What We Know
The American West has long been a defining source of inspiration for Ralph Lauren. In 2018, the brand launched its Western Watch Collection to celebrate its 50th anniversary, extending Western influences to the wrist. Today, the brand is offering a fresh take on the Western Cushion model from the original collection, with the most noticeable change being its more compact, 38mm case offered in a total of three new versions.
The American Western pocket watch that launched in 2018, which featured an IWC “Jones caliber” as the base.
The watch first launched in 2018 with a 42mm case, among five other limited-production models, including a 50mm full hunter pocket watch. For the movements, Ralph Lauren partnered with Richemont brands Piaget and IWC, marrying Swiss-made tradition with the spirit of the Wild West.
The Western Cushion 38mm retains the original design’s pillowy case, crafted from hand-engraved and aged sterling silver to resemble vintage Western silverwork. The watch comes in three dial versions: black lacquer, off-white lacquer, and a natural turquoise stone. The black lacquer dial is paired with contrasting off-white numerals and a black calfskin leather strap, while the off-white version takes a slightly more traditional approach with black numerals and a brown calfskin leather strap. The turquoise dial also has black numerals and comes on a brown calfskin leather strap, although its natural stone surface gives each watch a slightly different character, with variations in the turquoise itself making no two dials exactly alike.
The interchangeable leather strap showcases floral-like impressions, and the sterling silver buckle also mirrors the case’s treatment, making it a natural extension of the design. Even the crown is hand-engraved with Ralph Lauren’s “RL” initials. Across all three versions is a combination of Roman and Arabic numerals paired with Breguet-style hands, balancing the watch’s rustic aesthetic with nods to Swiss watchmaking.
Inside, the watch is powered by the self-winding RL514 movement produced by Piaget exclusively for Ralph Lauren. The movement is finished with Côtes de Genève and perlage, adding another layer of Swiss craftsmanship to an otherwise Western-influence-heavy design.
The off-white and black lacquer dial versions are priced at $26,000 and the turquoise stone option is $29,000.
What We Think
While I normally cringe at the obvious trappings of cowboy culture, there’s something I find charming about this watch. The mix of Arabic and Roman numerals doesn’t bother me, but I would’ve preferred that the 24-hour numerals and the Arabic numerals share the same font. At the office, I overheard some of my colleagues saying they wished the flower motif wasn’t repeated on the leather strap; I would have to disagree—I think something would feel missing if the brand had chosen a plain leather strap format.
Overall, I think it reads more like a piece of Western jewelry than it does a watch, but I wouldn’t quickly relegate it to the world of soulless fashion watches. This is in part because of the caliber RL514 inside—an intentional move by Ralph Lauren, a passionate watch collector himself—and the aged silver, which keeps it from feeling overly polished or costume-like.
That being said, the watches’ pricing did give me a jump scare. Sure, they have hand-engraved cases and Piaget movements—but at the end of the day, they’re made of sterling silver, not gold, and don’t offer any complications that would justify such a steep price point.
Which brings me to my next point: This watch isn’t for everyone. I personally adore colored stone dials, and I think the turquoise version is perfect for someone who wants to lean fully into Ralph Lauren’s Western fantasy. I prefer the black colorway over the off-white option, mostly because I’m partial to the brown strap and turquoise dial pairing. I mean, if you’re going to embrace the Wild West, you might as well fully commit to it.
The Basics
Brand: Ralph Lauren
Model: Western Cushion 38mm In Engraved Sterling Silver
Diameter: 38mm
Thickness: 9.3mm
Case Material: Sterling silver (engraved and aged)
Dial Color: Lacquered black or off-white and turquoise
Indexes: Printed in black
Lume: No
Water Resistance: 50m
Strap/Bracelet: Interchangeable tooled calf leather strap with a brown lining and sterling silver pin buckles in black and brown
The Movement
Caliber: RL514 by Piaget for Ralph Lauren
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds
Diameter: 24.8mm
Power Reserve: 40 hours
Winding: Mechanical self-winding
Frequency: 3 Hz
Jewels: 26
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Black Roman and Arabic numerals and Breguet-style hands
Pricing & Availability
Price: $26,000 for black and off-white lacquered dials; $29,000 for turquoise stone dial
Limited Edition: No
For more, click here.
