Ikepod Hemipode (1999)

Ikepod started in 1993-1994, when Oliver Ike, Swiss businessman who was in the furniture industry, hired Marc Newson to design wrist watches for a new project. Newson’s first watch design was called the “Pod,” he was 23 years old in 1986. Newson assembled 100 pieces of the Pod watch and this experience taught him just how difficult watch design, production, and construction was. The name Ikepod came from Newson’s design obsession with “pod” and “capsule” style that define most of his work. The first Ikepod watch was called the Sea Slug, intentionally named for the exotic ocean creature. It was meant to set a tone that the brand was cool and different. I believe that it was priced under $1,000 when it was first launched.