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In recent years, Ralph Lauren’s watches have been a revelation and a surprise in the tight-knit and restrictive world of Haute Horlogerie thanks to an excellent line of products that combines unique design with sophisticated Swiss mechanisms. The iconic luxury fashion brand has introduced several timepieces from their Automotive line that have garnered high reviews from clients and the specialized media. We are talking about the RL Automotive Tourbillon and the RL Double Tourbillon.
While luxury watch enthusiasts and consumers are often skeptical of brands and products that come from outside the watch world, Ralph Lauren’s automotive line has captivated the specialists with the luxurious elegance of its designs and their precise Swiss engineering.
Luxury watches RL Automotive Tourbillon and the RL Double Tourbillon.
It was Ralph Lauren himself—a notable classic car collector—who proposed that the automotive line should be inspired by his 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe, one of the most acclaimed and beautiful sports cars in history. The result of this aesthetic premise is an exquisite range of mechanical wristwatches featuring a minimalist design that is both elegant and sporty with a hint of vintage and nostalgia. These characteristics also distinguish the classic Bugatti that inspired them.
As their names indicate, the Ralph Lauren Automotive Tourbillon and the Automotive Double Tourbillon boast very sophisticated features; most notably, the tourbillon, a precision system composed of a rotation mechanism that counteracts the effect of gravity to ensure maximum accuracy.
Ralph Lauren´s watches have, in recent years, been a revelation in the world of haute horlogerie thanks to an excellent line of products that combines unique design with sophisticated Swiss mechanisms.
The first of the two models (RL Automotive Tourbillon) has a 45 mm. diameter, anti-glare sapphire crystal on the front, a matte black galvanized steel dial, beige SuperNova needles, and a vintage look that evokes the instrumentals of classic sports cars. On the back face, a darkened sapphire crystal reveals the automatic mechanism that activates this unique timepiece.
Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe 1938 from the Ralph Lauren Collection.
Some of the design details bring a unique identity and character to both models, such as the delicate contours of hand-polished molded wood, that so brilliantly evokes the wheel of the vehicle honored by this line of watches. On the other hand, the visible tourbillion mechanism adds—with its gold and galvanized steel jewels— a contrast of volumes and very attractive colors.
The design of the second timepiece (RL Automotive Double Tourbillon) shows a significant similarity to the previous, but with two tourbillons in the lower part of the dial joined by a galvanized steel bridge, which introduces a more noticeable reminder of the automotive aesthetics. The double-complexity mechanism requires winding and comes with a reserve of 72 hours. Both devices are manufactured by the renowned Swiss company IWC.
With these two models, Ralph Lauren reaches out to a niche of consumers who enjoy classic elegance and admire the complexity of handcrafted mechanical watchmaking. For those who want to know their price, the watch with the simple tourbillion sells for around $62,000, and the double tourbillon costs $99,000.
RL Automotive Tourbillon and RL Double Tourbillon are the ideal timepieces if you are looking for the perfect accessory to complement your elegant wardrobe or to showcase your classic car collection. ■
