Most of us know the young brand Awake for its “Mission To Earth” watches, endorsed by NASA in 2022.
In particular, the white and red model with distinctive NASA branding stood out immediately. However, since then, Awake has created several collections based on the brand's modern design. The latest addition to the lineup is a bit different from the usual. The new Awake 01 Titane Dare & Dream model is a collaboration with Nicolas Barrome Forgues. Starting with a blank canvas, the artist unleashed his imagination to create a playful dial full of amusing comic characters. Read on to learn more about this limited edition of 50 pieces.
When the worlds of street art and luxury watches merge, I am always a bit apprehensive. Of course, I love both street art and watches, but the fusion of these two directions can be somewhat unsuccessful. But at one glance at the Awake 01 Titane Dare & Dream, I realized that this is an excellent work by Awake and Nicolas Barrome Forgues. The artist from Paris had the freedom to create whatever he wanted. I like the idea of giving an artist a blank canvas because it often leads to the best results of integrating art into watches.
Canvas for Awake Dare & Dream
First, let's talk about the canvas given to Barrome Forgues. The Awake 01 Titane model has a 40mm case made of recycled Grade 2 titanium. The watch is 11.89mm thick, 47mm long, with a 20mm lug width, and water resistance of 100m.
The watch is made of titanium and is quite light - 65 grams without the rubber strap. On the right side is a large hexagonal screw-down crown, giving the watch a distinctive character.
The true canvas is the white dial with printed 3D motifs. This dial is pleasant because it resembles paper. Thus, it became the perfect background for Barrome Forgues to explore his possibilities.
The result of the artist's imagination was a magnificent collection of alien characters called Bifrons. Thanks to the set's texture and pencil-drawn designs, it almost looks like a page from a sketchbook, and I love it.
Amazing Little Universe of Alien Characters
But the dial is not only about the characters that inhabit it. If you look closely, you'll see that the brand logo is disassembled. The first letter “a” is teleported by an alien spaceship, and the letter “e” is taken by the central Bifron. The same applies to the hour markers. As you can see, some alien characters took away the applied indices and changed their positions on the dial. Moreover, some hour markers have been completely replaced by amusing creatures. As a result, the markers at 2, 5, and 8 o'clock are completely absent.
This dial represents a remarkable collection of doodle-like symbols that tell a funny story through small details. It is meant to be a fun reference to the brand's “Mission To Earth” watches, and I must say, it is wonderful to see the various alien creatures and what they are up to. I also like that it is done in a sketchbook style. It looks spontaneous and pairs well with the color. A nice touch is the engraving “Dare & Dream” on the rehaut at the “12 o'clock” position, reminding of the name of this limited series.
The Story Continues…
But the fun doesn't end there. All the symbols, hour indices, and hands are coated with white Super-LumiNova BGW9, which glows blue in low light. This is a brilliant trick that brings the story to life in the dark. It doesn't necessarily make the time more legible, but if that's what you want, this limited edition of 50 pieces is probably not for you. I applaud Awake for the brilliant execution of the luminescent coating, which significantly enhances the enjoyment of this watch.
The story continues on the case back, where the Miyota 9039 can be seen powering the watch. This automatic caliber with 24 jewels runs at a frequency of 28,800 per hour and has a 42-hour power reserve. However, more important is the continuation of the story. On the case back, like the final scene of a sci-fi movie, two Bifrons are depicted using metalization under glass.
The creatures are inspecting the engine room of the spaceship they traveled on to Earth for the last time. In conclusion to the story, one of the Bifrons activates the closure of the virtual airlock. This symbolizes the two-year adventure of the Awake 01, which ends as the brand embarks on a new adventure.
Final Thoughts on Awake 01 Titane Dare & Dream
I was already thrilled when I first saw the Awake 01 Titane Dare & Dream in photos. However, after reading the story and re-examining the illustrations, the watch became much better. I have to tip my hat to the guys at Awake for giving Nicolas Barrome Forgues creative freedom. The result is not just a fun-looking watch but a watch with a brilliantly integrated story. This is an example of how the combination of street art and watchmaking works best, and I love these watches for it.
The Awake 01 Titane Dare & Dream comes with two different straps. The first is a white rubber strap, and the second is a black Zulu fabric strap. For me, the white strap is the best choice. It has a pleasant texture that complements the dial well. Moreover, I like the completely white background reminiscent of paper, which allows the alien characters to stand out and tell the story of the last two years for Awake.
As mentioned, the brand will release 50 pieces of this limited series, and each will be available at a price of 890 euros (excluding taxes). With such fantastic execution of this fun design, I expect these watches to sell out quickly!
Visit the official Awake website for more information or to purchase the Awake 01 Titane Dare & Dream. Tell us your impressions of these charming watches in our Telegram channel.