New Release
MTF introduces Ralph Lauren's new RL Automotive Tourbillon and Safari Grand Date 50mm watches, drawing inspiration from Ralph Lauren's iconic 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe. This post delves into the brand's unique approach to luxury watchmaking, blending automotive design with high horology.
"The True Cost of Luxury is the Choice it Affords"
I am pleased to bring to your attention, a brace of watches you don't need but may desire:
RALPH LAUREN RL AUTOMOTIVE TOURBILLON TIMEPIECES.
"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
You can read a review about the 2015 Ralph Lauren Automotive Skeleton Watch HERE.
Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe
Ralph Lauren's newest watches are the RL Automotive Tourbillon and RL Automotive Double Tourbillon timepieces — in the Automotive Collection inspired by Ralph Lauren's personal 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe. A legendary automobile and one of horology’s most iconic mechanical complications, epitomise the connection between two worlds of precision, high-performance, and style.
RALPH LAUREN RL AUTOMOTIVE COLLECTION
RL Automotive Tourbillon - 45mm RLR0220713
Prominent on the Ralph Lauren RL Automotive Tourbillon 45mm watch is the tourbillon or "whirlwind" mechanism, where the escapement is housed in a rotating cage to counteract the effect of gravity for more precise timekeeping.
The shot-blasted case is crafted from stainless steel with a black finish, as well as a smoky sapphire crystal caseback.
The matte black galvanic dial is detailed with beige Super-LumiNova® hour and minute hands, Arabic numerals, and famous “RL” logo.
The timepiece is presented on a black alligator strap.
MOVEMENT Mechanical self-winding with a rhodium-plated micro-rotor Swiss movement
Caliber: RL267, 13 1/3 ’’’ (30mm), 29 jewels Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour (3 Hz)
Power reserve: ~72 hours
Decor: Vertical Côtes de Genève
FUNCTIONS Hours, minutes, tourbillon
CASE Black shot-blasted stainless steel with amboyna burl wood bezel
Diameter: 44.80 mm; Thickness: 12.40 mm
Convex sapphire crystal, internal colorless anti-reflective treatment
Back secured with 6 screws
Inter-lug width: 23.00 mm
Water resistance: 5 bar (~50 m)
Crown: Black shot-blasted stainless steel, black finishing
DIAL Color: Black matte galvanic
Beige Super-LumiNova® Arabic numbers and RL logo, printed
HANDS Hour, minute: Sword-shaped hands; Shiny black oxidized with beige Super-Luminova®
STRAP Black alligator, black Alsavel® lining
Width at the fold-over clasp: 20.00 mm
BUCKLE Stainless steel shot-blasted pin buckle, black finishing
Amboyna burl — a hardwood used in luxury automotive interiors — forms the luxury bezel, which was meticulously cut and hand-finished to reveal rich, swirling grain patterns.
The “bombé”-shaped bezel is secured by hand-set screws.
Together with the graceful tapered lugs of the case, the bezels epitomise Ralph Lauren’s vision of a timepiece with the elegance and power of automotive design.
RL Automotive Double Tourbillon - 45mm RLR0220714
The RL Automotive Double Tourbillon 45mm watch features an even more complex binary tourbillon; it is another excess in the Automotive collection — a veritable timepiece of superior function and Ralph Lauren’s love of fine watchmaking.
MOVEMENT Mechanical manual-winding
Swiss movement
Caliber: RL367, 14 1/4 ’’’, 45 jewels Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour (3 Hz)
Power reserve: ~72 hours
Decor: Vertical Côtes de Genève
FUNCTIONS Hours, minutes, double tourbillon
The movements are by Le Cercle des Horlogers SA., whose members are:
Alain Schiesser led the development department at Christophe Claret for several years.
Nicolas Herren worked in the development and prototype department at Renaud & Papi, followed by watchmaking experience within Louis Vuitton.
What then, the true cost of luxury?
Ralph Lauren RL Automotive Tourbillon (RLR0220713) $62,500.
Ralph Lauren RL Automotive Double Tourbillon (RLR0220714) $99,000.
RALPH LAUREN RL67 SAFARI GRAND DATE TIMEPIECES
“The romance of safari is a dream that I have returned to many times. It is an adventure, a world of refinement set against a rugged and powerful landscape.” — Ralph Lauren
Safari
Ralph Lauren introduces their biggest wristwatches yet, with two RL67 Safari Grand Date models.
This is a Real Man's watch. Reeking with testosterone, in a larger 50mm size, these watches showcase the adventurous, elegant spirit of a signature collection.
You can tell this from the rugged, square-jawed yet caring, manly man, in bush tracker apparel and a lion casually slung across his manly shoulders.
Your eyes are drawn to the prominent date display, which is eminently legible. Ralph Lauren launched the Safari clothing line in 1984 using the adventurous travel motif.
The Safari watches followed in 2013 as 39mm and 45mm chronometers with black or camouflage pattern dials.
They soon became iconic Ralph Lauren timepieces with their canvas straps, introduced in tribute to an explorer’s shoulder bag.
RL67 Safari Grand Date 50mm – Camouflage Dial
RL67 Safari Grand Date 50mm – Camouflage Dial
The first Grand Date model, with an azure varnished camouflage dial, features an “aged” steel case, through a chemo-physical treatment that leaves the steel with a rugged patina.
Water resistant to 10 bar, this handsome and luxurious tool watch is paired with a dark olive green alligator strap.
The Super-LumiNova® hour and minute hands and a varnished, bright-orange second hand point to printed Arabic numerals on the circular-textured dial.
The mechanical self-winding RL3105 movement has a 42-hour power reserve and is decorated with vertical Geneva stripe or circular perlage patterns.
RL67 Safari Grand Date 50mm - Camouflage Dial RLR0260700
MOVEMENT Mechanical self-winding Swiss movement,
Caliber: RL3105, 16 ½ ’’’, 25 jewels
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: ~42 hours
Decor: Vertical Côtes de Genève and perlage (circular graining)
FUNCTIONS Hours, minutes, seconds, date
CASE Black “aged” stainless steel, shot-blasted
Diameter: 49.8 mm; Thickness: 13.70 mm
Convex sapphire crystal, internal colorless anti-reflective treatment
Back secured with 6 screws
Inter-lug width: 25.60 mm
Water resistance: 10 bar (~100 m)
Screw-in crown: Black “aged” stainless steel with RL initials logo
DIAL Color: Azure green camouflage pattern, varnished
Beige Super-LumiNova® Arabic numbers, printed
HANDS Hour, minute: Sword-shaped hands; Shiny black oxidized with beige Super-Luminova®
Second: Baton hand; Shiny orange, varnished
STRAP Dark olive green Alligator, brown Alsavel® lining
Width at the fold-over clasp: 20.00 mm
Length: 115/70 mm
BUCKLE Black “aged” stainless steel pin buckle, shot-blasted
RL67 Safari Grand Date 50mm – Black Dial
RL67 Safari Grand Date 50mm – Black Dial
The second model using the same RL3105 movement in the “aged” steel case and azure matte-varnished anthracite dial is presented on a “weathered” olive green canvas strap. Additional canvas straps are sold separately, including black, blue, and faded versions, all lined with leather.
Ralph Lauren selected each colour, including the classic olive green, to convey the authentic spirit of safari.
RL67 Safari Grand Date 50mm - Black Dial RLR0260900
MOVEMENT Caliber: RL3105
DIAL Color: Azure black, matte varnished
STRAP Olive green “weathered” canvas, black Alsavel® lining
“When I started out as a designer, I dreamed of going to Africa, to safari,” Ralph Lauren says. “Safari is about living the life you want and pushing yourself beyond your limitations. It’s the dream of experiencing the wild and seeing the farthest reaches of the world.”
My first question was: “Are you Man enough?” but I can see these “oversized” Safari watches could be wonderful accessories even on slender ladies’ wrists.
What is the true cost of this grand date, rugged luxury?
RL67 Safari Grand Date 50mm – Camouflage Dial (RLR0260700): $5350
RL67 Safari Grand Date 50mm – Black Dial (RLR0260900): $4850
The rest of the Ralph Lauren Safari Collection can be seen [HERE]
Declaration: I have not received any payment nor consideration to tender my opinion here.
Regards,
MTF
...and I don't know what to think of them (not really convinced by the pictures to be honnest) but did you see the Bugatti 57SC in the real? I had the chance to see it once and it was actually breathtaking, really! Unfortunately I did not have a chance to see the sample you show in your last pic, but it looks also...absolutely breathtaking ! Many thanks for sharing these my friend, I enjoyed them a lot Mike
But not the lady in the MC Hammer pantaloons. The current Mrs MTF prefers if the Double Tourbillon was with a cream face. It would be completely against the ethos of a black Bugatti with ambonya wood steering wheel.... Regards, MTF
Absolutely superb curves (I am still talking about the Bugatti hey), and wonderful condition although I did not check the engine under the hood (I am still talking about the Bugatti hey). It was at the Musee des Arts Modernes, rue de Rivoli for a Ralf Lauren exhibition few years back and it was absolutely wonderful. You should have seen it (maybe you did ?). Best, Mike
It strikes me as oversized and overly pretentious
but In my opinion slightly overpriced. Thank you for sharing Melvyn. Best Regards Edward
Which were well designed? I guess luxury means more than you wish to pay. I like the idea of a double tourbillon on an Automotive watch...looks like the wheels going round. ... Regards MTF
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