In this episode of The Analog Explorer, I sat down with Sinziana Iordache—hyperrealist graphite artist and fellow #watchfam creative—live from the inaugural Vancouver Timepiece Show. Unlike the many brand founders I’ve had across the mic during the show, Sinziana represents a different part of the horological world that I can only describe as the artistry of analog.
Armed with nothing more than paper and pencil, Sinziana creates jaw-dropping portraits of watches that leap off the page with photographic realism. I first encountered one of her pieces tucked into a media bag, it looked like a Fears watch print or promo at first glance. It wasn’t until later that I realized it wasn’t a photo at all, it was pencil. Her work is that good.
Sinziana shared her artistic journey, which began with years of traditional portraiture before watches became her chosen subject. What makes her work so striking is not just the detail, but the depth. Whether it’s a grand complication from Breguet, the complexity of A. Lange & Söhne double split, or the raw textures of a leather strap, she gravitates toward what challenges her most. If it doesn’t intimidate her, she says, it’s probably not going to excite her either.
We also talked about her background in architecture and interior design, and how the technical training for perspective, geometry, light and shadow, forms the backbone of her practice today. While she’s never taken formal fine art courses, her years drafting by hand at architecture school in Romania gave her the tools to turn graphite into dimension and motion.
Some of her works take upwards of 150+ hours to complete. Many are commissions—strictly one-of-one pieces she won’t reproduce, because the connection with the collector is part of the process. “They tell me what they love about the watch, and I try to capture that,” she said. Her personal projects, like her glitch-effect Seamaster (which I highly recommend you check out), push boundaries even further.
When I asked my usual closer—Why watches?—her answer was heartfelt. Watches, she said, are nostalgic and intimate. They’re not just accessories, they’re memory keepers. In a digital world, there’s something deeply human about the mechanical, the tactile, and the handmade; regardless if it’s a watch or a pencil drawing.
You really have to see Sinziana’s work to believe it. Head over to sinzianaiordache.com or follow her on Instagram @sinzianaiordache to see what it looks like when analog art meets horological obsession.
A big thanks, as always, to the Vancouver Timepiece Show. Stay updated on where the show heads next at timepieceshow.com.
