Reflections on the S/el

I dunno what it is with the Link. I think the current incarnation is perhaps too feminine for the market.

Now that's thought-provoking. IMHO, the issue with the Link is that it doesn't know what it wants to be and that it is now too close to the Carrera line - which has a stronger appeal as a high-end watch (with a similar price). The root of the issue, again IMHO, is the name. The first version, the S/EL, used the incredible band to support the watch's purpose, a sporty and elegant timepiece, hence S/EL. However, when the entire line shifted to being about the bracelet, the Link, it lost it's way within a few years.

The silly name "Link" was added to the dial in 2000 after the first model year, 1999, without any name (as with the previous generation S/EL before it). Then by 2004, the rotating bezel was removed. What was left is just a less attractive and less expensive Carrera with an unusual bracelet.

Tag should get back to their roots on this model - and rename it! There is still market room for a Sport/Elegance model with a gorgeous bracelet. Just don't make it all about the bracelet - a feature that should augment the timepiece, not the other way around.

I own two beautiful 1999 Link chronometers without "Link" imprinted on the dial (which happen to look like Rolex Explorers, again IMHO). The 1999 refresh did seem to embody sporty elegance but a downward spiral quickly followed suit. I refuse to buy a Link with that silliness on the dial. My WT5110 is pictured below.

They made it all about the bracelet, but then put that bracelet on Carreras and Formula 1s. 😵‍💫

Those Links are cool, I nearly bought one a few months ago - before the purge started.

Doesn't that bezel look like the new Aquaracer bezel? Well, just the grips I mean...

OMG, I had no idea that the Link bracelet was/is offered on other Heuer models. Now the Link model makes no sense and has been watered down to meaningless. Who’s steering the Tag ship?! Nutz.

A quick search turned up a bastardized Formula One example. Just slap a Link bracelet and Senna on anything to boost sales. Unbelievable.

Yeah, to be fair it's only been offered for Senna models, the justification being that Senna is synonymous with the SEL.

Rightly or wrongly, does like nice on the F1

It sucks when you’ve happened across two Links without the, erm, links. I’m having a hard time finding these link bracelets for not stupid money. And it just doesn’t look right ons strap, looks more like a field watch to be honest.

yes, BUT they aren't real LINK bracelets. They are just normal bracelets, with the LINK style on the outside. They are solid links, that use pin and tube.

man that is a nice looking watch....

holy crap lol can you imagine if they tried to rissue a kirum? I don't think it would work tho.

A recent Time+Tide article on the S/el. The "unholy grail". LOL 🥰

https://timeandtidewatches.com/why-the-comically-dated-tag-heuer-s-el-is-a-true-guilty-pleasure/

I can't say I've ever looked at my S/EL and thought 'Ah yes, H R Giger, obviously'. But nice to see something positive being written. It's time will come...

Hi,
I allow myself to go up the post, I am looking for information on the S/El chronos,
I see that there are 2 refs, the SG11-- series-- and the S26.--- series.
What are the differences?
On the excellent Tag Heuer Enthusiast site, the year of manufacture is mentioned, before 1991 and after 1991.

I also see a difference in the inscription : Professionnal or 200 meters
200 meters professional.

All the numbers changed in 1992, so everything was renumbered with the new system
The watches didn't change, backplates may have changed but who knows, everything was a lot more free and easy back then.

http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2021/06/history-tag-heuer-sel-sel-leather-1987.html

There's a cross refernce chart at the bottom of the history of the Sel page.

Also, thanks for visiting my blog.
👍

oh it's your blog, well done for the work, it's very interesting 👍

Thank you.

I also noticed a difference, do you think it's because of the year of production?

Could be. You have to remember things were different back then. While these were luxury products, there wasn't the same attention to detail there is now and details weren't as important because the fakes were terrible and obvious. I have had watches with Heuer clasp and backplate but with TAG Heuer on the dial, not because it was a franken but because they just used up whatever they had.

Can't say I've ever seen that top dial before though..

The 1990 SEL catalogue shows the dial with just 200 Metres on it... 🙄

I believe the addition of "Professional" came roughly around the time of the change of ref. numbers from "S" to "CG". Never seen it below the "200 Meters" before on a S/el ana-digi, always above it. So it might be a fake or a fluke.

The other difference between the older "S" model and "CG" model is the case has a fine brushed finish on the later versions. The earlier versions do not have the brushed grain on the case.

Here's a side by side comparison (courtesy of @Snowy):


Early version

Later version