navy blue lacquer to create gorgeously deep, ocean-like gradient fumé tones, laid over the textured, rippled silver leaf.
It may not look it at first glance, but the dial layout on the Sơn Mài is quite contemporary. Minimalistic and uncluttered, the dial features nothing but an Awake logo at twelve, and gorgeously polished needle-like hour markers and hands. It’s not immediately noticeable, but the dial features Awake’s exclusive “coiffe” luminous signature, thanks to a layer of Super-LumiNova beneath each hour marker and the hands. When the lights go out, it creates a striking contrast to the watch’s otherwise relatively classic appearance, adding a distinctly modern touch.
Beneath the beautiful dial sits La Joux‑Perret’s G101 automatic movement, visible through the exhibition caseback. It features an Awake-exclusive tungsten rotor, which has been decorated with micro-bead blasted surfaces, alternating with detailed polishing, echoing the attention to detail paid to the front of the watch. It delivers a healthy 68 hours of power reserve while beating at 28,800 Vph, ensuring the second hand gently sweeps until the next time you pick it up.
Finally, Awake keeps the attention to detail flowing when it comes to the straps, too, providing the Sơn Mài with a dial-matching blue suede strap featuring a comfortable rubberised calf lining, tonal stitching, and a stainless steel pin buckle.
Awake Sơn Mài – Silver Leaf Atlantis Blue pricing and availability
The Awake Sơn Mài – Silver Leaf Atlantis Blue is a limited edition of just 100 pieces, available from Time+Tide Studios in NYC and London, and in the Time+Tide Shop. Deliveries will begin in April and May 2026. Price: €2,000 (excl. VAT)
Brand
Awake
Model
Sơn Mài – Silver Leaf “Atlantis Blue”
Case Dimensions
39mm (D) x 11.8mm (T) x 45.6mm (LTL)
Case Material
Recycled 316L stainless steel
Water Resistance
50 metres
Crystal(s)
Sapphire front and back
Dial
Sơn Mài lacquer in blue fumé with
Strap
Blue suede with rubberised calfskin lining, blue stitching with steel pin buckle
Movement
La Joux-Perret G101, automatic
Power Reserve
68 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds
Availability
Limited to 100 pieces
Price
€2,000 (excl. VAT)