Ikepod "Megapod", a collaboration model with artist Tom Christopher

Following the success of the quartz watch designed by Emmanuel Guillet, who also designed the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, the Ikepod was relaunched in 2019. A new automatic mechanical model designed by Alexandre Peraldi, former design director at Baume & Mercier, was released in spring 2020. Now, in 2021, a partnership with American artist Tom Christopher will see the light of day. We'd like to introduce you to this special limited edition model.

Ikepod "Megapod" Tom Christopher Special Limited Edition Model

　The Swiss watch brand Ikepod was launched in 1994 by Oliver Ike and Australian designer Marc Newson. Newson is the man behind the Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clock and the Horizon suitcase, which brought a 21st century touch to the prestigious French watch brand Louis Vuitton.

　For over 20 years, Ikepod has offered a wide range of models, from simple two-hand watches to complex perpetual calendars. Mechanical movements are often housed in titanium (and occasionally platinum) cases, and the rounded cases are paired with the brand's signature hand shapes.

　However, despite the designer's fame and the beauty of the product, the Ikepod never achieved great success, likely due to its high price tag. Given this, it's understandable why it disappeared from the watch industry, but it's a real shame.

　Luckily, watches, like fashion, can be restarted again and again, and in 2019, with the financial backing of a crowdfunding campaign, the Ikepod returned to the forefront.

　This was a welcome development, and thanks to the design of Emmanuel Guillet (creator of the Royal Oak Offshore), it was a success, but purists were a little disappointed that the first watches released after the revival were quartz movements.

　In early 2021, following its collaboration with Alexandre Peraldi in the spring of the previous year, Ikepod resumed its partnership with artists, including Jeff Koons and KAWS, whose work with KAWS achieved a record price of 37,000 Swiss francs excluding fees at a Phillips auction in Hong Kong in 2020.

　For Ikepod's second artist collaboration, New York-based artist Tom Christopher was chosen. Known for his expressionist urban paintings and murals, his New York-themed works are particularly highly acclaimed, especially his depictions of Times Square. His artworks always have very long titles, but paradoxically, they represent ephemerality, moments of life suspended in time.

　The idea behind this new collaboration is to bring the works of famous artists, such as those in museum collections, closer to watch users. The fantastical dial design was created for the Ikepod and depicts skaters soaring through the New York skyline alongside birds and fish, creating an "ode to the city and culture."

　The watch features a two-hand dial and a 46mm lugless stainless steel case powered by a Miyota automatic movement. It's paired with a rubber strap reminiscent of the early Ikepods. Only 200 pieces will be sold worldwide.