Calypso - Bargell Edition

ANKA unveils a unique collaboration with Christopher Blake Bargell, a French-American artist renowned for his paintings imbued with memory, poetry, and everyday symbols. From this encounter between contemporary art and accessible watchmaking has emerged a truly one-of-a-kind timepiece.

The Good Times watch incorporates a portion of Christopher's eponymous still life, depicting a skull and a plant, into the heart of its dial. Faithful to the palette of the original painting, the strap echoes its iconic hues, creating a harmonious interplay between art and accessory.

About the work

Created in 2023, Good Times is an oil painting on canvas (110 × 75 cm), derived from an A4 collage made of colored papers. The artist juxtaposes a skull and a plant in a composition that is both symbolic and delicate. This contemporary still life evokes both the fragility of existence and the beauty of simple moments. By faithfully transposing the forms and colors of the original collage, Christopher creates an intimate work that oscillates between nostalgia and contemplation.

It is this piece that we chose to bring to life in a new way, by integrating it into the dial of an ANKA watch. The strap, specially designed for this edition, echoes the palette of the artwork, thus extending the artistic experience to the wrist.

About the artist

Christopher Blake Bargell was born in Paris in 1998. A graduate of the Marseille School of Fine Arts and holding a master's degree in art education, he lives and works in Paris, between trips to Denver, Colorado, where part of his family lives. His work draws inspiration from everyday objects, memories, and popular imagery, always with great sensitivity.

FEATURES :

Materials: Rubber

Movement: Miyota Quartz

Casing: Rubber

Dial: Illustrated in fine print

Needles: With blue Super-LumiNova

Diameter: 39mm

Thickness: 9.5mm

Lug width: 15 mm

Glass: Mineral

Waterproof rating: 10 bar (100 m)

Strap: Interchangeable rubber

Warranty: 2 years

Pre-orders end on May 5, 2025

Delivery expected for late June/early July