Saddle Up: Ralph Lauren Introduces Two New American Western Models Integrating Piaget Movements
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.
As an author who has spent over twenty years writing about mechanical wristwatches, being tucked away for two hours in a shadowy wine cellar in Cologne’s old town with thirty potential watch clients is truly exciting. It’s not just the rare wines they savoured together – including a Bordeaux from 1988 – but the open…
At this year's Watches & Wonders 2020, Swiss watchmaker Roger Dubuis introduces a brand new Excalibur watch – the Excalibur Diabolus in Machina. Unusually, the 45 mm watch's case and caseback are made with the alloy CarTech Micro-Melt BioDur CCMTM. Meanwhile, the skeletonised timepiece's functions include a minute repeater and a single flying tourbillon. The…
Geneva-based manufacturer Patek Philippe is presenting three intricate chronographs, each with a further complication. The house is showing the 5204R-011, a split-seconds chronograph with a perpetual calendar. In addition, the 5905/1A-001, a sporty chronograph with a stainless steel case. In this article, however, we present the Patek Philippe 5930P-001. This offers a flyback chronograph together…
It was 70 years ago that Panerai first introduced the tritium-based luminous substance Luminor – now, the Florentine watchmaker launches the Luminor Marina Fibratech 44 mm (PAM01119) with an improved luminosity, a new material and a service warranty of 70 years. PAM01119 Ever since the 1940s, Panerai has continuously worked on improving emission of light.…
Frederique Constant has unveiled a new version of its Classic Perpetual Calendar Manufacture. The watch features a new design with a salmon dial and a new movement. The watch was first introduced in 2016 and has been praised for its affordability and quality. The brand is aiming to make Swiss watchmaking accessible to a wider…
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Memovox Timer presents itself in a pink gold case that is combined with a black and grey dial. The watch offers an alarm function that can be set to a fixed time as well as used as a timer. This generation also has a see-through case back, which makes the striking…
In celebration of its tenth anniversary, Laurent Ferrier is introducing a new, classical timepiece – the Classic Origin Opaline. Housed in a Grade 5 titanium case, it follows a pure design code, featuring an uncluttered white-silver opaline dial and a light brown Barbialla calf leather strap. According to the brand, the latest model is designed…
Hublot is presenting three very special timepieces at this year's LVMH Watch Week in Singapore, all of which break with old conventions. From a transparent neon-coloured case and a watch helping to protect the rhinoceros to a new edition of an all-time classic, Hublot is coming up with all the goods. Classic Fusion Original The…
With barely 40 years under its belt, Hublot is a fairly young watch brand. Despite this, it is by no means lacking in self-confidence in an industry where many of the biggest horology houses have a history that stretches back a good 150 years or more. Hublot’s self-assurance is at least partly due to the…
Patek Phillipe presents a special version of the Nautilus to celebrate its long-standing partnership with Tiffany & Co. The Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-018 "Tiffany & Co" bears a dial in Tiffany blue and refers to the partnership with the lettering of both brands. The jeweller Tiffany & Co. was recently taken over by the LVMH…
The year 2002 heralded the birth of the Royal Oak Concept, when Audemars Piguet launched a limited edition of 150 pieces to mark the 30th anniversary of its Royal Oak. It drew its inspiration from the concept cars in the automotive industry. Its aesthetic was disruptive and revolutionary; the Concept project provided Audemars Piguet with…
Breitling is presenting two new Super Chronomat with a smaller 38 mm diameter and diamond-set bezel. The highlight, however, is the Breitling Super Chronomat Automatic 38 Origins - a "traceable" watch. The house uses gold and laboratory-grown diamonds whose entire supply chain is transparent. Breitling Super Chronomat Automatic 38 Breitling is presenting two versions: one…
The Code 11.59 line from Audemars Piguet is only getting better – and two of its latest novelties are definitive proof. Growing into its own and developing its DNA ever further, the collection is evidently here to impress with the new Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon and Minute Repeater Supersonnerie. As always, Swisswatches is here…
