Every so often, I come across a brand that doesn’t just design objects, it creates experiences. That’s exactly what I felt when I discovered ASTERISK / 아스테리스크, a jewellery label based in Berlin that blurs the lines between art, craft, and emotion.
What began as a quiet necessity soon evolved into a living, breathing creative practice. Founded by Korean designer Zan Hyan Song, ASTERISK was never intended to be a conventional brand. Instead, it emerged from an instinctive desire to give shape to the intangible. From emotion, memory, and transformation. Jewellery became the natural medium: intimate, enduring, and deeply personal. It lives with you, rests against your skin, and carries fragments of your story.
Each piece from ASTERISK is a reflection of duality – where rawness meets refinement, ancient energy fuses with futuristic form, and fragility coexists with strength. Every design is shaped slowly by hand in their Berlin studio, an act of meditation as much as craftsmanship. The resulting pieces feel alive, imbued with traces of time, motion, and inner reflection.
Fluid design, constant transformation
What fascinates me most about ASTERISK is how fluid the brand’s language feels. Some pieces are delicate and almost whisper-like; others are bold, sculptural, and full of texture. That variation mirrors the emotional landscape they come from shifting, changing, never still.
Rather than conforming to a single style, ASTERISK embraces transformation. It’s a brand in constant motion, expanding and contracting, always evolving just like the people who wear it.
The meaning behind the ‘*’
At the heart of ASTERISK lies its namesake symbol, the humble asterisk ‘*’ — a mark that represents both expansion and connection. Radiating outward in every direction yet anchored in its centre, it perfectly captures the brand’s philosophy: many expressions, one continuous self.
Imperfection as beauty
Every ASTERISK creation is handmade, meaning no two pieces are ever identical. The slight variations in metal or stone aren’t flaws — they’re intentional celebrations of imperfection. Some designs feature delicate or sharp details, subtle reminders of the balance between vulnerability and strength. It’s jewellery that demands to be felt, not just worn.
A global presence, rooted in Berlin
Though ASTERISK’s heart beats in Berlin, its reach extends across the world. You can find their work at:
EXE, Berlin (Offline)
APOC Store, London (Online)
Brother LDN, London (Offline)
AP0CENE, New York (Online)
GR8, Tokyo (Offline)
FFF Itaewon, Seoul (Online & Offline)
L’Oeuvre, Toronto (Online)
The Forumist, Stockholm (Online)
For me, ASTERISK is more than a jewellery brand, it’s a reminder that design can hold emotion and that beauty often lives in imperfection. If you’re drawn to pieces that carry meaning that live and evolve with you ASTERISK is a name to remember.