“The common denominator of all my designs and my passion is the same: timeless elegance, quality and craftsmanship. I aspire to create watches that portray a way of life and authenticity. Like everything else I design, I want them to have character and an enduring sense of style and luxury.”
Ralph Lauren
The Low-Down
Ralph Lauren’s Polo player motif, originally inspired by Rene Lacoste and an Argentinian polo player called Lewis Lacey, has adorned his polos, jackets, dress shirts, sweaters and much besides since 1972. So powerful is the motif that worldwide the name ‘Polo’ has become synonymous with the ever popular short sleeved, collared sports shirt. It’s only fitting therefore that one of his most successful watch ranges also celebrates a life in the stirrups.
There’s a new Ralph Lauren Stirrup Collection just out, this time in a new black PVD finish as the latest expression of the designer’s continuing passion for the equestrian lifestyle.
The stirrup shaped collection is available in a range of sizes from large to medium, small to petite. The Large and Medium watches, in black PVD stainless steel, run on a mechanical movement made by Sellita with 42 hours power reserve. The Large and Medium timepieces are 36mm and 32mm respectively with off-white Roman numerals and minute track, with sword shaped hands with Super-Luminova designed to Ralph Lauren’s specifications.
Completing the collection are the ladies Ralph Lauren Small and Petite Timepieces, again designed with a stainless-steel case in a polished black finish. These are powered by a Swiss quartz movement with a 74-month battery life. The Petite version comes on an integrated black steel link bracelet while the Large, Medium and Small come on an interchangeable black calf strap.
Watch snobs will tell you to steer well clear of anything offered by a fashion brand, but what separates a Ralph Lauren designed watch from the ever-expanding slew of designer watches out there is that along with his cars, Ralph Lauren is an avid watch collector. He knows a lot about them and gets personally involved with the design of each of his collections, insisting, where possible, on mechanical Swiss movements. As he himself has said, quality and craftsmanship are key.
IMHO
Born in the Bronx, Ralph Lauren started out selling his own range of ties and later suits in 1968. In 1972 he launched his Polo player line of sports shirts in a palette of 24 colors, borrowing from the look of English aristocracy and applying it to the preppy pursuit of the American dream. His vision of the American dream exploded onto the silver screen with the release of The Great Gatsby in 1974, featuring Robert Redford in a wardrobe of his Gatsby era suits. With his watch collection, Ralph Lauren has managed to create a powerful sense of tradition and timelessness, and if you love the Ralph Lauren look, the Stirrup Collection is an easy and natural fit.
Tech Specs
RL Stirrup Large
Movement: RL-300-1 (Sellita base calibre) with 42 hours power reserve
Case: 36.60mm x 38.50mm (Large), 10.15mm height, Black PVD Stainless steel, sandblasted
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Strap: Black calf leather interchangeable
Price: USD 3,950
RL Stirrup Medium
Movement: RL-300-1 (Sellita base calibre) with 42 hours power reserve
Case: 32.45mm x 34.35 mm, 9.80mm height, Black PVD Stainless steel, sandblasted
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Strap: Black calf leather interchangeable
Price: USD 3,950
RL Stirrup Small
Movement: Quartz with 74 months battery life
Case: 27.70mm x 29.30 mm, 7.00mm height, Black PVD Stainless steel, polished
Functions: Hours, minutes
Strap: Black calf leather interchangeable
Price: USD 2,950
RL Stirrup Petite
Movement: Quartz with 74 months battery life
Case: 27.40mm x 29.30mm, 6.70mm height, Black PVD Stainless steel, polished
Functions: Hours, minutes
Strap: Black calf leather interchangeable
Price: USD 2,950