Ikepod Horizon, mid 2000s

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

In the watch world, just a few key industrial designers reign supreme. Gérald Genta, of course, is one who comes to mind immediately. Another is Marc Newson. The Australian wunderkind has become a legend in his own time, having designed everything from award-winning furniture to glassware to shotguns. In the horological sphere, however, he is most well known for Ikepod, his envelope-pushing watch brand that helped to usher in the trend of oversized timepieces in the 1990s. Known for their orb-like case shape with hooded lugs, unique handsets, often plentiful complications, and large size, Ikepod watches were ahead of their time. Having begun and ceased operations several times over the past few decades, Ikepod now operates without Newson, who went on to co-design the Apple Watch. Vintage, Newson-era Ikepods, however, are hot-ticket collector items these days, beloved for their quirky designs and attention to detail. This particular Ikepod Horizon, a Reference HHR70, dates to the mid 2000s and represented the next chapter for the brand after art collector and watch enthusiast Adam Lindemann partnered up with Newsom to acquire the entire Ikepod archive for a brand spanking new relaunch. With Newsom still at the design helm, Ikepod was primed for yet another run of high quality, contemporary watchmaking and design. The case features a bulbous 44mm 18K rose gold 'UFO' case with a printed logo on the domed sapphire crystal, a signed crown and an individually numbered caseback with a sapphire display aperture. Resembling the appearance of a golf ball, the tone matching dial actually draws direct inspiration from the 'event horizon' in astrophysics, which occurs at the edge of black hole and marks the moment when gravity becomes infinite. Woah. Okay, back to Earth. I n hand the dial creates an optical illusion, giving a curved effect and as a result, provides an eye-catching depth and three-dimensional feel. Powered by self-winding ETA 2892, this piece is outfitted with the brand's signature pass through pin-clasp and rose gold hardware. Further, this piece is accompanied by its full set of factory goodies! Quirky, idiosyncratic, and mesmerizing, it’s that rare breed of contemporary watch that invites a closer look ... from a living designer legend!