IWC-Made Movement for Ralph Lauren

"Every Bugatti, from the dashboard to the engine components, is like a work of art. Every detail of a Bugatti is a masterpiece. Or perhaps, it's more like a luxury watch," says Ralph Lauren, a renowned collector of classic cars.

For a long time, he has looked to "automobiles" as a source of design inspiration. He has consistently infused elements from the automotive world into his own collections, creating chairs made from the same carbon fiber used in his own racing cars, and luggage designed with the sleek, modern feel of sports cars.

And in 2011, Ralph Lauren is launching his first timepiece inspired by his car collection: the Ralph Lauren Sporting watch, featuring a wooden dial. It merges his passion for luxury cars and high-end watches, incorporating the refined interior of his own 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Coupé Atlantique into its design.

©Ralph Lauren Watch & Jewelry Co.,

A distinctive feature of this Ralph Lauren Sporting watch is its unique dial, crafted from rich elm wood, echoing the iconic wooden dashboard and trim details of the Bugatti. Elm, with its consistent grain pattern and rarity, has traditionally been favored by sculptors and artists.

The matte black finish at the center of the dial and the black calfskin strap create a rich contrast with the warmth of the wood. It evokes the beautiful contrast of black leather seats and a wooden dashboard found in the interiors of Mr. Lauren's prized classic cars. Similar to the original automotive gauges, Arabic numerals are used on the dial for enhanced readability.

Sword-shaped hands mark the hours and minutes against the open railway track-style minute track. A sub-dial at 6 o'clock displays the seconds with an arrowhead-shaped hand against a closed railway track-style seconds track. Functional screws accent the bezel and dial, and the RL logo adorns the crown.

The watch is powered by a hand-wound movement manufactured by IWC exclusively for Ralph Lauren, the Caliber RL98295, offering a power reserve of 45 hours. Like other models in the Ralph Lauren Sporting line, the sapphire crystal case back reveals the movement plates finished with Côtes de Genève and perlage techniques.



Ralph Lauren Omotesando
Tel. 03-6438-5800