Ralph Lauren introduces Polo Bear watches

Continuing his 50th anniversary celebration, Ralph Lauren is launching the Polo Bear Collection, which combines Swiss watchmaking with the Polo Bear - a favorite icon in the designer's world "It's purely a fun project It was not about who's out there and what are they doing.

I find that when I do things like this, with a smile on it, it works It's not planned to be a big thing If it is, we'll take it, but it's not planned.

I find for me, that's what works," said Lauren, chairman and chief creative officer of the $6.2 billion Ralph Lauren Corp Asked why he chose now to launch Polo Bear watches, Lauren said there was a lot of activity around the 50th anniversary, and it seemed like an appropriate time In 1991, the Polo Bear was introduced with 200 limited-edition bears produced by Steiff, the German toy manufacturer, and dressed in miniaturized Polo Ralph Lauren apparel.

The Flag Bear wears the namesake sweater that originated on the runway in 1989, along with a denim jacket and jeans; Martini Bear is dressed in a tuxedo, boutonniere and embroidered velvet slippers, capturing the rakish confidence of Edwardian gentlemen and Thirties movie stars; Preppy Bear wears an Ivy League look with a repp tie, navy blazer and khaki pants, and Spectator Bear is decked out in a camel hair overcoat, sweatshirt and saddle oxfords for a day at the stadium Last year, Lauren had Polo Bear windows during Christmas time, and his staff gave him the Ralph Lauren stuffed bears dressed in a leather jacket and a tuxedo jacket, reflecting the way he dresses, that sit on the coffee table Lauren said they made the decision to put the Polo Bear watches into the new Polo watch division, rather than the Ralph Lauren watch division for a specific reason.

"There is a charm to Polo watches and a price difference The Polo Bear is a younger, more sporty, fun watch, and it felt more like Polo," he said. . Source