A remarkable confluence of cultures, continents, and artistic philosophies has given rise to a new and distinctive timepiece, the Awake Son Mai 'Year of the Sssnake'. This creation is not merely an instrument for telling time but a wearable canvas that encapsulates a dialogue between the ancient lacquer arts of Vietnam and the vibrant, contemporary vision of a Scottish artist. It represents a bold step for the independent brand Awake, further cementing its mission to intertwine ancestral craftsmanship with modern design sensibilities. Limited to a mere 50 pieces, this watch celebrates the Chinese zodiac's Year of the Snake through a lens that is at once traditional, artistic, and unapologetically rock'n'roll.
The journey of the 'Year of the Sssnake' is a testament to Awake's foundational ethos. Since its inception in 2019, the brand has charted a unique course in the watch industry, dedicating itself to the revival and reinterpretation of global Métiers d'Art. This mission is a direct response to a world of mass production, offering instead objects of time that carry stories, celebrate human skill, and possess a tangible soul. Awake’s venture into the revered world of high craftsmanship set the perfect stage for a collaboration that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, culminating in a timepiece that is as much a narrative as it is a mechanism.
Courtesy of Awake
The genesis of this specific project stems from a shared passion discovered between Awake's founder, Lilian Thibault, and the maverick artist Chris Alexander, known professionally as The Dial Artist. Alexander was an early supporter of Awake's vision to modernize ancestral skills. The brand's launch of its first Son Mài collection in late 2024, which highlighted the traditional art of Vietnamese lacquerware, acted as a catalyst. For Alexander, an artist renowned for his love of lacquer and his ability to infuse dials with explosive color and energy, this was a natural point of connection. The idea quickly blossomed to create an unconventional tribute to the Year of the Snake, merging the rich heritage of Hanoi's master lacquerers with Alexander's distinctively modern and edgy aesthetic.
At the heart of this collaboration is Chris Alexander, a Scottish artist whose creative spirit is fueled by a diverse range of influences, from a childhood in South Africa to the vibrant worlds of street art, pop culture, and astrology. Founding The Dial Artist in 2017 after two decades in the creative industries, Alexander has honed a mastery over paints, lacquers, and various artistic techniques. In a remarkably short period, he has carved out a unique niche within the global watch community. His work is celebrated for its dynamic, colorful, and sophisticated style that effectively blurs the lines between contemporary art and horology, making him a sought-after collaborator for brands and collectors seeking to transform a watch dial into a personal statement.
The dial of the 'Year of the Sssnake' is the product of an intricate, two-continent journey, a testament to the dedication and skill involved in its creation. Each dial requires a staggering 15 hours of meticulous handwork, a process that begins in Hanoi, Vietnam. Here, master craftsmen practice the ancestral art of Son Mài. The process starts with the harvesting of sap from the Rhus Verniciflua tree, a species native to northern Vietnam that produces a natural lacquer prized for its superior gloss. This precious material, collected in small quantities only between June and July, forms the foundation of the dial.
Courtesy of Awake
The process in Hanoi is one of patience and precision. A base brass dial is first coated with this exceptional lacquer. Following this, the artisans carefully spray on thin layers of natural black pigments, derived from minerals and other organic sources, to achieve a color of profound depth. The dial then undergoes multiple applications of pure lacquer, with each layer being painstakingly dried, sanded, and polished. This lengthy and demanding procedure, requiring immense artistic talent and technical expertise, results in a perfectly smooth, intensely black, and lustrous "canvas," ready to be sent across the world for the next stage of its transformation.
From Vietnam, these lacquered canvases travel to Perth, Scotland, and into the workshop of Chris Alexander. To conceptualize his contemporary interpretation of the serpent, Alexander undertook an exhaustive study of the textures and light-reflecting properties of snakeskin. After extensive experimentation, he curated a specific palette of matte paints with unique optical qualities. Yellow, blue, green, and violet are hand-applied to each dial, creating an organic, iridescent chromatic effect that reacts dynamically to different wavelengths of light, making the dial appear alive.
Once the vibrant colors have stabilized, the artist employs an advanced UV technique developed in his workshop to apply a thin, textured pellicle. This exclusive pattern, directly inspired by the intricate scales of a snake, imparts a stunningly realistic, three-dimensional illusion. The final, masterful touch is a delicate application of gloss black paint with an ultra-fine brush, a step that accentuates the contrasts and reveals the full visual complexity of the composition. The result is a hypnotic dial that captures and plays with light, with each of the 50 pieces being subtly different, ensuring every owner possesses a truly unique work of art.
Visually, the watch is immediately arresting. The dial presents a captivating mosaic of iridescent colors that shimmer and shift with the slightest movement of the wrist. The pattern is a sophisticated abstraction of snakeskin, with interlocking scales rendered in hues of electric blue, vibrant green, and deep violet against the glossy black lacquer base. In a bold artistic choice, the dial is devoid of any logos or hour markers, a decision that allows the powerful artwork to command the viewer's full attention. Providing a sharp, functional contrast to this intricate background are the two main hands, filled with a brilliant blue luminous material that ensures readability while adding another layer of visual intrigue.
Courtesy of Awake
This commitment to visual purity extends into the hours of darkness. When night falls, the 'Year of the Sssnake' reveals another of its secrets. The hands come to life, not with a standard, overpowering glow, but with Awake's exclusive luminous signature. This application, inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of chiaroscuro—the interplay of light and shadow—diffuses a discreet and magnetic halo of light. It’s a subtle effect that doesn't scream for attention but rather extends the mysterious and captivating aura of the snake into the dark, maintaining the watch's artistic integrity around the clock.
The canvas for this artistry is a thoughtfully proportioned case crafted from recycled 316L stainless steel. Measuring 39mm in diameter with a lug-to-lug distance of 45.6mm, the case is designed for comfortable wear on a wide range of wrists. Its thickness is 11.8mm, including the crystal, creating a profile that is present yet not cumbersome. The 20mm lug width allows for versatility in strap choices, though the included strap is a work of art in itself. Protecting the dial is a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, providing superior scratch resistance and clarity to ensure the intricate details of the dial are always perfectly visible.
Powering this unique edition is the highly regarded La Joux-Perret G101 automatic caliber. This Swiss-made movement is renowned for its robustness, reliability, and impressive 68-hour power reserve. Awake has collaborated with the esteemed independent Swiss Manufacture to create an exclusive execution for this series. Visible through the caseback, the movement is equipped with a custom tungsten rotor featuring refined and contrasting finishes, including hollowed surfaces and polished reliefs, which add a sense of modern depth to the traditional mechanics. This commitment to quality Swiss engineering ensures that the watch's performance is as compelling as its appearance.
Courtesy of Awake
Flipping the watch over reveals a caseback that is as detailed and considered as the dial. A screw-in sapphire crystal window offers an unobstructed view of the decorated LJP G101 movement. The movement itself is framed by a custom-made, bead-blasted ring that has been meticulously laser-engraved with the artist's name, the "Swiss Made" designation, and the unique limited series number for each piece. For those who appreciate subtle details, Awake and The Dial Artist have hidden a playful touch: the word "Sssnake" is engraved with several extra 's' characters, and the final 'e' stretches out in the form of a serpent's forked tongue, a whimsical nod to the edition's animal totem.
To complete the powerful reptilian aesthetic, the 'Year of the Sssnake' is fitted with an extraordinary strap. Sourced from the French tannery ICTYOS, the strap is crafted from iridescent and metallic purple LUNA® marine trout leather. The fine, regular scales and the subtle color nuances of this material harmoniously extend the visual theme of the dial, creating the sensation of a snake coiled elegantly around the wrist. The leather itself is dynamic, changing color as it interacts with light, providing a hypnotic visual experience with every glance. Lined with a comfortable 'Burgundy' calfskin and featuring tone-on-tone hand-stitching, this exceptionally durable marine leather strap meets the highest technical standards of the watchmaking industry.
Beyond its physical attributes, the 'Year of the Sssnake' is imbued with layers of meaning and symbolism. The project is a tribute to the Chinese zodiac, with 2025 marking the year of the Snake—a sign associated with wisdom, intuition, refinement, and transformation. Each of the 50 dials has been designed with patience and passion, intended to bring good luck to their owners by promoting personal growth and regeneration while warding off negative energies. The absence of logos and indices reinforces the idea that this is a personal talisman, a statement of individual style rather than a mere status symbol.
Courtesy of Awake
The exclusivity of this 50-piece limited edition is further enhanced by its presentation. Each watch is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, personally attesting that the dial is a genuine work by The Dial Artist. In a final, highly personal gesture, Chris Alexander has customized each of the 50 watch cases. Alongside his signature and the watch's serial number, he has inscribed a single word that characterizes the collaborative spirit of the project, with words like "Fearless," "Create," "Dream," "Freedom," and "Love" making each set unique and deeply meaningful for its owner.
The Awake Son Mai 'Year of the Sssnake' is a compelling proposition for those who see watchmaking as a form of personal expression. It is a piece that stands at the crossroads of ancient craft, modern art, and high-quality Swiss watchmaking. This limited edition is priced at €2,100.00. Availability is strictly limited to 50 pieces, with the first batch of 25 scheduled for delivery in mid-July 2025 and the second batch of 25 to follow in September 2025. For the discerning collector looking for a watch with a powerful story and a distinct visual identity, this collaboration offers a rare opportunity to wear a piece of art on the wrist.
Case: Recycled 316L stainless steel, 39mm diameter, 45.6mm lug-to-lug, 11.80mm thickness, 20mm lug width. Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, screw-in sapphire caseback. Water resistance 5 ATM (50m).
Movement: Automatic La Joux-Perret G101 with a 68-hour power reserve. Features a personalized tungsten rotor with alternating brushed, bead-blasted and polished finishes.
Dial: Traditional Vietnamese Son Mài lacquer base with natural black pigments. Customized with a handmade ‘snakeskin’ motif by contemporary artist The Dial Artist. Hands feature Super-LumiNova® BGW9 and AWAKE's luminous “coiffe” signature.
Strap: Iridescent and metallic purple LUNA® marine trout leather with Burgundy calf leather lining and tone-on-tone hand-stitching. Dimensions are 115x80mm, tapering from 20mm to 16mm. 316L recycled steel buckle.
Price: € 2,100.00
Notes: Limited edition of 50 pieces. Each dial is unique, requiring 15 hours of handwork between Vietnam and Scotland. The collaboration comes with a certificate of authenticity and a watch case personalized by The Dial Artist.