Asterisk Brings Charley Harper’s Iconic Nature Art to your Wrist

Charley Harper. Whether or not his name rings a bell, you’ve likely seen and enjoyed his work. Charley Harper was an artist and conservationist best known for his depiction of nature, all done in a style he called “minimal realism”. Harper’s reduction of the natural world into recognizable shapes and forms was more than beautiful; it was ahead of its time. In collaboration with the Charley Harper Art Studio, Asterisk brings these images to life in a limited edition collection: Introducing Charley Harper x Asterisk: Nature & Time Illustrated.

The Charley Harper x Asterisk collaboration features seven stainless steel models, each with its own subject – and some fun mechanisms to boot. Five are automatic, and two are quartz. All of them measure 38mm wide and 46mm long, dimensions that fit virtually any wrist. They are fitted with 18mm genuine leather straps that are easily swappable thanks to quick-release springbars. Sapphire glass protects the topside, and water resistance is a reasonable 5 ATM. But the specs are not what you are here for. Let’s take a closer look at the star of the show: the dials.

First, the automatic models. For the cat-lovers out there, “Limp on a Limb” is right up your alley. With a snoozing cat front and center, the watch depicts the passing of time as a wreath of leaves (with the lone yellow leaf indicating the minutes and jump hours hidden in our feline friend). “Panda Panda” shows mother and child amongs a forest of bamboo featuring a similar revolving minutes track around the outer edge of the dial. “Turtleneck” utilizes our hero turtle and his environment in timetelling: seconds, minutes, and hours, are represented by the turtle’s head, white lily pad flower, and turtle tail, respectively.

Another automatic watch, “Cool Carnivore” is all about the Bengal Tiger in Charley Harper’s distinct geometric illustration. The jumping hour is hidden in the apex predator’s ear as he cools off in the jungle, totally unbothered by the revolving minute counter. The last of the automatic models depicts Harper’s most famous subject: the Coniferous Cardinal. The eponymous model showcases the Northern Cardinal flying amongs the trees with the hour indicator set in snow and minutes swirling around. The two quartz models are the “Puffins Passing” and “The Last Aphid”: “Puffins” features a charming day/night feature where the hours are marked by the sun until 6PM when the sky turns to night and sun is replaced by moon. “The Last Aphid” shows a huddle of ladybugs around the center with hours and minutes tracked on the outer two rings.

Even if you were unfamiliar with his work before, it’s hard not to be a fan of Charley Harper after seeing this limited edition collection. The combination of vibrant colors, fun designs, and clever use of mechanical watchmaking make this collaboration a surefire hit. To learn more, visit Kickstarter to see full product details, production timeline, and more.