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Marc Newson's New Watches for IKEPOD Unveiled. (UPDATED)

above: The Yellow Gold Solaris Ikepod watch

NEWS: This post has been updated to include the Solaris collection of Ikepod watches, introduced to the line in December, 2008.

The Solaris collection, by designer Marc Newson is available in seven different versions. Five of which are ceramic, with one white gold and one yellow gold version. All are unisex in size and feature a round face in a square bezel.

White Gold:

White Ceramic:



Black Ceramic:



Original post continued below:

Ikepod brand watches, unveiled their newest collection by designer Marc Newson (above) at Design Miami just this past week (December, 2007).


The new collection consists of three lines. The Horizon, the Hemipode and the Megapode.The following descriptions and information were provided by Ikepod.

Horizon Collection


The Horizon wristwatch forgoes all complications in favor of pure design. The unique dial creates the optical illusion of appearing convex, thereby emphasizing the three dimensional volume of the IKEPOD case. This new collection works as an elegant dress watch in platinum for men, and in solid rose gold for women.


The Horizon wristwatch makes reference to the “event horizon” in astrophysics, literally meaning the edge of a “black hole” – the moment when gravity becomes infinite, when both time and space disappear. The timeless beauty and simplicity of this wristwatch, juxtaposed with its reference to the mathematical end of time and space, underscore the poetry and fleeting nature of timekeeping itself.

Hemipode Dual Time Collection

The iconic hemispheric shape of the IKEPOD watch is the inspiration for the name of this classic Marc Newson chronograph. The Hemipode embodies all the essential values of the IKEPOD philosophy: design integrity as well as technical functionality. Most chronographs offer a stopwatch function to time a lap around the racetrack or a jog around the park; this model also offers a second time zone function controlled by an eccentric off-center pusher.


The watch is designed for someone on the move who reads what time it is in Tokyo, but also needs to see what time it is back in Paris. The Hemipode is the epitome of how IKEPOD redefines the classic wristwatch, a design which will look even better in twenty years than it does today. Where as a design or fashion watch is destined to lose its allure, to choose the Hemipode is proof that one is attuned to an avantgarde statement of sophisticated taste.

Megapode Chronograph Collection

The largest and most technical of the IKEPOD Collection, the titanium Megapode provides the time, the day, a chronograph function, as well as a unique circular slide rule for complicated calculations. This is a watch that can compute fuel consumption for an aircraft or a way point for a pilot who needs to calculate range and distance.

A rugged and sturdy sport watch, this is the timepiece one would wish to have during an offshore passage at sea or a helicopter flight over the Alps. The unique and highly technical dial is the result of calculated and deliberate design. This wristwatch is a visual tour de force; never has so much information fit onto a watch dial without clutter, the result is a perfect balance of function and design.

Conceived by revolutionary industrial designer Marc Newson, the IKEPOD wristwatch banishes all that is unnecessary in order to reunite man and machine with the design authority and organic power of the ultimate surfboard, a classic sport car, or a racing multi-hull. IKEPOD combines economy of gesture, pinnacle technology, and sensuality of materials in ways that challenge connoisseurs to embrace not only a singular timepiece but also a bold set of values.

Foremost among these is independence from the conventions of traditional wristwatch design. Hewing to the great modernist principles of ‘truth to materials,’ and unity of form and function, IKEPOD rejects gratuitous ornamentation in order to highlight simplicity of form. It transforms what has previously been a strictly two-dimensional object into an organic, sculptural volume that functions in all three dimensions. By deliberately blurring old distinctions between front and back, it achieves a new level of harmony with the body of its wearer. Thus, while traditional watches employ “lugs” to attach a watchband to a case, the IKEPOD case and band join together in a single uninterrupted whole. By forgoing clasps and cumbersome articulated buckles in favor of a single discreet nipple, IKEPOD offers intimate fit, fluidity, and ideal balance on the wrist. Nothing superfluous comes between wearer and watch.

The IKEPOD approach is weighted with integrity. When the design process strips away all excess, what remains? Unrivaled quality and purpose. And so IKEPOD employs only inspectiongrade platinum, red gold, and titanium, sculpted to the highest standards possible by Swiss craftsmen. The dials provide information without pretension or conceit. And the IKEPOD band, unlike any other, is molded from a soft and flexible scented rubber, thereby defying the traditional definitions of sport and dress watch. In its startling difference, IKEPOD demands intelligence and daring from its wearer, and declares individuality the most exclusive form of luxury.


Visit their site.

Find an Ikepod retailer near you.

Shatner/Hasselhoff '08. Brilliant.

Wanna support them? Buy T-shirts in various styles, colors and sizes here.

The Lavazza 2008 Calendar: A Most Majestic Experience

If you didn't know, Lavazza of Italy produces a calendar that celebrates their brand and their product (espresso) every year. And it's no ordinary 'corporate calendar'. This is always a piece of stunning photographic art. Every year.

The Porsche of Kitchens. Literally.

Porsche Design Group and Poggenpohl Möbelwerke GmbH present their first co-designed kitchen P’7340. The kitchen is distinguished for its innovative framework, purist styling and high-quality materials. Kitchen appliances maker Miele & Cie. KG will be the exclusive supplier of all fitted electric appliances.



Back in October 2005, Porsche Design and Poggenpohl signed a co-operation agreement for the purpose. Says Roland Heiler, Managing Director of the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See: “Our studio already had long-standing experience in designing kitchen and home appliances as well as furniture. In Poggenpohl we have found a partner capable of implementing our idea of what a modern kitchen should look like.”



With their new kitchen, both companies intend to live up to the trend that shows an increasing number of men displaying an interest in ‘kitchen and cuisine’. “In recent years, kitchens have turned into event and representation areas frequently equipped with audio systems”, explains Elmar Duffner, Managing Director of Poggenpohl. “Our co-operation with Porsche Design enabled us to design a kitchen whose sleek and functional design language specifically addresses male customers.”

The new kitchen will be on display as a show kitchen and sold in Poggenpohl studios around the world as of spring 2008. It will be available in the USA as of summer 2008. Aluminum profiles of different sizes, which permit individual styling, constitute the basic framework of the new kitchen. Within the aluminum frames, customers can position cabinet elements any way they like. The result is a modular, spacious and extremely versatile system of frames and carcasses that deliberately integrates clear spaces into the overall design concept.


Above: the Cooktop

The use of aluminum, a material typically used by Porsche Design, gives the kitchen an innovative and technical look as the material lends a high degree of originality to the surfaces of both the furniture carcasses and the frames. The frames come with integrated lights that directly and diffusely illuminate the worktop and the surroundings, respectively. Another material used is glass, which – painted unobtrusively on the rear side and available in a satin or glossy finish – embellishes the front surfaces or fills the frames. Using aluminum and glass for yet another product, Porsche Design once again adheres to its philosophy of combining sleek design language with the finest materials.



The two wood varieties available for the front surface design provide an eye-catching contrast with these cool materials. Customers can choose between Driftwood, a heavily brushed type of pine that feels quite natural to the touch, and Dark Oak, a finely brushed type of dark oak. The unsealed, textured wood surfaces create a very natural and cozy atmosphere, enhancing the precision of the technical materials – glass and metal – even further.



Thin worktops crafted from satin-finished glass or black granite convey an impression of elegance and lightness, which is rounded off by their alignment with the carcass.


Above: automatic coffee maker

A special highlight of the Poggenpohl Porsche Design kitchen is the fact that all cabinets can be opened without handles: A gentle touch of the finger, and pull-out elements and drawers will open magically thanks to built-in high-precision systems, while a light push suffices to make them all withdraw and, over the final centimeters, go back automatically into their original position. An innovative mechanism enables the graceful movement of doors and flaps: Gently touching the front face will activate a spacer pin that mechanically moves a door or a flap a few centimeters forward. The absence of handles further emphasizes the uncompromising, purist and aesthetic appeal of the furniture. However, for completeness’ sake and as an alternative to the handleless solution, functional bar-handles crafted from brushed aluminum are also available.


Above: the audio visual system

In addition to multi-functional lighting systems harmoniously integrated into the sleek overall concept, the kitchen also boasts a high-tech audio-video system. The module has a purist appeal thanks to the aluminum-titanium colored, anodized aluminum frame with its ultra-glossy surfaces in back-painted glass. The electronics of the built-in LCD module are installed behind glass to protect these delicate components against dirt and splashing water. The module itself does not require a ventilation system and features an innovative, extremely small sound system whose plug-and-play solution offers options for both analogue and digital connections.

As all electric appliances and furniture elements in the Poggenpohl Porsche Design kitchen form a unified whole, kitchen appliances maker Miele & Cie. KG will be the exclusive supplier of all appliances – from ovens to steam cookers to dishwashers. In design and styling, all appliances are made to match that of the materials used in the kitchen. The electric appliances are operated via sensor keys instead of buttons and feature user-friendly dialogue displays.
source:architonic

Poggenpohl
Germany
Phone +49-(0)5221/381-0

A Purse With Prestige? Leiber, Hermes & Prada Top The List

Want to impress someone this holiday season?
Then clearly the way to do it is by giving (or sporting) a Judith Leiber, Hermes or Prada handbag.
Can't afford those? Well then there are 23 others on the list. Read on...

NEW YORK, NY--(source: Marketwire) -

High net-worth consumers rated Leiber the most prestigious handbag brand in the 2007 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey from the independent New York-based Luxury Institute (www.LuxuryInstitute.com).




Leiber's handcrafted bejeweled creations --a few of which are shown above (click pn them to enlarge)-- were praised by respondents as perfect show-stopping accessories for that special occasion. The brand scored highly with women over age 45 and those with net worth in excess of $5 million. Hermes and Prada handbags were ranked second and third, respectively.

One of my personal favorites of Leibers' this season: The Karma Buddha Crystal handbag:

Above: Karma Buddah in multi colored Austrian crystals with gold accents. Includes matching satin gold coin purse and double sided mirror. Length: 4.6", Height: 5.4", Depth: 2.6". Imported.
JU-M28541
* Ships within 1 business day (M-F 9-10)
* Made in USA
price: $3895.00
Buy it here.

"Handbags have evolved from utilitarian accessories to coveted collectables. Not only do today's wealthy women want to communicate their sense of style and sophistication, but also their individuality. By carrying a handcrafted handbag, they show they can afford to be uniquely exclusive," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute.

One of the classic and most prestigious handbags of all time is the Hermes Birkin Bag:



Looking for an authentic Hermes Birkin Bag? Look here.
Or at Hermes, of course.

"Individualization and customization is a trend that is popping up in a range of diverse categories and serves to separate the mass-class from the truly wealthy," Pedraza added. "Our 'voice of the high net-worth consumer' surveys from the impartial Luxury Institute provide important endorsements for luxury brands and the consumers they serve."

Following are the 26 handbag brands that were rated in alphabetical order (with links to their sites):
1. Bottega Veneta
2. Brighton
3. Burberry
4. Chanel
5. Chloe
6. Coach
7. Cole Haan
8. Dior
9. Dolce & Gabbana
10. Dooney & Bourke
11. Fendi
12. Ferragamo
13. Furla
14. Gucci
15. Hermes
16. Kate Spade
17. L.A.M.B.
18. Leiber
19. Longchamp
20. Louis Vuitton
21. Marc Jacobs
22. Michael Kors
23. Miu Miu
24. Prada
25. Ralph Lauren
26. Yves Saint Laurent

The proprietary Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey is the only measure of the prestige of leading brands among wealthy Americans. A national sample of 783 wealthy American consumers, with an average income of $305K and average net worth of $2.2 million, was surveyed online. Survey results are weighted to match demographic and net worth profiles of the same audience according to the latest Survey of Consumer Finances from The Federal Reserve.

About the Luxury Institute
The Luxury Institute is the uniquely independent and impartial ratings, reviews and research institution that is the trusted and respected voice of the high net-worth consumer. The Institute provides a portfolio of proprietary publications and research that guides and educates high net-worth individuals and the companies that cater to them on leading edge trends, high net-worth consumer rankings and ratings of luxury brands, and best practices. The Luxury Institute also operates the Luxury Board (www.luxuryboard.com), the world's first global, membership-based online community for luxury goods and services executives, professionals and entrepreneurs. To reach the Luxury Institute, please call 646-792-2669 or go to www.luxuryinstitute.com.

Where to get some of these fabulous handbags without paying full retail?

Try these:
Ebay, of course.
Bluefly
eluxury
Karen Kooper
Euro Bella Collections
Good Cost
am pm fashion
Unusual Threads
smart bargains
Rodeo Drive Resale
efashionhouse

Can afford them even at a discount?
Then rent one here at Bag Borrow or Steal.

Funky Find Of The Week: Banpresto's Face Bank

The Banpresto Facebank is a delight for kids and grown-ups alike.
A little tabletop bank that actually 'eats' pennies.
Don't believe me?
I have video proof:



Available in red, blue or grey.

So, where can you get this cute little guy?
Yes, he's made in japan but he's available to purchase for only $30 bucks here.

Luxury Gadgets For The Design Geek

Mikimoto-Beans ' all new 2007 iTheaterV
Price: $379.99

Mikimoto-Beans Japan introduces the all new 2007 iTheaterV, high quality and stylish video glasses for iPod video or other devices with AV outputs. Featuring 2 high resolution TFT displays with improved VGA resolution of 640 x 480 (increased from the previous model of 320 x 240 pixels). Experience watching a 65" high resolution TV from just 2.5 meters away with the new iTheaterV (previous model is equivalent to a 50" TV). iTheaterV also has 2 built-in earphones, so when the user is watching a movie through iTheaterV, the sound is produced to stereo audio. iTheaterV is light weight and it stays comfortable around the head. Includes a unique converter that allows i-Theater to work on other devices through AV connection. Designed with a sleek outfit; the new red stripe gives it a futuristic look. Up to 5 hours of playback time using batteries. Smaller and lighter than the previous model. A great gift idea for friends and family or just an excellent travel companion for those long flights (in style, with privacy too).

Mikimoto-Beans' iTheaterV is a friendly i-Pod accessory and also an one-of-a-kind device for iPod Video. Available in silver only.
Buy it here.

Segatoys HomeStar Pro 21st Century Home Planetarium
Price: $289.99

Segatoys announced a new and improved version of HomeStar Home Planetarium. The high quality "HomeStar Pro" is the 21st Century Home Planetarium. It features high brightness white LEDs that is 3 times brighter than HomeStar. HomeStar Pro can rotate the plates in slow motion and show shooting stars. With a full dark environment, HomeStar Pro allows you to focus and project sharper images. Adopts an adjustable stand for variety of shooting angles. It comes with a Full Moon sidereal original plates, one of the unique plates that only comes with HomeStar Pro. A great gift and present for friends and families to enjoy a clear night view right at home. Available 2 stylish colors.

NOTE: This product is a Japanese import. Packaging and instruction manual are in Japanese. However, operation is very straight forward and does not require the knowledge of Japanese.
Buy it here.

Amadana PT-108 Wireless Telephone Clad in Leather
Price: $399.99

PT-108 is Amadana's all new classic yet futuristic wireless telephone. Features genuine leather, a natural material, on the handle part of the receiver. In both red and brown, the leather gives the feel of warmth and comfort. Designed with a compact body size to reduce space use. Amadana PT-108 introduces 4 special ring tones for better and enjoyable sound to the ears. Available in black and white.
Specifications: Rated voltage 100V
Dimension:-Telephone receiver: W43.5 x D30.5 x H180 mm
-Cradle: W107 x D117.5 x H59 mm

Buy it here.

Zyken NightCove
Price: $2,500

One of the few designer sleep aides that doesn't come in a pill form, Zyken's NightCove alarm clock lulls high-octane executives to sleep with scientifically-calibrated lights and sounds designed to improve sleep quality.
Five years in the making, the futuristic-looking clock was developed in partnership with Damien Léger, president of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Sleep and Alertness in France, and leading international light and chronobiology expert Dr. Claude Gronfie.
The NightCove uses a patented sleep system with 20 pre-loaded programs combining sound and light of varying color, wavelength and intensity that's tailored to improve sleep cycles and regulate the body's melatonin levels. Simply set the alarm, press the sleep button and the gizmo strategically rotates through purple, red, blue and other hues to help the body fall asleep faster, sleep more deeply and awake rested. Consider it the gift that keeps giving.
Buy it here.

Les Paul Robot Guitar Price:$2,500

Jamming with tech moguls like Roger McNamee -- the co-founder of Silicon Valley's Elevation Partners who also performs with the semi-pro band Moonalice -- requires more than talent. It demands the Les Paul Robot Guitar, a high-tech guitar with an automatic tuning button.
The limited edition robot guitar eliminates the hassle of lowering the pitch of every string by hand, and then strumming and tweaking. Produced by Gibson Guitar, the instrument arrives programmed with several popular open tunings such as Open G and Open D, as well as tunings for six classic hits including Led Zeppelin's "Going to California" and "Voodoo Child" by Jimi Hendrix. It can also be programmed with customized tunings.
Buy it here.

ZMP Miuro iPod Speaker
Price: $1,299.99

Introducing "Miuro" from ZMP, the all new one-of-a-kind iPod boom-box in the market. It is special designed with an egg shape and built-in with multiple high quality sensors. ZMP's Miuro is not an ordinary speaker; it is categorized in the Robot section because it actually follows the user around the house while playing music. It comes with a private joystick that allows the user to control and adjust the motion and audio. Miuro adopts a 4ch digital power amplifier with multi-channel drive, producing crystal clear sound and superb bass. It corresponds with 4th Generation iPods. Miuro can also become a wireless speaker for PC. With a high resolution VFD screen to display the text and the title. Designed with a simple yet unique outfit, Miuro is stylish for the 21st century world. A friendly iPod accessory. Available in 4 different colors.


NOTE: This is a Japanese product and user manual and software are in Japanese.
Buy it here.

Robovie-M V3 (Big-Max) Humanoid Robot Kit (and he's gold)
Price: $2,699.99

Robovie-M V3 is the current hottest Humanoid Robot in the market for research institutes and the battlebot world. It is designed with a strong and well-balanced body kit. Robovie-M V3 has a total of 22 joint angular sensors, it is capable of doing basic moments, throwing objects, punching, somersaulting, doing handstands, side stepping, and playing soccer with other Robovie-M V3s. When it falls, it automatically pushes itself back up to a standing position. It comes in 2 stylish colors and a full metal body outfit. It includes 70 predefined programs.
Buy it here.