Horopod Watches Usher In A New Chapter For Ikepod

Based in 1994 by Marc Newson and Oliver Ike, the trail-blazing Ikepod turns 30 this yr. And what higher solution to rejoice than with a brand new mannequin — give a heat welcome to the brand new Ikepod Horopod watch assortment, which mixes acquainted design touches with contemporary updates for as we speak’s watch fanatics.

Ikepod’s winding historical past has three distinct eras. The primary period spanned from 1994 to 2006, marked by groundbreaking fashions corresponding to Seaslug, Hemipode, Megapode, and Manatee. Whereas every of those Gen1 fashions provided its personal distinctive options, they had been all immediately recognizable as Ikepod creations due to the corporate’s robust retro-futuristic design language comprising daring shapes, distinguished proportions, lug-less instances, expansive dials, distinctive handsets, and built-in bands.

Ikepod relaunched in 2008 and launched the Horizon, a brand new interpretation of the fan-favorite Hemipod that retained the long-lasting rounded, pebble-like case form however furnished with Victor Vasarely optical art-inspired dials, which gave the impression to be convex. Different Gen2 Ikepod fashions that emerged included the oblong Solaris, the Hourglass, and artistic collaborations with artists Jeff Koons and KAWS. The second period got here to an finish in 2012.

We’re presently within the model’s third period, which started in 2018 after Christian-Louis Col took over with a mission to make Ikepod extra reasonably priced and accessible whereas retaining the design-led ethos that made the watches so beloved. Following the success of the Duopod, Chronopod, Megapod, Seapod, and Skypod, the all-new Horopod now joins the Ikepod Gen3 lineup.

The Horopod, designed by Adrian Buchmann, continues the legacy of the Horizon (thus, the Hemipod too), full of interesting particulars. The titanium instances measure 44mm in diameter, nonetheless, they really feel extra compact on the wrist and put on extra like a 41mm watch. The instances are fitted with screw-down crowns and are waterproof to 50 meters. Connected to the lug-less instances are matching titanium bracelets harking back to these discovered on Gen1 fashions; nonetheless, Ikepod will ship the primary batch of Horopod watches with a further black rubber strap with a pin buckle. The titanium bracelets are designed to suit wrists as much as 21cm and would require instruments to resize (directions are equipped.)

The common manufacturing Horopod is offered in just a few dial variations, all that includes a trio of arms on the heart and named after cities.  Three of the dials — the blue Jodhpur (ref. HO01), black Lisboa (ref. HO02), and inexperienced Neom (ref. HO03) — have a sandwich dial development and are adorned with the acquainted optical artwork sample. The subsequent two have raised dots for decor and embrace a luminous ring across the periphery; these embrace the grey and orange Puxi (ref. HO10) and the white Udaipur (ref. HO11). Lastly, there’s the Petra (ref. HO20) with a floral motif bronze dial. Other than these normal manufacturing fashions, Ikepod has additionally made a particular thirtieth Anniversary Horopod (ref. HO04), restricted to 30 examples with every bit numbered. These variations home a black optical artwork dial with solely the hour and minute hand on the heart.

Like earlier generations of Ikepod watches, the again of the Horopod features a small window for a glimpse of the motion contained in the case. That motion is the Swiss-made, 4-HZ, 38-hour energy reserve ETA 2824, which was a part of a batch of New Outdated Inventory (NOS) actions that got here with the corporate’s newest possession change. The Series1 Horopod with these specs shall be restricted in portions.

Commenting on his design for Ikepod, Adrian Buchmann mentioned, “Ikepod is greater than a design object or a UFO as some name it. Within the context of the model launch it was a stand to that “correct” watchmaking might be playful. Keep in mind the model was launched in 1994 and has been in a position to create a real icon that after 30 years nonetheless seems completely updated and looks like it will likely be so for the subsequent 30 years.”

Adhering to the corporate’s new mantra of accessibility and affordability, the brand new Ikepod Horapod watches will retail for $3,490 USD, which is considerably lower than Era 1 and a couple of fashions. All fashions are presently out there for buy on the model’s web site. For extra details about the brand new Horopod watches, please go to the Ikepod web site.

Sponsored Posts are a type of promoting that permits sponsors to share helpful information, messages, and affords to aBlogtoWatch readers in a method conventional show promoting is commonly not finest suited to. All Sponsored Posts are topic to editorial pointers with the intent that they provide readers helpful information, promotions, or tales. The viewpoints and opinions expressed in Sponsored Posts are these of the advertiser and never essentially these of aBlogtoWatch or its writers.