wake continues to build its identity around the dial. A year after introducing its Frosted Leaf technique, the brand returns with Blood Moon, Storm and Lagoon, three interpretations of nature expressed through Vietnamese lacquerwork and silver leaf.

The interest lies as much in the process as in the surface. Son Mài involves successive applications and polishing of natural lacquer, with precious materials embedded between the layers. Here, silver leaf and natural pigments create a textured composition whose appearance shifts with the light.

The lacquer begins as sap harvested from Rhus verniciflua trees in northern Vietnam. Purified and dehydrated, it becomes the medium through which colour and metallic reflections acquire their depth. Each dial requires around 15 hours of manual work.

This decorative approach now finds a more compact setting. The new 38mm case introduces slimmer proportions and water resistance to 100 metres. A handwritten logo reinforces the emphasis on craftsmanship, while the Swiss La Joux-Perret G101 movement supplies a 68-hour power reserve and carries a tungsten rotor.

Nubuck calfskin straps, handmade in France, complete the watches. Their new pin buckle incorporates micro-adjustment, adding a practical consideration to a collection centred on surface and colour. The three references join the permanent collection, with production of approximately 100 pieces per colour annually.

Price: €2,820

www.awakewatches.com