Baselworld/SIHH

RALPH LAUREN SLIM CLASSIQUE COLLECTION – SIHH 2010 PREVIEW

Geneva , Switzerland – October 2009 – The Ralph Lauren Slim Classique Collection's superbly slender silhouette reflects a sleek modernity, while the detailing and workmanship recall a bygone era of style. With timepieces that represent some of traditional watchmaking's signature elements, the Ralph Lauren Slim Classique Collection offers unmatched sophistication with delicate, handguided guilloché and an extremely thin case, recognized historically as a demonstration of the highest level of skill in fine watchmaking.

Featuring white gold, rose gold and platinum cases just 5.35mm thick, the Ralph Lauren Slim Classique Collection encloses an ultra-thin mechanism of only 2.1mm – one of the finest in the world. The perfectly round, slender case showcases a polished caseback ideal for personalized engraving, while the silvered opaline dial displays two oxidized black or blued "Breguet style" hands accented by the formality of Roman numerals and exquisite guilloché , which also decorates the bezel.

Guilloché , or engine turning, is a centuries-old form of engraving historically found on the finest watch cases and dials, and only realized by highly-skilled artisans with years of dedication enabling them to hand-craft decorative patterns of great intricacy and regularity. The Ralph Lauren Slim Classique Collection is characterized by a distinct guilloché pattern – a spiral "barleycorn" pattern on the central portion of the dial, with 80 waves gently snailing around in a series of compact spirals from the outer to the inner circle. A subtly applied guilloché track delineates the Roman numerals, while the "barleycorn" pattern on the dial is repeated on the bezel as well –an especially demanding execution, as the guillocheur must follow a surface with a complex convex curve.

For 2010, Ralph Lauren continues to preserve and present the art of authentic guilloché with a new model featuring a stunning diamond-set bezel. This jeweled creation in white gold showcases a bezel adorned with two rows of 96 round, brilliant-cut diamonds, for a total of 192 gems. Each precious stone is grain set, and placed in staggered inner and outer rows to form a virtually continuous surface of diamonds, providing maximum scintillation and fire.

RALPH LAUREN SLIM CLASSIQUE 42mm TWO ROWS OF DIAMONDS

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

MOVEMENT Mechanical manual winding

Manufacture movement, made by Piaget for Ralph Lauren

Caliber: RL430

Power reserve: 40 hours

Decor: Vertical Côtes de Genève and Perlage (circular graining)

FUNCTIONS Hours, minutes

CASE 18K White Gold, polished

Diameter: 42mm; Thickness: 5.35mm

Flat sapphire crystal, external and internal colorless anti-reflective treatment

Water resistance: 3 bar (30m)

Crown: 18K White Gold, polished

GEM 192 diamonds, ~1.11 carats

DIAL Color: Silvery opaline with central "Guilloché" decor

Black Roman numerals, printed

HANDS Hour, minute: Breguet-style hands

Color: Shiny black, oxidized

STRAP Black alligator, black Alsavel lining

BUCKLE 18K White Gold pin buckle, polished