Ikepod Appreciation Threak

I was today years old before I heard that there is a watch company named Ikepod. I probably should have done a search here before starting this threak, but too late now.

ITT all things Ikepod. I'll start by quoting the wikipedia preview, which is all I know at this point.

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Ikepod - Wikipedia

The Ikepod is a Swiss watch company founded in 1994 by Oliver Ike and Marc Newson and famous for its cult disc-shaped design watches. The Ikepods were among the first watches to start the

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Sneakers too!

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Read the article. Sounds like they might have been onto something in the early 90s as a Swiss co., then went under, got bought out by a group more interested in volume than quality, and so switched to Asian production and movements and quartz.

Pass for me. I don’t like the styling.

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Actually, it does.

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It's almost like I did this on purpose.

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They are arguably one of the more influential brands of the modern era. If not for the Ikepod, we don’t get the Apple Watch as we know it and their innovative strap system. Their look isn’t for everyone, but I think we can all appreciate what they have done.

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Fascinating watch, I love the design and the fact it was effectively a prototype Apple watch design.

If I recall correctly another owner relaunched the watch at a cheaper price?

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mikemike

Fascinating watch, I love the design and the fact it was effectively a prototype Apple watch design.

If I recall correctly another owner relaunched the watch at a cheaper price?

Yep, they have been active here as well and happy to engage with the enthusiast market.

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Hey now...there was plenty of insight on display in my post...just because it was about WC itself rather than a watch doesn't need to be dwelled upon...

EDIT: </sarcasm>😜

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AllTheWatches

They are arguably one of the more influential brands of the modern era. If not for the Ikepod, we don’t get the Apple Watch as we know it and their innovative strap system. Their look isn’t for everyone, but I think we can all appreciate what they have done.

Is the strap system really "innovative" if someone else has done it first?

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Oh, I figured -- my bad, I was being sarcastic. I've fixed it, lol.

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JBird7986

Is the strap system really "innovative" if someone else has done it first?

Yes. Newson is a renowned designer and as a result of his obscure, largely nerdy, watch, we now have the Apple Watch, which took the system mainstream. I challenge anyone to name another watch product that has sold better than Apple Watch straps. Almost overnight an entire industry popped up. That watch got people like my wife, who gives no care about watches, excited to buy watch straps.

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AllTheWatches

Yes. Newson is a renowned designer and as a result of his obscure, largely nerdy, watch, we now have the Apple Watch, which took the system mainstream. I challenge anyone to name another watch product that has sold better than Apple Watch straps. Almost overnight an entire industry popped up. That watch got people like my wife, who gives no care about watches, excited to buy watch straps.

I think you misunderstand my point. Something is "innovative" when its the first thing to perform a particular function in a particular manner. Things that re-use that function in the same manner are copies. By way of example, Xerox innovated the GUI and Apple and Microsoft both copied the idea with Mac OS and Windows, respectively, and took the idea mainstream.

In this context, you attribute the basis for Apple's strap system to Ikepod's system, which was designed first but then claim that Apple "innovated" by taking the idea mainstream. But really what you're saying is that Apple didn't innovate -- they copied.

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JBird7986

I think you misunderstand my point. Something is "innovative" when its the first thing to perform a particular function in a particular manner. Things that re-use that function in the same manner are copies. By way of example, Xerox innovated the GUI and Apple and Microsoft both copied the idea with Mac OS and Windows, respectively, and took the idea mainstream.

In this context, you attribute the basis for Apple's strap system to Ikepod's system, which was designed first but then claim that Apple "innovated" by taking the idea mainstream. But really what you're saying is that Apple didn't innovate -- they copied.

I hear you and get what you are saying, but like many products, being able to take an unnoticed item, be it a GUI or a watch strap, improve it and bring it from an unknown (arguably dead) product to the masses, is it’s own form of innovation. Copied is Movado and the Museum watch. This was at least a different take and improved upon, by the original designer no less.

Innovation is built on the back of something that came before it. Like the lightbulb, it isn’t always about who was there first, but rather who improved and popularized it. Countless companies could have done so, but did not. Sticking with Apple, they did the same with the MP3 player. They did invent it, or were even close to first, but they certainly innovated the market with their design and execution.

Sadly, no one outside of the biggest watch or design nerds are going to know Ikepod, or heck, Marc Newson.

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Wow .. incredible designs .. you can take that both ways. I actually like them, but the 44mm case size .. and charging $1500 for a miyota 9039. One of my fav movements, but wow .. that's high. And $8900 for a standard LJP Swiss movement .. wow. I keep saying wow.

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JBird7986

I think you misunderstand my point. Something is "innovative" when its the first thing to perform a particular function in a particular manner. Things that re-use that function in the same manner are copies. By way of example, Xerox innovated the GUI and Apple and Microsoft both copied the idea with Mac OS and Windows, respectively, and took the idea mainstream.

In this context, you attribute the basis for Apple's strap system to Ikepod's system, which was designed first but then claim that Apple "innovated" by taking the idea mainstream. But really what you're saying is that Apple didn't innovate -- they copied.

Apple didn’t innovate - they copied.

To be fair, Apple hired Marc Newson to design their watch.

Sorry, I’ll go back to hating on the Apple Watch again now 😀

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mikemike

Apple didn’t innovate - they copied.

To be fair, Apple hired Marc Newson to design their watch.

Sorry, I’ll go back to hating on the Apple Watch again now 😀

To be fair, Apple hired Marc Newson to design their watch.

So then, Apple hired the original designer of the system to re-use a system he had already created for someone else. And this qualifies as "innovation"?

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Does @escapewheel have an Ikepod or know something about them, or just want the badge like I do?

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@Ikepod never posted here!

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Hello,

I am not familiar with watch crunch, sorry. And may have lost my initial login ahahah.

There are two fantastic articles both written by Tony Traina :

https://www.acollectedman.com/blogs/journal/ikepod-design

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/marc-newson-opens-up-about-ikepod-the-pathbreaking-90s-watch-brand-thats-cool-all-over-again

I hope you will enjoy it more than the wikipedia page. Also on ikepod website you have a section " e-museum" when you can discover the history and a vintage corner also.

All the best

CL

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Ikepodwatches

Hello,

I am not familiar with watch crunch, sorry. And may have lost my initial login ahahah.

There are two fantastic articles both written by Tony Traina :

https://www.acollectedman.com/blogs/journal/ikepod-design

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/marc-newson-opens-up-about-ikepod-the-pathbreaking-90s-watch-brand-thats-cool-all-over-again

I hope you will enjoy it more than the wikipedia page. Also on ikepod website you have a section " e-museum" when you can discover the history and a vintage corner also.

All the best

CL

Very interesting! I did not know Ye wore one.

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My first traditional watch coming from wearing an Apple Watch for many years since launch was a Gen 3 Ikepod. When I was in design school, I fell in love with the Ikepod Horizon.

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It's more of an artpiece but completely aligned with my design passions. It was never something I would consider buying, price was way too high and I had no interest in watches at the time.

Fast forward 7 years and I'm looking for an affordable watch for my wedding that spoke to my design interests. I figured I would just check out that watch brand I fell in love with all them years ago and to my surprise, they relaunched at a new price that I could justify and designs inspired by that Horizon model.

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I have that Ikepod relaunch to thank for getting me into this hobby and my appreciation and taste in watches has been growing since growing.

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Adam926

My first traditional watch coming from wearing an Apple Watch for many years since launch was a Gen 3 Ikepod. When I was in design school, I fell in love with the Ikepod Horizon.

Image

It's more of an artpiece but completely aligned with my design passions. It was never something I would consider buying, price was way too high and I had no interest in watches at the time.

Fast forward 7 years and I'm looking for an affordable watch for my wedding that spoke to my design interests. I figured I would just check out that watch brand I fell in love with all them years ago and to my surprise, they relaunched at a new price that I could justify and designs inspired by that Horizon model.

Image

I have that Ikepod relaunch to thank for getting me into this hobby and my appreciation and taste in watches has been growing since growing.

The way they incorporated the index marks is so elegantly simple. That and the minute marks on the rehaut really enhance legibility while not really detracting from the original style.

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This company ILEPOD was new for me as well. I love how WC talk can be so informative if a new company I never heard of one into the have a blessing to keep on going with some time or twice.

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OKay, this channel @watchfinderofficial did a review or something

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gi-eHfmoHs

If someone could watch it and tell me what it said, that would be great.