Watchmakers. Dynasties blossom. Premium playing cards [KS]

[3rd dominion]

Hi, UK community!
Happy to present you our new project Watchmakers. Dynasties blossom. Premium playing cards
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/3r ... ref=954azz
Watchmaking dynasties and their rise to prominence.
This playing cards project is dedicated to the true masters of their craft.
Painstaking work, drawings and the hands of a master created a miracle. A miracle that records time and creates order and connection of times.

[Adamthinks]

I really like the court cards, but the tuck, back, aces, and spot cards feel a little too busy for me. Saved it to think over a bit.

[3rd dominion]

Thanks for you feedback.
Too busy ) very interesting. Don't understand why

[STLBluesNut]

first thing that i notice is the line between the 2 halves on the courts. pretty much makes it a no go for me regardless of the rest.

[3rd dominion]

first thing that i notice is the line between the 2 halves on the courts. pretty much makes it a no go for me regardless of the rest.

and this spoils the whole impression in relation to the project? Right?

[Evilgamer]

Well no, it’s possible to make the art flow and not just look like half a card that was then flipped in photoshop and pasted again.

It’s a hard transition that is hard to overlook once you see it/it’s pointed out.

You definitely have a unique theme though and likely well on your way to a successful campaign.

[3rd dominion]

Well no, it’s possible to make the art flow and not just look like half a card that was then flipped in photoshop and pasted again.

It’s a hard transition that is hard to overlook once you see it/it’s pointed out.

You definitely have a unique theme though.

Trust me, it's not just about the card design. in this case it is not very easy to implement. therefore, mirroring is appropriate in this case.

[Evilgamer]

No one said it was easy, just what the observation likely was about.

[Honeybee]

I find the colors so muted that I wondered whether you considered/tried B & W (I am a fan of B&W)
The only color card that grabs me is the back with the semi circle of vivid blue - if it is that vivid, as in another pic it looks dull
I don't find the backs too busy but I can see what Adam is suggesting in regards to the rest
You're nearly funded - well done

[3rd dominion]

Thank you!
Maybe in the next version we'll use B&W color way

[STLBluesNut]

first thing that i notice is the line between the 2 halves on the courts. pretty much makes it a no go for me regardless of the rest.

and this spoils the whole impression in relation to the project? Right?

i realize that it may seem odd and i am not even really sure how to explain why i dislike it. while not always liking traditional designs, standard courts for example, i do want most traditional aspects of playing cards in a deck/design. i want the traditional shape, i dont really go for round decks or oddly shaped decks. four colored suits is generally a no for me. court halves that are merged and blended into each other are another aspect i want to see.

a distinct line between court halves also looks very ''abrupt'' and something that is out of place of sorts. it would be like going to a wedding and seeing someone wearing a high visibility yellow construction vest.

i also have a pet peeve of sorts with low effort playing card designs. think NOC, Fontaine or Anyone. they use a plain old colored rectangle for a back, maybe slap a logo on it, paste some standard courts in there, call it a deck. that is apparently fine for some folks out there but to me that is just normal easy shit. i feel if i could make that ''design'' in 5 minutes on a cell phone from 15 years ago then it is lazy and they still want to charge a premium like other custom decks where their time and art is a major portion of the budget. to me a JAB job barely qualifies as a custom deck, especially where the B in JAB is just a damn dot or F on the back. Where i am going with that is, for me, taking a court half and just mirroring it and sticking them together with a line, or a banner, seems like the easy way out. yes, i understand it can be difficult but there are thousands of decks out there with custom courts with intricate designs that do it. to me it says the artist simply did not take the time or did not have the ability to do it.

yes, it can ruin the whole project. imagine this. youre at the local coffee shop waiting for your order and across the room you spot a woman. she is dressed nicely with long flowing (favorite color here) hair. you notice that here shape is just how you prefer. she turns towards you. its all in slow motion, a beam of soft gentle light falls on her face. birds are chirping in the coffee shop somehow. she is gorgeous! the world kind of stops for a minute. she notices you and gives you a smile... she has 4 teeth in total. shaped and colored like little coffee beans. the music scratches to a halt like an old record and right outside a car crashes into a pole. a fire bursts out of a toaster from a barista neglecting a customers bagel being toasted.

one aspect can ruin the whole package.

[GandalfPC]

“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” does indeed apply to everything.

These didn’t grab me, but I get pickier with every deck I pick up


side note: I have spent a few fond years watchmaking, but have yet to pick up a deck of that theme

Gear topping tool is on a few cards, a pretty rare bird now - and the shots of work from a distance made it feel more customer view than watchmaker view, more outsider than insider (not that it was intended otherwise)


I went looking about for images that invoked for me - after collecting a few odd bits I found this link, and it managed to capture it pretty well.


https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesig ... m-pictures


as does this type of view (very close and intimate):

Should you ever do a v2 - and feel like having a single customer (me) - please make that deck

[3rd dominion]

first thing that i notice is the line between the 2 halves on the courts. pretty much makes it a no go for me regardless of the rest.

and this spoils the whole impression in relation to the project? Right?

i realize that it may seem odd and i am not even really sure how to explain why i dislike it. while not always liking traditional designs, standard courts for example, i do want most traditional aspects of playing cards in a deck/design. i want the traditional shape, i dont really go for round decks or oddly shaped decks. four colored suits is generally a no for me. court halves that are merged and blended into each other are another aspect i want to see.

a distinct line between court halves also looks very ''abrupt'' and something that is out of place of sorts. it would be like going to a wedding and seeing someone wearing a high visibility yellow construction vest.

i also have a pet peeve of sorts with low effort playing card designs. think NOC, Fontaine or Anyone. they use a plain old colored rectangle for a back, maybe slap a logo on it, paste some standard courts in there, call it a deck. that is apparently fine for some folks out there but to me that is just normal easy shit. i feel if i could make that ''design'' in 5 minutes on a cell phone from 15 years ago then it is lazy and they still want to charge a premium like other custom decks where their time and art is a major portion of the budget. to me a JAB job barely qualifies as a custom deck, especially where the B in JAB is just a damn dot or F on the back. Where i am going with that is, for me, taking a court half and just mirroring it and sticking them together with a line, or a banner, seems like the easy way out. yes, i understand it can be difficult but there are thousands of decks out there with custom courts with intricate designs that do it. to me it says the artist simply did not take the time or did not have the ability to do it.

yes, it can ruin the whole project. imagine this. youre at the local coffee shop waiting for your order and across the room you spot a woman. she is dressed nicely with long flowing (favorite color here) hair. you notice that here shape is just how you prefer. she turns towards you. its all in slow motion, a beam of soft gentle light falls on her face. birds are chirping in the coffee shop somehow. she is gorgeous! the world kind of stops for a minute. she notices you and gives you a smile... she has 4 teeth in total. shaped and colored like little coffee beans. the music scratches to a halt like an old record and right outside a car crashes into a pole. a fire bursts out of a toaster from a barista neglecting a customers bagel being toasted.

one aspect can ruin the whole package.

Love you story. Especially about beautiful woman

[3rd dominion]

“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” does indeed apply to everything.

These didn’t grab me, but I get pickier with every deck I pick up


side note: I have spent a few fond years watchmaking, but have yet to pick up a deck of that theme

Gear topping tool is on a few cards, a pretty rare bird now - and the shots of work from a distance made it feel more customer view than watchmaker view, more outsider than insider (not that it was intended otherwise)


I went looking about for images that invoked for me - after collecting a few odd bits I found this link, and it managed to capture it pretty well.


https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesig ... m-pictures


as does this type of view (very close and intimate):

IMG_7786.jpeg

IMG_7785.jpeg

IMG_7783.jpeg


Should you ever do a v2 - and feel like having a single customer (me) - please make that deck

thank you so much. we will remember your wishes and ideas for version 2

[GandalfPC]

George Daniels is a modern master, designing and building entirely by hand, produces one or two a year - Philippe Patek and a host of others through history, though now we get even more esoteric and unlikely to resonate with any outside the tiny niche that is watchmaking - but seeing the level of hand work they put in and the stunning results achieved is quite inspiring…

the antiques are a class of their own in handwork, and a grand tale of innovation…

https://anordain.com/blogs/news/a-histo ... golden-age

[3rd dominion]

Thank you. We check many resources and study different books etc.
But we can't use patented mechanism or details from famous watch brands

[GandalfPC]

I would continue to caution that I am probably the only one who would care or notice such detail - see what intrigues the larger audience

[3rd dominion]

I would continue to caution that I am probably the only one who would care or notice such detail - see what intrigues the larger audience

It's exactly important information, thank you

[Honeybee]

Gandalf, do you know who did the cover illustration for that George Daniels book?
I reckon they could create the perfect back for your single person deck

Edit: After a little research, I think it may well have been George

[PiazzaDelivery]

Watchmaking is such an elegant, refined, and sophisticated practice. The faces kind of reflect that. However, the backs don't even come close. The art is mismatched, easy pass.

[3rd dominion]

Watchmaking is such an elegant, refined, and sophisticated practice. The faces kind of reflect that. However, the backs don't even come close. The art is mismatched, easy pass.

Thanks for you opinion

[3rd dominion]

Watchmaking is such an elegant, refined, and sophisticated practice. The faces kind of reflect that. However, the backs don't even come close. The art is mismatched, easy pass.

Thanks for you opinion

[STLBluesNut]

if that seal on the bottom of the tuck?

if so, bravo! i wish more would do it.
if not, its upside down. =p

[3rd dominion]

if that seal on the bottom of the tuck?

if so, bravo! i wish more would do it.
if not, its upside down. =p

Yes, it's on the bottom because the non-standard design of tuckbox does not allow space on top and besides, this is a design decision.

[3rd dominion]

Final week on Kickstarter!

[3rd dominion]

final hours on Kickstarter