Certain objects possess a material richness that resists conventional representation. Nowhere is this more visible than on the dial, the face of a watch, where engraving, guilloché patterns, enamel layers and polished metal surfaces interact with light in subtle and constantly shifting ways. Capturing this density became the starting point of a long exploration into how such objects might be translated into images while preserving the intensity of their physical presence.
The work developed through exchanges with artisans who perpetuate centuries-old decorative crafts. Guillocheurs, engravers, enamellers and gem-setters shared the logic of their gestures, explaining how patterns are cut into metal, how enamel layers transform light, or how stones alter reflections on a surface. These conversations allowed the bureau’s CG artists and digital sculptors to reconstruct the structures behind these crafts. Dial surfaces and watch cases were progressively modelled and refined so that every groove, relief and reflection followed the logic of the original handwork. Particular attention was given to the individuality of each dial, conceived not as a repetitive surface but as a singular object with its own character.
Reaching this level of precision required a hybrid process combining digital modelling with photographic observation. Metal surfaces, reflections and contrasts were reconstructed layer by layer until the images recovered the density and luminosity of the original materials. The project opened a dialogue between ancestral craftsmanship and contemporary image-making, exploring how digital tools can extend the visibility of objects whose physical presence is often rare and fleeting.