Masterfully bridging the automotive and horological worlds, a new stainless steel timepiece is the latest addition to Ralph Lauren’s renowned Automotive collection. This watch builds on traditions established by the RL Automotive Skeleton, first introduced in 2015 and inspired by Ralph Lauren's celebrated car collection.
This Automative Skeleton in steel strikes a harmonious balance between industrial power and sophisticated design by artfully cutting away the main plate to reveal the intricate mechanics underneath. The combination of polished and brushed steel components—including polished screws that reference the rivets securing the chassis of a car—directly references one of Mr. Lauren’s prized 1950s race cars.
The case measures 44.8mm by 11.2mm and is powered by a Swiss-made F.A. Jones mechanical movement that has been customized by Val Fleurier for Ralph Lauren. The manually wound caliber RL1967 runs at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour with a 45-hour power reserve. The movement is decorated with vertical Côtes de Genève stripes and circular graining, known as perlage, as well as an interlocking “RL” logo over a brushed steel plate at 12 o’clock position.
Amboyna burl—a hardwood used in luxury automotive interiors featured in Ralph Lauren’s own vintage cars—frames the composition with a lustrous bezel, which must be carefully cut and finished by hand to expose its rich, swirling grain patterns. The “bombé”-shaped bezel secured by handset screws reinforces Ralph Lauren’s vision of a timepiece capturing the power and elegance of automotive design.
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
