The Orpheus watch by Harold Pinchbeck - modelled and rendered by Jason Garth Edwards, the watch designer, at www.jayargonaut.com

Producing and Editing New Orpheus Watch Images for an Old English Watchmaking Company.

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Written by jayargonaut

One of the watchmaking companies I produce work for is Harold Pinchbeck Ltd watchmakers, which has established a remarkable reputation for craftsmanship and tradition in the heart of Lincolnshire in the UK. Harold Pinchbeck watchmakers have an interesting and rich history of dedication to the art of horology. They are a small yet passionate team of skilled artisans who create exquisite and intricate timepieces by blending classic techniques with modern innovations. Their workshop and offices are situated in Old Exchequer Gate Arch, nestled in the shadow of the iconic and historic Lincoln Cathedral, a site that not only inspires their work but also captivates visitors with its stunning architecture and rich heritage. Situated within this vibrant community, Harold Pinchbeck Ltd is committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality while preserving the age-old traditions of watchmaking, making each piece truly unique.

Recently, I was asked to re-model, render, and produce a new set of stunning images for this beautiful and intricately designed watch. This post serves as a brief showcase to highlight some of these captivating images, along with an appreciation for the elegance and craftsmanship of this timepiece. Each image was meticulously rendered using the Blender 4.2 creative suite, allowing for a high level of detail and realism that truly brings the watch to life. Furthermore, all post-processing enhancements were achieved using the Camera Raw Filter in Adobe Photoshop, which allowed me to enhance the colors, adjust the lighting, and add various effects to further emphasize the watch’s beauty. Through this creative process, I aimed not only to present the watch itself but also to capture the essence of what makes it so remarkable and desirable to watch enthusiasts.

Just one of the stunning and beautifying aspects of the Orpheus watch is the detailed guilloche fanning pattern on the dial, which not only captivates the eye with its intricate design but also adds a layer of artistry to the overall aesthetic. The craftsmanship involved in creating such a pattern showcases the remarkable skill of watchmakers, highlighting their dedication to perfection. This exquisite detail complements the watch’s finish I believe, a subtle yet beautiful detail that catches the light and the eye, especially when handled and turned. Detail like this can easily be lost in photography or rendering; this is where careful lighting and good post-processing in software like Adobe Photoshop can help elevate detail like this. For this case, the Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw Filter helped by increasing the texture and clarity settings; this helps bring out the shadows and details of such fine reflections.

Another aspect which helps bring out the object in solitary images such as these is good depth-of-field. Depth of field can be applied at the camera setting level or in the post-processing at the Camera Raw Filter level. Of course, the latter just applies a mask layer of blur, but is still effective nonetheless. By effectively utilizing depth-of-field techniques, photographers can guide the viewer’s attention directly to the subject, enhancing its clarity and prominence against the background. This selective focus draws the eye and creates a sense of intimacy, allowing the viewer to appreciate the subject’s details without distraction. Moreover, experimenting with varying levels of depth-of-field can also establish a mood or atmosphere, making the image more engaging and evocative, as a shallow depth of field might evoke feelings of softness and tranquility while a greater depth can elicit a sense of depth and context within the scene. Additionally, understanding how to manipulate this aspect allows for a more creative expression, giving photographers and artists the tools to tell a deeper story through their images.

A beautiful and captivating watch for sure!

Well that is it for this post, I hope you enjoyed the brief read and my images.

Have a great day everyone😊.

Kind regards, Jay

Jayargonaut

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29 Comments

  3. Just to be clear, this is a future product, correct?

    I’m curious as to the number of people who do this kind of work. I don’t mean 3D Graphic Design in general but work of this nature for niche companies (at ~$5k a pop, and a limit run of 100 watches, I assume this is a niche watch market).

    Say someone wanted to get into this business (no worries, I don’t), just exactly how many potential customers and competitors are we talking about?

    I guess I’m asking about the size of the custom watches market.

    My uninformed guess is that it’s very small and it would be difficult to break into the business of rendering such pieces (and even more so to producing them).

    As for the images, they are superb. Hard to differentiate between 3D rendering and actual product (I assume from the post this is a rendering, not images of an actual watch). The fact I’m asking attests to the quality of the work.

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    1. This is a current watch model, there have just been a few enhancements and so the thinking was to upgrade and update the imagery at this time.

      Not many, as far as I know. It is a niche market you are correct, though still relatively large I guess, and the people who do my type of work in such a niche market is limited. Most 3D design, rendering type skilled people will chase the larger consumer markets and entertainment industry I would imagine (film, animation, VFX)…I guess it seems, and sounds, more glamorous.

      In the UK, the Micro-brands (as they are called) have grown and become quite popular, though a lot of these are just branded products that are made typically in Asia. There are not many, such as this company, that do most of the work themselves, limited-editions, hand-built, here in the UK. And that type of watch is quite desired by the watch collector types. It certainly is growing!

      One benefit is, in such a niche market, it is not swamped with 3D designers. Individuals that have the skill, the passion, and interest to design, model, and render such a type of product. As far as I am aware.

      Yes you are right, these are 3D rendered, to-scale, size-correct, exact models of the actual watch, I have fully modelled, applied the correct materials, and rendered.

      Thank you for that compliment, I certainly and sincerely appreciate it.

      To give you some idea, here is a basic-clay shot of the mesh-model of the watch, with no materials etc applied:

      Kind regards…Jay

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        1. Yes, you are right Emilio. It is certainly not a quick process, nor a quick one to learn, that is a barrier to entry for many. But very rewarding when you do learn it. Knowing the subject intimately, as you suggest, and studying it closely is critical. This is where my engineering background has certainly helped me!

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  9. Your designs are truly inspired. I can imagine the workshop you speak of is redolent with creative history. The workmanship is so detailed and beautiful. In a world of instant everything, to see such craftsmanship reminds me that there are still people in the world who value and give their best efforts, not being satisfied with fast and mediocre. Love this.

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    1. Thank you Dayle for this wonderful comment😊. Yes you are right, the workshops are situated in the Exchequar Gate Arch, which was built in the 14th century…steps worn with centuries of people coming and going, floors uneven with age. I agree, it is wonderful that there are still artisans creating objects with soul, that don’t break, or need updating with the latest operating system. Thank you Dayle for your wonderful comment and support🙏. Kind regards…Jay😊

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