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

THE RALPH LAUREN SPORTING COLLECTION

"I've always liked purposeful things; things that are designed not just to be decorative. I like sports

and speed, style and beauty."

— Ralph Lauren

For style and performance to suit any occasion, the Ralph Lauren Sporting Collection features three variants of timepieces: two complications—the Ralph Lauren Sporting Chronograph and World Time—and the Ralph Lauren Sporting Classic. All models conform to the wrist for a sleek, comfortable fit.

Evocative of Polo Ralph Lauren's presence in the worlds of polo, golf and tennis, the Ralph Lauren Sporting Chronograph model offers sporting glamour with precision functionality. Introduced last year with a stainless steel case 45mm in diameter, this line has expanded for 2010, with the debut of three additional models in a refined 39mm diameter.

Each of these new 39mm models combines traditional dress chronograph proportions with unsurpassed sportive elegance. The models are available in either polished steel with a white dial and alligator strap, or the steel case with steel bracelet and white or black dial. In addition to these, a rose gold Ralph Lauren Sporting Chronograph is also now offered. Showcasing a white dial, this precious metal version is worn on a timeless alligator strap. All three new models, like the original larger iteration, are powered by self-winding movements with a seconds subdial at 6 o'clock, and for the chronograph function, a 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock and a 12-hour counter at 9 o'clock.

The Ralph Lauren Sporting World Time watch simultaneously displays the local time and a second time zone, with a city disc that represents 24 international time zones combined with a day/night indicator. The black or white lacquered dial also displays the day of the month as well as the power reserve. A substantial 45mm in diameter, this watch exudes cosmopolitan sophistication with a white or rose gold case, accented by a luxe alligator strap and matching precious metal pin buckle.

The Ralph Lauren Sporting Classic model is designed in stainless steel and its vintage-inspired, silvered dial emphasizes readability with a single additional subdial displaying the seconds. The movement, decorated with Côtes de Genève and circular graining, can be admired through the sapphire crystal caseback—a feature of all the Ralph Lauren Sporting timepieces.

THE RALPH LAUREN SLIM CLASSIQUE COLLECTION

"I like places and objects that transform us, that take us somewhere else for a day, an evening or just a moment. I like the romance of films, cars, Cole Porter tunes and Frank Sinatra songs. They all have one thing in common: they are ageless. They are timeless."

— Ralph Lauren

The Ralph Lauren Slim Classique watch'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, hand-guided 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, 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 engraving, while the opaline dial displays two "Breguet style" hands accented by Roman numerals and exquisite guilloche designed in a distinct "barleycorn" pattern, with 80 waves gently snailing around in a series of compact spirals from the outer to the inner circle, extending onto 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. Ralph Lauren continues to preserve and present the art of authentic guilloché with six new additions to the Ralph Lauren Slim Classique Collection.

2010 marks the introduction of a 38mm-diameter case size with the same gracefully thin profile as the original. Meticulous attention has been paid to subtly alter the size of all components of the timepieces, preserving the perfect proportions of the 42mm models. Attractive to both men and women who appreciate the classical dimensions of a traditional dress watch, the new offerings, in white gold and rose gold, strike the perfect balance between elegant and tastefully restrained.

Also new for 2010 are stunning diamond-set models, in both the 38mm and 42mm sizes. These jeweled timepieces in white gold showcase bezels adorned either with rows of round, brilliant-cut diamonds or baguette-cut diamonds. The brilliant-cut diamond models feature precious stones in a grain setting, placed in staggered inner and outer rows to form a virtually continuous diamond surface. The baguette diamond models are serti clos or bezel-set entirely by hand.

Ralph Lauren Slim Classique Collection timepieces are offered with a luxurious black or vibrant red alligator strap, black, red, navy or purple satin or black grosgrain—all accented by a precious metal pin buckle.