Ralph Lauren Introduces the Polo Watch Collection

My love for Ralph Lauren knows no bounds, but is this watch collection the right move?

November 10, 2020
By: Logan Hannen

Ralph Lauren has introduced a new collection of timepieces in the form of their Polo Watch Collection, inspired by the brand’s famous Polo player.

Source: Ralph Lauren

The Specs
Case Diameter: 42mm
Case Material: Stainless Steel/Black Coated Stainless Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water Resistance: 100 Meter
Strap/Bracelet: Steel Bracelet/Leather/Fabric Strap
Movement: Ralph Lauren Caliber RL200 (Built by Sellita)

All the pieces in the Polo Collection come in the same 42mm steel case in either a polish or black coated finish. The cases and overall design language are clearly inspired by dive watches, though the 100 meters of water resistance precludes them from anything more than some light surface swimming. However, the aesthetic does work, with each of the bezels featuring the word “Polo” printed across it instead of the typical triangle to indicate the zero position. Because of the range of colors (black, blue, and army green most notably), each watch features a bezel that has been color matched to the dial.

Speaking of the dial, each one features Arabic numerals in white along with an outer track for the minutes/seconds. The prominent feature, however, is the large printed polo player logo at the center of each dial, an icon in the clothing world. It’s incredibly well detailed and colorful to really create for a fun, unique design, and large enough that it’s impossible to miss.

Source: HODINKEE

The Damage
The Ralph Lauren Polo Watch Collection retails for $1,650 on a textile strap to $1,950 on the leather/textile combo strap.

The accessory bracelet retails for $510 in steel and $730 in black coated steel.

The Take
While the identities of the Ralph Lauren brands are, even to the casual observer, obvious, I don’t feel the same for their watch collections. The Ralph Lauren (not Polo, just Ralph Lauren) watch collection has received tremendous praise in the past for their original designs and build quality that rivals top manufacturers (think their Slim Classique, for example), and here we have what is presumably its cousin, a polar opposite that, in my opinion, undermines the name Ralph Lauren in the watch industry. There’s nothing impressive or truly original about these pieces, and in fact, I find them overbranded and, in turn, overpriced. My love for Ralph Lauren knows no bounds, and it’s because of that love that I’m begging them to stop.