Fashion designer Ralph Lauren has long looked to automobiles as a source of inspiration for his designs.
For 2011, Ralph Lauren presents the first timepiece inspired by his personal car collection, with the introduction of a Ralph Lauren Sporting watch featuring a wood dial. Combining his passion for fine automobiles with his passion for fine watches, Ralph Lauren unveils this new timepiece design recalling the refined interior of his model 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe.
The Ralph Lauren Sporting watch features a stainless steel case with a unique dial in rich loupe d’orme or elm burl–in honor of the car’s iconic wooden dashboard and trim detail. Prized for its highly figured patterns and rarity, elm burl wood has been traditionally used by artists and sculptors and is often found in the consoles of luxury cars.
The warmth of the wood is contrasted by the dial’s matte black galvanic center and by the black calf strap, reminiscent of the distinct juxtaposition of the wooden dashboard and black leather seating in Ralph Lauren’s prized vintage automobile.
Showcasing both beauty and functionality, the Ralph Lauren Sporting watch combines a one-of-a kind and sophisticated aesthetic with the precision of a manual winding mechanical movement– caliber RL98295 made by IWC for Ralph Lauren–featuring a power reserve of 45 hours.
As with all Ralph Lauren Sporting Collection models, this timepiece features a sapphire crystal case back, revealing the movement’s Côtes de Genève and Perlage finish work on the plate.
Technical details
Movement
Mechanical manual winding
Manufacture movement made by IWC for Ralph Lauren
Caliber: RL98295
Frequency: 18 000 vibrations/hour (2.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 45 hours
Components: 156, including balance wheel with screws and Breguet-style spiral
Décor: Vertical Côtes de Genève and Perlage
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds subdial at 6 o’clock
Case
Steel, polished/brushed
Diameter: 44.80 mm
Convex sapphire crystal, external and internal colourless anti-reflective treatment
Water resistance: 5 bar (~50 m)
Crown: Steel with RL initials logo
Dial
Colour: matte black galvanic, matte brown elm burl wood decoration
Shiny beige luminescent substance Arabic numerals, printed
Shiny white open railroad-style minute track, printed
Subdial
Colour: matte black galvanic
Shiny white closed railroad-style second track, printed
Hands
Hour, minute: Sword-shaped hands
Colour: Shiny black oxidized with beige luminescent substance
Second: Arrow-shaped hand Colour: Shiny white
Strap
Black calf, black leather lining
Buckle: Steel pin buckle, polished/brushed
