IKEPOD, the Swiss watch brand that has challenged conventional ideas of watchmaking through bold industrial design since its founding in 1994, is introducing a new model called the MINIPOD.
The roots of the MINIPOD trace back to the Manatee, unveiled in 2001. Built around a rectangular form that broke from the circular "Pod" silhouette that had come to symbolize IKEPOD, the Manatee posed a question of its own: could the brand's aesthetic hold up even beyond the "circle" geometry that defined its design language? The MINIPOD picks up that question and answers it for the present day.
Not a Reissue, But a Step Forward
The MINIPOD is not a straightforward "reissue" of the Manatee, nor is it a nostalgic "homage" to it. Instead, it strips away the elements that time has made unnecessary and returns to the design essence that has stayed constant all along — carrying forward the question the Manatee first raised, and answering it anew as a contemporary IKEPOD.
Design First, Not a Showcase of Technique
Since 1994, IKEPOD has held to one consistent idea: industrial design takes priority over showing off technical prowess. The MINIPOD's softly sculpted, rectangular stainless steel case reflects that thinking, flowing seamlessly from crystal to case to the integrated rubber strap. The crown carries two dot markings that recall the original Manatee.
The dial, too, avoids relying on excessive ornamentation — its structure and layering create a three-dimensional sense of depth. Despite being an entirely new model, its details carry a quiet connection to the Manatee from 25 years ago.
The MINIPOD runs on a reliable Japanese-made quartz movement and is manufactured in Hong Kong. In keeping with the belief that good design has no nationality, IKEPOD states its origins openly rather than concealing them — placing its focus on design and quality rather than the story of where a watch is made.
Color as Part of the Design
Color is another essential piece of IKEPOD's design language. Rather than treating it as decoration, each MINIPOD colorway builds color into the structure of the dial, strap, and overall form, giving every model its own distinct character.
The lineup spans eight variations in total: CALUSA in black and orange, the cool-toned SIRENIA in blue and white, CRYSTAL RIVER in gold and white, along with LUSCA, ORENOQUE, LAMANTINO, ROBIN'S EGG BLUE, and VOLTA. CALUSA and LAMANTINO are limited to 25 pieces each worldwide, and ROBIN'S EGG BLUE to 50 pieces worldwide.
With the exception of ROBIN'S EGG BLUE, the seven colorway names are drawn from the geography — rivers in Florida, the Amazon, and Africa — as well as the myths and languages tied to the manatee's habitats, giving the lineup a strongly conceptual identity.
MINIPOD Regular Collection
Ref. IPMA03FKWH Crystal River
Ref. IPMA04FKWH Lusca
Ref. IPMA05FKBL Sirenia
Ref. IPMA06FKOR Orenoque
Ref. IPMA01FKBL Volta
Shared Specifications
Product name: MINIPOD
Number of variations: 8 (including 3 limited-edition models)
Price: ¥176,000 (tax included)
Case material: Stainless steel
Case back: Engraved with model name and imagery; limited-edition models are also engraved with a serial number
Crown: Two-dot engraving, a nod to the Manatee
Glass: Sapphire crystal
Case size: 33.3 mm x 38 mm, 8.7 mm thick
Strap material: Rubber (FKM rubber)
Movement: Japanese quartz movement (Miyota 2036)
Water resistance: 5 atm
Release date: Available from September 9, 2026, released in sequence
Online store: Fortune Time (watch specialty store) — https://josawa-watch-store.com/
World-Limited Models
IPMA13FKOR Calusa (sold exclusively in Japan through Fortune Time, limited to 25 pieces worldwide, with serial number)
Ref. IPMA13FKOR Calusa, built around IKEPOD's corporate orange with a black gradient at the center of the dial. The case back carries the model's icon along with a serial number confirming its place among the 25 pieces made worldwide.
IPMA11FKPI Lamantino (limited to 25 pieces worldwide, with serial number)
Ref. IPMA11FKPI Lamantino, finished in the pistachio color previously used on the Chronopod. The case back carries the model's icon along with a serial number confirming its place among the 25 pieces made worldwide.
IPMA12FKEB Robin's Egg Blue (limited to 50 pieces worldwide, with serial number)
Ref. IPMA12FKEB Robin's Egg Blue, finished in the turquoise color previously used on the DUOPOD. The case back carries the model's icon along with a serial number confirming its place among the 50 pieces made worldwide.
MINIPOD Debut Fair
To mark its first arrival in Japan, a debut fair will run from Wednesday, September 9 through Monday, October 12 (a national holiday) at directly-run stores carrying the brand. Visitors are welcome to see and try on the MINIPOD in person during this period.
Quantities are limited, and stock and arrival timing vary by store — anyone interested is encouraged to check with the individual stores listed below.
NEXT BRIDGE by Fortune Time
Address: Nagahori Osaka Building 1F, 4-10-3 Minami-Semba, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Phone: 06-6575-7690
FORTUNE TIME, Hankyu Men's Tokyo B1F
Address: Hankyu Men's Tokyo B1F, 2-5-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-6252-5448 (direct)
About IKEPOD
IKEPOD was born in 1994 from a fateful meeting between Oliver Ike and designer Marc Newson, who would later go on to design the Apple Watch. The brand's name combines Newson's landmark work "Pod" with Ike's surname.
The bold designs Newson introduced in the mid-1990s broke with the watch conventions of the time, pairing a fluid, carefully engineered silhouette with the substance of a Swiss automatic movement. The watches quickly found their way onto the wrists of collectors, artists, designers, and Silicon Valley figures around the world, and the brand became a defining name of the era — before going dormant in 2013.
IKEPOD returned in 2019. Carrying its iconic case design forward at a new price point, the brand unveiled a new collection at the Basel watch fair, marking its comeback.
