While Ralph Lauren might be best known for their high-end clothing and Americana-inspired runway looks, Ralph Lauren has also plied their trade to the art of watchmaking. While most fashion brands that take up watchmaking often do it to a very low standard, Ralph Lauren decided to do things differently and produce serious timepieces that would make any watchmaker proud. Going into partnership with the Richemont Group in 2009, Ralph Lauren has since launched a plethora of high-end watches with precious metal constructions, haute horology complications, and unique designs, much like the Sporting Automotive Chronograph ref. RLR0230713 that we have here. Launched in 2014 and made of stainless steel, it features a two-tone dial created by its central black portion and burl wood chapter ring that harks back to the wooden dashboards found in vintage cars. Measuring 44.8mm in diameter and boasting an exposed screw-laden bezel, the ref. RLR0230713’s rustic construction style contrasts that of its high-end movement that JLC produced for Ralph Lauren, the automatic cal. RL751A/1, which highlights the brand’s genuine attempts to design something new and not lazily use the blueprint of a readily-available watch in order to make some easy money.

An aesthetically intriguing watch packed with a serious amount of horological might from one of America's best-known names in fashion, the Automotive Chronograph shows what can be done when a fashion powerhouse decides to move away from the idea of cheap quartz watches and produce timepieces worth wearing.