[IKEPOD] Limited edition 50 pixel camouflage models and recommended models

History of IKEPOD

Ikepod was founded in 1994 by Swiss furniture maker Oliver Ike and product designer Marc Newson.

Two years after its founding, the company attracted attention with a diver's watch called "Sea Slug." It features a unique design with a bowl-shaped case and a mortar-shaped bezel, and is equipped with a chronometer-certified movement.

In 1997, they released the Hemipod, which is considered to be the masterpiece of Ikepod. Its retro yet futuristic worldview reminiscent of the 70s and its lug-free case shape instantly became popular.

Although Ikepod was attracting a lot of attention, it went bankrupt in 2006. It was relaunched in 2008 by American investors, but things did not go well and it went bankrupt again.
The second revival was in 2017, when Ikupod was relaunched by Christian Louis-Col.

The appeal of IKEPOD

The iKpod watches were designed by Marc Newson, the famous designer for the furniture brand IDEE and globally acclaimed for his design of the Apple Watch.

The design of the Ikepod is strongly influenced by Marc Newson's product design. It has a cone-shaped or disc-shaped case shape that is not seen in other brands, and an ergonomic back cover that fits comfortably on the wrist. It is a design that may seem eccentric, but is carefully calculated.

Since its revival, various designers have been involved, all of whom have paid homage to the designs created by Marc Newson.

Ikepod was previously priced at a high price, at the same or higher price range as high-end brands, but when Ikepod was relaunched, we now have models that can be purchased for around 100,000 yen so that everyone can afford them.

Recommended Models

Seapod

The diver's watch "Seapod" was released in 2021. The Seapod, which is suitable for outdoor use, is waterproof to 200M while using the UFO-shaped case that is the icon of Ikepod. Fabrice Gonet, who has also worked on TAG Heuer, was also responsible for the design of the Seapod. The UFO-shaped case familiar to Ikepod has an ergonomic curve that runs from the front to the back, making it look smart even with a large case size of 46mm. When worn on the wrist, the part that actually touches the skin is like it is resting on the bone, so it is comfortable to wear and easy to use outdoors, making it popular.

Duopod

Duopod is one of the collections launched at the time of the restart in 2019. It uses a design reimagined by Emmanuel Guillet based on the design of the Ikepod created by Marc Newson. It is equipped with a Japanese quartz movement, but is characterized by the lack of a second hand so that it is not immediately obvious that it is a quartz model. The name is thought to come from the word "duo" meaning "two hands". It has a previously unthinkable price setting, and was announced with the hope of reaching many users.

Chronopod

This chronograph model pays homage to the masterpiece "Hemipod." Christian Louis-Colle's crowdfunding campaign for the relaunch attracted over 700 supporters from around the world. The iconic case design of the Hemipod, considered Ikepod's greatest masterpiece, is kept intact, but the dial is designed by Emmanuel Guillet. The Hemipod, a mythical bird said to be extinct, is engraved on the crown.

Ikepod Seapod Limited edition of 50

A limited edition model from Seapod, which is also suitable for outdoor activities, will be released in 2023. The design concept is "digital camouflage". Pixelated green camouflage decorates the dial and strap. The case was designed by Fabrice Gonet, and the pixelated camouflage dial and strap were designed by the Ikepod team. Although the lug-to-lug measurement is 46mm, the excellent fit common to Ikepod watches gives it a fit of about 43mm.