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Some Ikepod Watches Hands-On

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:49:44 +0000

Ikepod timepieces have been around since I started getting into watches about a decade ago. An elusive brand, seeing these watches in person isn't all that common. The brand has had its ups and downs but seems to be in good hands at this time. The politics there are interesting as Marc Newson is the designer and has an incredible amount of creative control (though he doesn't involve himself with day-to-day operations at all). Basically, if he wants it made, it gets made.

A good example of this is with the Hemipode, which, for its time, was a very large watch (in the 1990s) at 44mm wide. The Megapode is 47mm wide and, again, was considered massive. Today, they look just fine on the wrist. Over a decade later, Marc decided to do a 180 in his approach and built the two-sided Solaris watch that is just 30mm wide. He just does whatever he feels like doing, really.

Ikepod watches feel like exactly what they are: Timepieces designed by someone who isn't strictly a watch designer but is a really good designer. Quality and craftsmanship is good, and the prices are high, but these are satisfying pieces. The Hemipode is probably their most famous watch. The case comes (came) in a variety of materials from steel, to gold, to platinum. And at 44mm wide you have an almost perfectly smooth pebble on your wrist - just how Newson wanted it. Legibility is as good as the watches are unique. Distinctive components, like the strap, ensure that the watch both looks fascinating and is comfortable. My interest, over the years, for the brand is well-founded and finds them on my wrist.

The Hemipodes currently use a modified Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement. Newson wanted perfect symmetry for the dial (good man) so he removed the day of the week indicator and opted for a date dial (versus a window). The movement is further modified by removing the 12 hour counter for the chronograph and replacing it with a 24 hour GMT hand - adjusted by the pusher on the left side of the case. In the past, these pieces sometimes offered other dial styles and movements. The hands are smooth looking and legible when you read the time from the UFO on your wrist. This is high-end design, people!

I don't think that Ikepod makes steel or titanium versions of the Hemipode anymore, their current catalog only lists gold and platinum models and they are spendy! Retail prices start at around $35,000 for the gold versions and go up over $50,000 for the platinum models. Not cheap, sure, but part of the reason for the cost is the sheer amount of metal in the cases. The other part of the value proposition in getting one of these is Marc Newson's work as a piece of art.

The Megapode is still offered in steel and is considerably less in price due to that fact. This is Marc's aviator watch complete with a rotating slide-rule bezel. This time, the movement was flipped around for the pusher to be on the left side of the case - the idea was to make the crown for the slide-rule bezel easier to grasp. I wonder if a Marc Newson designed instruction manual on how to use slide-rule bezels comes with the Megapode watches? These very elegant pilot watches have the same awesome strap that all the round Ikepod watches have and works somewhat like a belt. It is rubber and has a nice clean clasp system that really is more clever than it looks. Very neat in appearance as well. Ikepod Megapode watches are currently offered in titanium, retailing for $17,500.

The newest round-cased Ikepod offering is the Horizon collection. These simple two-handers are more about art than pure function. They look stunning in person and offer a fascinating re-imagining of the look that Movado made popular with the Horwitt Museum Face watch. The watch dial features inset, almost perforated, holes of various sizes that emphasize the look of a sphere. Looking at the dial from various angles is very much a treat. This is one of my favorite "hard to read" watch dials out there. Like all of these watches, the Ikepod bird logo (named after a type of bird in Australia) is applied on the bottom of the sapphire crystal. Prices for the Horizon watches have a wide range from about $14,000 to around $70,000. The top models being in gold with diamond studded bezels.

If you haven't yet experienced Ikepod, I highly recommend you check them out - at least to know what a non-traditional watch-maker can do. While pricey, these watches are also high quality art.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Ikepod Hourglass For Only Watch 2011 Auction

admin — Sat, 28 May 2011 01:32:32 +0000

For the 2011 Only Watch Auction, Ikepod will offer this one-of-a-kind red version of the Ikepod Hourglass. Looks like it has black microballs and is a stunning piece. Only one will be made and it will be auctioned off in September.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Ikepod Hourglass: Time For Art

admin — Thu, 12 May 2011 07:01:13 +0000

I find it really ironic that an hourglass is a novel concept in the watch industry. When Marc Newson designed Ikepod released the Hourglass last year, I remember thinking "Wait. Is this the only high-end hourglass that you can get?" Yea, I think it is. It is as if the classic timing tool was a forgotten piece of history.

Well, you might not have a lot of options in your quality hourglass buying needs, but the good news is that the Ikepod ones are pretty darn nice. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but you can actually time with them as well. According to Ikepod, the time ratings for both the large and small ones are quite accurate. You can now live your dream of looking your nemesis in the eye and stating, "You have until this hourglass runs out to bring me my money, or your family will die a slow and painful death ... While the hourglass runs out yet again."

Last year, they released the larger of the two hourglasses while Ikepod has offered the smaller version this year. The large one (which is actually pretty big and heavy) is rated to measure 60 minutes. This model is easily the more decorative of the two as it makes for a larger presence. The newer, smaller, version is rated at 10 minutes and is the one that I prefer. Why? Well the simple reason is that it is small enough to comfortably hold in your hands and offers a more satisfying tactile experience. The hourglass is a gorgeous piece of functional art but the best part really is that you can play with it. Though you budding villains out there will certainly want at least one large one. I do want to point out that the nanoball filling is a very interesting feature, as well, but I'll get to more about that in a moment.

When I first learned about the Ikepod Hourglass I wasn't all that excited. However, that changed when I got to see them for the first time in the flesh. They are very beautiful visually, and I appreciate that they are painstakingly hand-made out of a single tube of glass. According to Ikepod they don't use your average glass but, instead, an industrial glass known as borosilicate. I imagine this is used for durability. If I recall correctly, the glass is three 3mm thick all around which certainly adds to a sense that it isn't going to break.

The larger of the two Hourglasses is 300mm tall, 250mm wide, and 9.6 kg in weight. The smaller model is identical in shape, just miniaturized. In fact, it is exactly half as big being 150mm tall and 125mm wide while weighing significantly less at 1.5 kg.

Honestly, the best part of the Hourglasses are watching them in action. Rather than being filled with sand, they are filled with these tiny balls - nano balls. There are a few different choices in fillings: The balls are done in steel, black colored steel, copper, or gold. Some of them are only available at certain stores. Westime in Los Angeles, for example, is the only place you can purchase the gold nanoball filled Hourglass.

These micro balls behave in an interesting manner and are more pleasing to see in action than the traditional sand as the grain is larger. They bounce and make a pleasantly soothing sound when moving around. Sometimes, they also stick to the glass a bit due to what I assume is static electricity.Â In the video you can see them moving through the hourglass. It can be a bit mesmerizing and definitely exceeds one's expectations.

Marc Newson's creative charms and insights into items that are both functional and beautiful are expressed clearly in the Ikepod Hourglass. It is priced like a high-end piece of art, is totally hand-made, and there is an impressive attention to detail. Unfortunately, while many people will want one not all will be able to afford one. Prices for the smaller Hourglass range from $13,000 - $17,500 (the latter price is for the gold nanoball version). For the larger Hourglass, prices range from $28,500 (steel balls), to $31,500 (copper balls), up to around $40,000 or so for the gold ball version. While not inexpensive, these are satisfying pieces of functional art for both watch lovers and the general art loving public alike.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Ikepod Solaris Watches: New Direction For Marc Newson

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:59:28 +0000

Ikepod is designer Marc Newson's quirky but cool watch brand. From its inception, most of his watches shared the same round bulbous look and had model names like "Hemipode." The watches are very cool and very hard to come by with extremely limited distribution (only two authorized dealers in the US). Despite their rarity, Ikepod watches have always intrigued me and looked like they enjoyed more than niche product appeal. Further, their modern looks being minimalist and all, are still very functional, with some of the existing models offering very complex features.

Well, Marc has taken a completely new direction with the new Solaris lines of watch. Not only is the shape of the watch case square, but the overall theme of the watch is totally different. Rather than a soft futuristic look, the Solaris watches are retro chic. The case itself looks like an appliance dreamed up in pre-space age 1950's and 60s, but with cleaners lines. Maybe what art deco might have evolved into if industrial design took a different path in the middle of the 20th century.

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The case is a simple rounded, sandwiched square. The dial is round, unpretentious and frames the applied hour markers and hands with pristine clarity. The crown is placed at the top of the case (as opposed to the side), and is a flattened. Still, It is probably easy to operate when pulled out. It might not be comfy for manual winding, but the watches have quartz movements (don't gasp), so no worries with winding. Two rivets on the case delete any notion of boredom from the design suggesting a sense of mechanical engineering to the basic looking device. The Solaris watch line is available in several different materials from 18k yellow or white gold, as well as white and black ceramic.

You don't see mesh or woven metal bracelets a lot, but you do here. Mesh metal bracelets used to be common on diving watches, and I am glad they are making a comeback. They are hard to make, and hard to take care of, but with non tarnishing metals today, the latter of those two concerns might be moot. Probably the most interesting design choice is having the bracelet attach on the front of the watch on one end, and behind the watch on another. I'd have to see it applied to my wrist to further comment on its effectiveness. You can tell from the image gallery below that there are a few well-chosen color options. I think I like the white and black two-tone the best, or perhaps the featured all back model shown above. Prices are pretty steep given the movement at between 6,700 and 24,000 Euros.Â Check for the Ikepod Solaris watches available, someplace, soon.

See Ikepod watches on eBay here.

See Marc Newson items on Amazon here.

NEW IKEPOD MEGAPODE CHRONO MG01 MARC NEWSON DESIGN

US $4,199.00

NEW IKEPOD MANATEE WORLD TIMER MARC NEWSON DESIGN

US $2,599.00

NEW IKEPOD HEMIPODE GMT CHRONO H01 MARC NEWSON

US $3,799.00

NEW IKEPOD GRAND DATE HD03 MARC NEWSON DESIGN

US $3,799.00

IKEPOD Hemipode Weekplanner Limited Edition 9999 Mint in Box Papers

US $2,750.00

Gents Stainless Steel Ikepod Hemipode Chrono Watch

US $3,000.00

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Ikepod Thunderbird Chronograph: Quality Watch To Compliment A Not So Quality Car

admin — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 21:09:26 +0000

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Ikepod is the watch brand behind industrial designer genius Marc Newson (from Australia). Ikepod watches each have a monocoque cases which means that the entire movement and dial are inside one unified piece of metal (for the most part). The look is a hip looking bulbous orb that looks like a "time" capsule on the wrist. While by no means inexpensive, you get a true "designer" look with Ikepod watches, which stress form and function.

A few years ago when Ford re-released the Thunderbird, they commissioned Ikepod to create a limited edition series of watches for the release. Apparently Ford realized that the target audience for the attractive to look at, not so fun to drive coupe would be aging Americans who perhaps had fond memories of the originals. Likewise, this demographic might be into fine watches, so the connection seemed logical. Whatever Ford was thinking, the Ikepod Thunderbird watches do the T-Bird's heritage justice. Very clean lines, inherently legible, with flamboyant colors that appear appropriate. You get lovely touches such as a nicely engraved "Thunderbird" logo across the top of the bezel, along with aquamarine cabochons in the pushers and crown that match the chronograph seconds hand. Of course, the iconic Thunderbird logo itself is proudly displayed on the face of the watch instead of the Ikepod logo for this special edition.

Inside, the watch has a Swiss automatic ETA 2892 in chronograph form. On the reserve side, the rotor is partially seen through a porthole. Case construction is always solid in these watches, and the size is admirable at 44mm. The attached rubber strap has an appropriate tire pattern (a la Chopard Mille Miglia), and happens to be "vanilla scented." Why not new car smell?

One of these watches is available on eBay right now for about $1,800, which is a great deal considering it is one of only 200 in the world, and most other Ikepod watches on eBay go for well over $3,000. Although the Thunderbird is pure Ikepod, the styling of this model has some unique elements worth collecting. This might be the best thing to come out of the new Ford Thunderbird, more so than the retro coupe. While the car itself was not the driving sensation it could have been (actually I think the original was more of a looker than a roadster as well), its fine styling carried over well into this Ikepod watch special edition.

See Ikepod watches on eBay here.

See Ikepod watches on Amazon here.

NEW IKEPOD MEGAPODE CHRONO MG01 MARC NEWSON DESIGN

US $4,199.00

NEW IKEPOD MANATEE WORLD TIMER MARC NEWSON DESIGN

US $2,599.00

NEW IKEPOD HEMIPODE GMT CHRONO H01 MARC NEWSON

US $3,799.00

NEW IKEPOD GRAND DATE HD03 MARC NEWSON DESIGN

US $3,799.00

IKEPOD Hemipode Weekplanner Limited Edition 9999 Mint in Box Papers

US $2,750.00

Gents Stainless Steel Ikepod Hemipode Chrono Watch

US $3,000.00

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.