Oliver Ike, the Guy Who Started Ikepod, Revives a Watch Brand Through Kickstarter

Most likely you have heard of the brand Ikepod. It was a joint venture between Oliver Ike and designer Marc Newson, who also designed an Atmos for Jaeger-LeCoultre (a gorgeous blue glass sphere with a perpetual clock inside). Now both aren’t involved in Ikepod anymore and Oliver Ike had some ideas for a new watch: the Canopus Weekplanner. This mechanical wristwatch features a full calender displaying day of the week, date, week number, month and the moon phase and comes in a very ergonomically designed case.

The brand that will be producing the timepieces is A. Manzoni & Fils. They produced watches from 1888 until 1978, when it was closed. With the Canopus Weekplanner they hope to relaunch the brand from Lugano. And they are looking for funds through Kickstarter. Just last week we told you about a similar project from Du Bois & Fils that has already found enough funders. This project from A. Manzoni & Fils, Oliver Ike and Finish designer Ilkka Suppanen has just been published on Kickstarter and is still looking for people to back them up.

At the kickstarter page (see here) they give all details of the watch, the brand’s history and how you can back this project. Of course there are advantages for those who finance the Canopus and if your contribution is significant enough you buy yourself one of the first of these timepieces for a seriously reduced price.

Kickstarter offers an interesting platform for entrepreneurs who seek to get direct finance from the markets and get feedback from potential buyers as well. In this case everyone who invests enough money (more than $ 5,000 USD) will buy himself either the black or silver dial version of the Canopus Weekplanner, while the future retail price is triple that amount. But that makes sense, as the product is not yet marked up with advertising and distribution costs.

Much attention has been paid to details and an ergonomics. The rounded case, an easy to change bracelet and hand-sewn alligator strap, an easy adjustment system for both the steel bracelet and the strap’s folding buckle and so on. The new Canopus Weekplanner is really a nice timepiece and we recommend you to have a look at it. Oliver Ike and designer Ilkka Suppanen explain pretty much all details in this video.

If you like to find out more about the A. Manzoni & Fils Canopus Weekplanner or how to back this project, visit the kickstarter website here.