Polo Ralph Lauren Watches Gallop Onto The Scene

Just a few days ago, I spoke at length via Zoom with Guillaume Tetu, head of watches for Ralph Lauren (and a long-time friend), regarding a new collection for the watch division: Polo Ralph Lauren. While the Polo line has been part of the legendary brand for decades, this marks the first time a formal Polo Ralph Lauren watch — with Polo on the logo — is being released.

I wrote about the new collection on my Perfect Timing column on Forbes, but now I bring the series to our readers — and it is a fun, whimsical, affordable collection that will steal hearts of watch and polo lovers. Ralph Lauren has been creating watches since it’s first introduction in 2008 (created in cooperation with the Richemont brand), but this new Polo Ralph Lauren line is a more sporty series that puts the iconic Polo Pony logo front and center.

The Polo Ralph Lauren watches are distinctive thanks to the three-dimensional Polo horse and player that occupies the entire center of the dial. Depending on  the dial color — blue, green or black — the horse is wearing different colored socks and saddle and the player is wearing different colored shirt and hats. The meticulously detailed horse in full gallop in play is created via a three-dimensional printing process that layers color after color onto the small piece. With depth, texture and vivid hues, the Polo logo looks to be jumping off the dial of the 42mm watch.

The watches are all created in stainless steel, with one in black PVD steel for sleek appeal. They all feature an engraved crown with the Polo Pony logo on it, and – for the first time – sport the name Polo on the bezel. This marks the official launch of the Polo Ralph Lauren watch line. Earlier this year, the brand released its Ralph Lauren “Bear” watch that discreetly showcased the logo on the crown, but this is the first time we are seeing the Polo name on the front of the watch above the Ralph Lauren name.

For those watch aficionados who may be asking the question, “How does this bode with Piaget, which makes the Piaget Polo watch?”, we have the answer. Ralph Lauren owns the Polo name and has since 1972. The brand also has a good relationship with the Richemont Group, which owns Piaget. The two have a copacetic agreement where this is concerned.