The Ralph Lauren Automotive collection demonstrates the connection between two worlds in which precision, style and high performance are paramount — that of watchmaking, and that of the world’s greatest automobiles. Ralph Lauren finds his inspiration in a legendary car: his award-winning 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe.
Six new Ralph Lauren Automotive timepieces are offered for 2015, using a combination of materials, including rare hardwoods, to emulate the richness and clarity of the Bugatti’s dash, which has been a model for the Ralph Lauren Automotive timepieces since the collection launched in 2011, and which continues to influence the designer's vision.
The new RL Automotive Skeleton features an open-worked, hand-wound mechanical movement. The caliber RL1967 is the first open-worked movement Ralph Lauren has ever presented. The depth of the movement is accentuated with a black finish on the plate and bridges, which offers a subtle contrast to the black finish on the stainless steel shot-blasted case. The letters “RL” at 12 o’clock, on a circular element slightly offset from the mainspring barrel, are a proud statement of creative integrity. The steel and brass elements of the gear train, as well as the large balance oscillating at 18,000 vph and the sword-shaped, black oxidized hands coated with beige Super-LumiNova further enrich the visual experience. The composition is framed by a lustrous amboyna burl bezel.
Amboyna burl, which must be expertly cut and finished to expose its richly detailed swirling grain patterns, has a long history of use in luxury automotive interiors. It forms a strong bridge between the automotive and horological worlds, and highlights the RL Automotive Skeleton as a true celebration of Ralph Lauren’s love of beautiful machines.