The new watch is the latest addition to the Polo Bear collection, and it marks a first: never before has the bear been given such a distinctly campus-inspired wardrobe. On the cream-coloured dial, a 3D-printed Polo Bear takes centre stage, framed by a railroad minute track and oversized Arabic numerals—a bold graphic treatment that suits the character's larger-than-life presence.
The strap system reinforces the heritage angle. Its quick-release strap is styled after the regimental stripe, a pattern that traces back to British military regiments in the late 1800s and has since become a staple of preppy and collegiate dressing, a fitting choice for a watch built entirely around that world.
The Polo Bear watch itself is not new to Ralph Lauren's catalogue. The brand introduced its first watch in 2009, and in 2017, as Ralph Lauren marked its 50th anniversary, the first Polo Bear watch made its debut. This new preppy edition continues that lineage while pushing the mascot's wardrobe furthest yet.
That wardrobe rewards a closer look. The bear wears two-tone brogues, a pair of well-worn baggy jeans, a brown suit jacket and a yellow cable-knit sweater—the latter also found in this year's Ralph Lauren collection. He completes the look with a necktie and round, wire-rimmed spectacles, pulling together the kind of layered dressing associated with Ivy League campuses.
Beneath the dial, the watch is built on a Sellita movement reworked by Ralph Lauren into its own RL200 calibre. It beats at 4 Hz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour, and delivers a power reserve of around 50 hours. As with other Ralph Lauren Polo Bear models, the crown sits at 2 o'clock rather than the more conventional 3 o'clock position.
Returning to the regimental-striped strap: its lining is made from Alsavel, a highly exclusive calf leather. For those who prefer a more understated look, the watch can also be fitted with a plain calf strap or an exotic alligator strap.
With this new piece, Ralph Lauren is doing what it does best—translating its preppy universe onto a watch dial.
