IkePod Hemipode Rattrapante Chronograph

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, a Hemipode Chronograph Rattrapante from the 2010s, is housed in a 44mm round, monocoque stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, orange-filled pump pushers, and a mint green-filled split-seconds pusher at 10 o’clock. It features a matte black dial with silver 'radial' subsidiary registers, a matching handset with orange and mint green chronograph seconds hands and grey subsidiary hands, and an outer 1/5th-seconds track. 

Powered by a modified, automatic Valjoux movement visible via a small sapphire ‘porthole’ on the back of the case, it comes paired to a signed black rubber strap with a pass-through pin clasp.

Quirky, idiosyncratic, and mesmerizing, it’s that rare breed of contemporary watch that invites a closer look.

Following his graduation from Sydney College of the Arts, budding industrial designer Marc Newson turned his recent studies in jewelry and sculpture into the the Large Pod Watch — a 60mm, aluminum-cased behemoth devoid of any extraneous ornamentation and paired to a rubber strap. A harbinger of things to come, this timepiece would form the aesthetic underpinnings of a brand Newson founded with Oliver Ike in 1994, called Ikepod.
Though the company was only a modest success in the 1990s, its watches — which presaged the ‘large watch’ trend of the late 1990s/early 2000s — would subsequently become cult classics. The Hemipode, which measures 44mm in diameter, cemented the firm as an innovator by marrying a large, monobloc case to an automatic movement that powered various compilations: a chronograph, a chronograph with GMT, and a chronograph with a large date window at 12 o’clock. Costing over $10,000 in gold, they ushered in the era of the high-end independent.
Today, Ikepod is no longer helmed by Newson and Ike — owned by Swiss investors, the new Ikepod watches are made in Hong Kong and are powered by Japanese-made quartz movements. However, strong horological clout remains, with design duties having been taken over by Emmanuel Gueit, who conceived Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Offshore. Original, Newson-era models are, of course, highly collectible; forward-thinking, envelope-pushing objects, they’re reflective of the singular genius of the award-winning Aussie designer.

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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.