Today, independent luxury watch brands with avant-garde design language abound. Ikepod largely started that trend.
Ikepod is a design-driven watch brand founded in 1994 by Swiss entrepreneur Oliver Ike and renowned Australian designer Marc Newson (he was involved in the Apple Watch, Lockheed Lounge, and countless other products).
1994-2006: First Generation
From the beginning, Ikepod gained enthusiastic fans for its futuristic, lugless cases, minimalist dials, and oversized proportions—radical features that set it apart from traditional Swiss watchmaking.
Early models like the Hemipode and Megapode are highly collectible today. Despite their influence, Ikepod struggled financially and ceased operations in 2006.
2008-2012: Second Generation
The brand was revived in 2008 under art collector Adam Lindemann in partnership with Newson for a second, more exclusive “art object” era. These “second-generation” Ikepods included high-profile artist collaborations with artists like Jeff Koons and KAWS.
Ultra-limited runs and five-figure price tags ruled the day. While celebrated for its artistry, the brand’s narrow appeal and Newson’s eventual departure led to another pause in operations by 2012.
2018+: Third Generation
Ikepod’s third and current generation began with a 2018 relaunch led by entrepreneur Christian-Louis Col and a new ownership team. This modern revival started with a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over CHF 400,000. The three-figure starting prices signaled a shift toward affordability.
The brand retained its iconic pod-like design DNA but introduced quartz models with Japanese movements, produced and assembled in Hong Kong, along with pricier Swiss Made automatic ETA-based models. Swiss designer Emmanuel Gueit, known for designing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, took over design duties, refreshing classics like the Duopod and Chronopod while introducing new models like the Megapod and Seapod.
As of 2025, Ikepod continues in this third phase—often referred to as the “Kickstarter era”—maintaining its design philosophy while reaching a wider audience. Although Oliver Ike and Marc Newson are no longer involved, the brand stays true to its original vision: creating bold, minimalist watches that exist at the intersection of industrial design and contemporary horology.