Ralph Lauren RL Automotive Watches

As you’d expect from Ralph Lauren, his new Automotive watch collection places a strong emphasis on design- inspired by Ralph Lauren’s own 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe. We see unique creations married with finest-quality technology. For example, one of the movements has been created for Ralph Lauren by legendary Swiss watch maker IWC- a nod to the Bugatti’s precision engine.

The showpiece of the collection is the RL Automotive Skeleton- an open-worked watch, displaying its inner-mechanical workings. As before, this watch and throughout the collection draws inspiration from Lauren’s Bugatti with amboyna burl wood bezels, elm burl wood dials and black alligator straps alongside Arabic numerals emulating those found on the car’s iconic gauges.

“I’ve always been inspired by automotive design- the materials, the lines, but also the power and functionality. Cars are like art- moving art- an accomplishment in mechanics and precision.” -Ralph Lauren

Technical Details

The Ralph Lauren RL Automotive Skeleton is housed in a case measuring 44.8mm wide and 11.20mm thick, powered by an IWC hand-wound mechanical movement that has been customised by Val Fleurier for Ralph Lauren.

The bridges of the movement have been blackened to reflect the aesthetics of the watch, and the main plate has been cut away, to reveal the intricate mechanics underneath. The manually wound caliber RL1967 runs at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour and has a 45-hour power reserve, ensuring longevity.

Craftsmanship

Presented in black gunmetal steel, the RL Automotive Skeleton boasts a shot-blasted case with a satiny matte finish. The bezel of the watch is crafted out of amboyna burl, a hardwood that requires hand-cutting and finishing by an expert craftsman to reveal the intricate patterns and depth of color in its rich, twisted grain. Finally, the “bombé”-shaped bezel is hand-set with six functioning screws.

There are various options to choose from across the collection, but we also like the more refined style of the RL Automotive watch, which shares a similar design philosophy, featuring an amboyna burl wood bezel and black gunmetal steel case. The caliber RL98295, a hand-wound mechanical movement, again made for Ralph Lauren by IWC, is visible through a smoky sapphire crystal case-back.

As envisioned by Ralph Lauren, the Automotive collection bridges the automotive and horological worlds with aplomb.

Available at www.ralphlauren.com now.