Ianos is a Swiss-based independent watch brand founded in 2018 by Jacob Hatzidimitriou, a lawyer by profession with a deep interest in Greek history and mythology. While the company is headquartered in Switzerland to ensure Swiss-made quality standards, its identity and design language are rooted in the founder’s Greek heritage. The brand was initially launched through a successful Kickstarter campaign, aiming to bridge the gap between ancient cultural narratives and modern horology.
People are drawn to Ianos for its “story-first” philosophy, where every design element serves a narrative purpose rather than just an aesthetic one. Enthusiasts appreciate the brand’s ability to deconstruct historical and scientific artifacts into functional tool watch features. For example, the unique strap channel on the case back allows single-pass straps to sit flush against the wrist, a detail that appeals to collectors seeking thoughtful engineering. The brand’s focus on Greek maritime culture and the use of unconventional movements, such as manual-wind calibers in dive watches, further distinguishes it within the microbrand community.
The brand’s catalog is defined by a trilogy of dive watches, each representing a different chapter of Greek history. The Avyssos is the debut model, paying tribute to ancient sponge divers; it features kampanelopetra-shaped hour markers (inspired by diving stones) and a small-seconds indicator based on the Antikythera mechanism. The Mihanikos represents the industrial era of diving, featuring a design inspired by traditional scaphandre diving suits and an air-pump-style seconds indicator. The trilogy concludes with the Dytis, a 41mm titanium diver that incorporates the “mati” or evil eye symbol as a running indicator and is notable for its adoption by the Greek Underwater Demolition Team (OYK).
