SIHH 2011 News With wood dial: Ralph Lauren Sporting watch
Ralph Lauren has long looked to automobiles as a source of inspiration for his designs. For 2011, Ralph Lauren presents the first timepiece inspired by his personal car collection, with the introduction of a Ralph Lauren Sporting watch featuring a wood dial. Combining his passion for fine automobiles with his passion for fine watches, Ralph Lauren unveils this new timepiece design recalling the refined interior of his model 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe.
This new watch features a stainless steel case with a unique dial in rich loupe d’orme or elm burl–in honor of the car’s iconic wooden dashboard and trim detail. Prized for its highly figured patterns and rarity, elm burl wood has been traditionally used by artists and sculptors and is often found in the consoles of luxury cars. The warmth of the wood is contrasted by the dial’s matte black galvanic center and by the black calf strap, reminiscent of the distinct juxtaposition of the wooden dashboard and black leather seating in Ralph Lauren’s prized vintage automobile.