Last month, Ralph Lauren enjoyed an extraordinarily successful Spring 2025 fashion show in the Hamptons at New York Fashion week, attended by the likes of Usher, Naomi Campbell and Anna Wintour. Hosted at the Khalily Stables, an equestrian complex in Bridgehampton, the collection was, as always, infused with references to the brand’s equestrian history. While widely known for its much-loved Polo Ralph Lauren ‘Preppy Bear’-themed jumpers, socks and watches, Ralph Lauren is now expanding its rather macho American Western collection, which also features round and skeleton models as well as pocket watches, with the launch of two new cushion-shaped models with sultry black dials. Both versions house an automatic Swiss movement manufactured by horology house Piaget.
Hand-crafted cushion cases
The two new American Western editions are housed in either an 18-carat rose-gold or antiqued sterling silver case. Their design picks up on distinctive character of vintage rodeo and concho belts that have long influenced Mr. Lauren’s designs. These elements first appeared in his Santa Fe-inspired women’s runway show in the 1980s and continue to be integral to his Double RL accessories today. For this watch model, Ralph Lauren reimagined the organic motifs traditional to Western belts in a sophisticated cushion-shaped silhouette. The 42 mm cases, which have a sturdy 10.60 mm height, were aged and hand-engraved in New York City. Variations in engraving and patina underline the brand’s commitment to craftsmanship, while also making each model quietly unique. Both cases are water-resistant to 50 m.
The spirit of Western style resonates with a rugged elegance and authenticity that people connect with. It embodies a sense of honesty and enduring appeal.
— Ralph Lauren, designer
New black dials
Meanwhile, the new dials now appear in contemporary lacquered and polished black for the first time. The novel colour is accompanied by off-white printed Roman & Arabic numerals and a matching minute track. The time is indicated by Breguet-style hour and minute hands as is often typical of Ralph Lauren timepieces. Thus, a blend of fine Swiss craftsmanship and iconic Ralph Lauren style come together as one.
A Piaget movement for the Ralph Lauren American Western watches
While many might initially dismiss Ralph Lauren as a fashion house producing fashion watches, a closer look reveals quite the contrary. Launched in 2008, Ralph Lauren’s Watches and Fine Jewellery department combines high quality Swiss manufacture movements with Ralph Lauren’s most iconic inspirations – from the equestrian elegance of the Stirrup watches to the Safari and Automotive collections. This brings us to the movement powering the new three-hand watches, which are produced by revered Swiss horology house Piaget while carrying the name ‘calibre RL514’.
The calibre RL514 is known for its precision and reliability, offering a 40-hour power reserve while beating at a frequency of 3 Hz. Ever ones for craftsmanship, the Ralph Lauren watches’ calibre also exhibits traditional Swiss finishing, including vertical Côtes de Genève (Genevan stripes) as well as perlage (circular graining). This is the same movement used throughout the American Western collection for several years, making it an enduringly practical choice for these hardy western-style watches.
Straps, price, and availability of the American Western watches
The two new American Western watches are accompanied by with burnished vachetta straps meticulously hand-tooled in Texas, while the sterling silver or rose-gold pin buckles are hand-engraved and aged in New York City. The black calfskin straps are complimented by brown lining for a rustic ‘Americana’ aesthetic. The American Western collection is distributed through select Ralph Lauren boutiques as well as a number of retailers worldwide. The price of the sterling silver edition is 27,000 euros, while its rose-gold sibling has a price tag of 45,000 euros.
