Ikepod Seapod 'Zale' Automatic

What happens when Ikepod makes a proper dive watch? Thankfully, it still looks like an Ikepod. The Seapod Zale takes the brand’s unmistakable UFO silhouette and gives it genuine underwater credentials, resulting in a diver that looks unlike almost anything else in the category.

The 46mm brushed stainless-steel case retains Ikepod’s signature lugless architecture, with the strap disappearing beneath the case rather than attaching to conventional lugs. As a result, it wears considerably smaller than its dimensions suggest, closer to a conventional 42mm watch. Most clever is the rotating dive bezel, integrated so smoothly into the case that the familiar 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 markings almost appear to be engraved directly into the flying-saucer profile.

The dark dial brings some welcome Ikepod weirdness. Circular orange hour markers surrounded by luminous white rings give it a wonderfully graphic, almost Pop quality, while the broad orange-and-white hands and oversized minute track make the watch highly legible. That same vivid orange continues onto the integrated silicone strap, turning a functional dive watch into something considerably more fun.

Inside is the automatic Miyota 9039, a slim, high-beat Japanese movement with approximately 42 hours of power reserve. A screw-down crown and 200 meters of water resistance mean the Seapod isn’t merely playing dress-up as a diver; it has the specifications to back up the look.

This example is accompanied by its original recycled Ikepod boxes and papers. Big, bright, and unapologetically unconventional, the Zale proves that even when Ikepod heads underwater, it has absolutely no interest in swimming with the rest of the fishes.

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.

Our Pledge

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 two-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.