Reflections on the S/el

Martin Bull
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Yes, That's a nice earlier version ; no sub-dial rings plus a 'baton' marking at 12 o'clock.

( No, I'm not an expert......all my knowledge has come from the relevant Calibre 11 page....馃槦 )
 
El Matarife
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The S/El is uniquely ugly! With its bum cleft lugs and Ratners bracelet. I nearly bought a new old stock example on Ebay last year, but I didn't. I regret not doing so even now. They aren't on trend, and don't sell for a lot - so it's a lot of watch for the money! A proper bargain. Got to love that.
 
Aquagraph
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Martin Bull Martin Bull
Yes, That's a nice earlier version ; no sub-dial rings plus a 'baton' marking at 12 o'clock.
( No, I'm not an expert......all my knowledge has come from the relevant Calibre 11 page....馃槦 )

Hopefully it will look even better when it finally comes back with a relumed dial...
 
Albert-AMG
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Martin Bull Martin Bull
I really like the S/el series.

Me too! 馃榾 And Ayrton Senna has a lot to do with it.

A S/el CG1110 was my first TAG Heuer. The AD in Barcelona where I bought it -more than 25 years ago- doesn鈥檛 exist anymore, but my S/el is still perfectly running 馃槈

DFFC55DB-A3C8-48C8-94B1-AEA6F5A3CDE6.jpeg E5CA493D-4664-4823-9A97-C547B4719DDF.jpeg


At this moment it鈥檚 in my current AD for a service, changing battery and all gaskets, and also changing the bezel (not cheap, at 250 Euro!), but it's worth it 馃グ
 
Aquagraph
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El Matarife El Matarife
The S/El is uniquely ugly! With its bum cleft lugs and Ratners bracelet. I nearly bought a new old stock example on Ebay last year, but I didn't. I regret not doing so even now. They aren't on trend, and don't sell for a lot - so it's a lot of watch for the money! A proper bargain. Got to love that.

Ratners bracelet! 馃槻
 
Mspeedster
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
Ratners bracelet! 馃槻
I don't know what that means, must be a UK thing - maybe? 馃槙

I must admit that the bracelet today is kind of funky. But back in the 80s & 90s, I always thought the bracelet was so unique and cool. it reminded me of Klingon armor, specifically the back. However, I prefer to wear mine with a leather strap, because of Senna.
2a0c194c3deb8450c1c0be93e1ebadc2.jpg
 
Martin Bull
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To explain the 'Ratners' reference - Gerald Ratner was a high-profile figure in the UK jewellery business in the 1970s/80s/90s. He expanded his business into a group which owned long-established retail jewellery names such as Bravingtons, H Samuel and ( yes ! ) Watches of Switzerland. He played on his 'East End boy made good' persona and many of his outlets and marketing methods seemed brash and vulgar to many in the trade.

His near-legendary downfall ( still used as a how-not-to-do-it business case study ) came when he addressed an Institute of Directors conference at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1991. He said that many people asked how he could sell some of his merchandise so cheaply - the reason ? 'Because it's total **** !'. Going on to describe a pair of ear-rings as being cheaper than a supermarket prawn sandwich ' and probably won't last as long'.

Result ? Banner headlines, a 50% drop in share price and the ousting of Ratner as Chairman of his own Goup.

So, to keep on-topic, Ratner was 'in period' for the S/el which for sure could be bought at the time in Watches of Switzerland.....
 
Mr_Orange
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Welcome @Martin Bull.

Here is my S/el Chronometer:

upload_2020-6-26_18-34-30.png


As for Ratner, there is a film about him on Netflix, although I have yet to watch it.
 
Marcos Alvarenga
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I think the S/EL was to the 80鈥檚 as the Monaco was to the 70鈥檚. One day people will see beauty on it, and TAG will remake it, as the fashion trends goes on.

Think about the Jaguar XK 120 in the late 60鈥檚 and today, as an example.
Who would dare say in the early 90鈥檚: Carrera would be back and be on TH catalog cover.?

Besides, it鈥檚 the lightest watch ant has the most comfortable bracelet ever.
Edited:
 
Mspeedster
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Marcos Alvarenga Marcos Alvarenga
I think the S/EL was to the 80鈥檚 as the Monaco was to the 70鈥檚. One day people will see beauty on it, and TAG will remake it, as the fashion trends goes on.

Think about the Jaguar XK 120 in the late 60鈥檚 and today, as an example.
Who would dare say in the early 90鈥檚: Carrera would be back and be on TH catalog cover.?

Besides, it鈥檚 the lightest watch ant has the most comfortable bracelet ever.
I'm with you. And when that day comes, I hope TH see fit to produce a modern day re-imagined Senna S/el patterned after his S25.706C. I'd take that easily over the current batch of Senna branded tribute watches, which bear his "name", but not his "spirit" - IMHO.
 
Martin Bull
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Mspeedster Mspeedster
...... I hope TH see fit to produce a modern day re-imagined Senna S/el patterned after his S25.706C. I'd take that easily over the current batch of Senna branded tribute watches, which bear his "name", but not his "spirit" - IMHO.


I entirely agree ( being a 'newbie', I hadn't dared to say it ! )
 
Aquagraph
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Mspeedster Mspeedster
I'm with you. And when that day comes, I hope TH see fit to produce a modern day re-imagined Senna S/el patterned after his S25.706C. I'd take that easily over the current batch of Senna branded tribute watches, which bear his "name", but not his "spirit" - IMHO.

I'm with you both, but I think the chances of TAG Heuer reissuing the S/EL are pretty small. Aside from the fact that the S/EL is now essentially renamed as the Link, we have that old problem of resurrecting the case. But I agree, if they REALLY want to pay tribute to Senna rather than just using his name to sell product they should give us a proper Senna S/EL. I do wonder how much it would cost though, S/EL prices were staggeringly high back in the 90s... I'm sure my two tone quartz chrono was well over 拢2k originally.
 
Aquagraph
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Martin Bull Martin Bull
I entirely agree ( being a 'newbie', I hadn't dared to say it ! )

Speak your mind Martin, especially since it sounds like you are in the 'right' here! 馃榿馃憤
 
Mspeedster
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
I'm with you both, but I think the chances of TAG Heuer reissuing the S/EL are pretty small. Aside from the fact that the S/EL is now essentially renamed as the Link, we have that old problem of resurrecting the case. But I agree, if they REALLY want to pay tribute to Senna rather than just using his name to sell product they should give us a proper Senna S/EL. I do wonder how much it would cost though, S/EL prices were staggeringly high back in the 90s... I'm sure my two tone quartz chrono was well over 拢2k originally.
If they can create a one off Fragment H02 F1, no reason they couldn't do one off Senna H02 S/el to mark some special occasion - with a price to match.
 
Aquagraph
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Mspeedster Mspeedster
If they can create a one off Fragment H02 F1, no reason they couldn't do one off Senna H02 S/el to mark some special occasion - with a price to match.

Sure, as long as you don't mind it in a modern 'Link' case.
 
Mspeedster
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
Sure, as long as you don't mind it in a modern 'Link' case.
Lol. But by the time the style of the S/el comes back in vogue, who knows if the Link will still exist and what the cases might look like.
 
Aquagraph
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Actually it would make more sense to put it in the F1 case, which we've already seen with a Link bracelet. Can't help thinking it would be a dogs diner though and 50% thicker than the original. Plus why does it have to be a Heuer 02? Why does it have to be automatic? If we want a genuine tribute to Ayton's watch then it should be ani-digi. In fact if it is automatic how's that going to work? A thin digital module mounted on top? This is going to cost more than the Fragment at this rate!
 
Aquagraph
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Obviously it would need a gold crown and I'm not sure we'd be able to have that bezel either..
 
Martin Bull
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It's been greatt o see a lively response to a long-dormant thread !

I took my 'new' Chrono S/el out for a 'test-drive' this morning. I have to say, it's nice to hanker after something for ten years and when you finally get it - it's been worth the wait. I appreciate that it's all a matter of personal taste, but I very much like the watch. It's very confortable to wear and - I guess this is the main thing - it makes me feel good to wear it.馃グ

Anyhow, it's been a fine welcome to this Forum and I quickly realised that it's de rigeur to post a pic of one's favourite watch resting across the steering wheel of the car of one's choice. So - I had to do it !

P1030770 (2).JPG
 
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