It has been almost a decade since the launch in 2008 of Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewelry, a joint venture between Ralph Lauren and Richemont. In fact, I remember being at the opening celebration dinner for the launch of the brand in Geneva that year. Today, nine years later, Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewelry continues to flourish with quality timepieces that use top-name Swiss movements and Ralph Lauren’s iconic inspirations. Such is the case with the new Automotive Tourbillons unveiled by the brand earlier this year and making their way to Ralph Lauren boutiques and the finest independent watch retailers globally.
"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," says Ralph Lauren.
With its wood accents and functional beauty, the brand’s Automotive Collection – inspired by Ralph Lauren’s 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe – is one of the brand’s most coveted lines for men. Now, Ralph Lauren adds to it with the RL Automotive Tourbillon and RL Automotive Double Tourbillon watches.
Built in a robust 45mm black shot-blasted stainless steel case, the new timepieces house complex Swiss-made movements. The Automotive Double Tourbillon, the more expensive of the two at $99,000, is equipped with a mechanical manual-wind movement with binary tourbillon escapements positioned next to one another and visible on the lower portion of the dial.
The RL367 caliber with 45 jewels and beating at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour, is meticulously finished with Cotes de Genève stripes and circular grained perlage. It offers 72 hours of power reserve in addition to displaying the hours, minutes and the double tourbillon escapements that compensate for errors in timekeeping due to the effects of gravity when it is in certain positions on the wrist. The movement is somewhat visible via a smoky sapphire crystal caseback.
The matte black dial is finished with dark beige Super-LumiNova® hour and minutes hands, as well as Arabic numerals for easy night reading. It is a stunning package overall thanks to the addition of the beloved Amboyna burl wood bezel, with black steel screws in it. The bezel, which is carefully cut and finished by hand, emulates the rich wood steering wheel in the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe.
The Ralph Lauren Automotive Double Tourbillon is water resistant to 50 meters and is finished with a black alligator strap with black Alsave® lining.
The RL Automotive Tourbillon possesses all of the same characteristics and technical details as the RL Automotive Double Tourbillon, except that the movement is now a Swiss-made mechanical self-winding caliber with micro-rotor and single tourbillon escapement at 6:00. This watch also carries a different retail price: $62,500.
Either of these auto-inspired classic complex watches is guaranteed to draw attention to the wrist, not to mention making a statement about your love of fine automobiles.
