The "Senna" S/EL Watch Spotter's Guide - S25.706C/S25.706/CG1123

Mspeedster · Jan 19, 2025

^In addition, the Bonhams webpage says the Authentication Letter was signed by both Jo Ramirez AND Ron Pellatt. But the image shared by Ron's son doesn't have his father's signature. If the Bonhams website is correct, it means Ron signed the paper later. I believe Ron is standing to the right of Senna in the photo.

Here's an interesting article on Ron, spelled as "Pellatt". Ron worked with many of the greats, from Hunt to Senna to Hamilton and more.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/the-incredible-life-of-kents-f1-grand-prix-insider-258134/

Ron gives a very simplified story of the watch in the article:
--
And the biggest shock of them all: the death of international icon Ayrton Senna at the San Marino Grand Prix on May 1, 1994.

Ron describes the Brazilian as a friend – working with him virtually every week between 1990 and 1993 when he was with McLaren.

He said: "It was a sheer tragedy. We just could not believe what we were hearing. It was very emotional.

"He was always joking about getting a new driver's watch and then one day he gave his old watch to me as a gift.

"It was very expensive."
--

TAG Heuer uses the spelling "Pellat". Recounting the story in this Edge article.
https://magazine.tagheuer.com/en/2024/11/01/the-iconic-tag-heuer-watches-worn-by-ayrton-senna/

Mspeedster · Feb 2, 2025

Mspeedster
A forum member bought the BC0459 strap about a year ago to replace his bracelet. He posted about it in the CG1123 thread, gold plated on the underside.

I noticed that newest replacement straps are a darker brown (below), closer to the original straps in color. Whereas the previous BC0459 straps (above), sold for at least the last 10 years, are the lighter shade.

Side by side comparison of my CG1123 (L) with new leather & my S25.706C (R) with original strap.

TH.Senna · Feb 2, 2025

Mspeedster
I noticed that newest replacement straps are a darker brown (below), closer to the original straps in color. Whereas the previous BC0459 straps (above), sold for at least the last 10 years, are the lighter shade.

Side by side comparison of my CG1123 (L) with new leather & my S25.706C (R) with original strap.

Any idea how to source a strap in the states? Haven’t had much luck in my search.

Mspeedster · Feb 2, 2025

T TH.Senna
Any idea how to source a strap in the states? Haven’t had much luck in my search.

Have you tried a TAG Heuer Boutique? The Vegas Boutique was going to order one in for me (takes about 6 weeks). But I was able to get one quicker, thanks to @Anthony. 👍🙏

AyrtonSenna · Feb 15, 2025

Like many of you, I'm a big Ayrton Senna fan. His character on and off the track have always inspired me, and it's been a dream to own one of 'his' watches. Well, that recently became a reality when my partner surprised me with this – my dream watch, the S25.706C. I began doing some research, and inevitably stumbled on this thread, which has so much good information about the watch. But now, I'm conflicted because just like @TH.Senna's watch, mine also does not have a serial number on the case back. All of the other aspects seem to be in-line with what I was expecting to see (e.g., the '5' on the bezel, location of 'swiss made', lack of 'professional' on the dial). I was wondering what others thought about it.

@Mspeedster, what are your thoughts on my piece? I know you've personally confirmed that there may have been some earlier models without serial numbers, but this still gives me pause because outside of this thread, all of my other research indicates that these models should have a serial number. I know the strap is likely not original, and I am okay with that, but want to be sure that everything else is authentic.

Mspeedster · Feb 15, 2025

AyrtonSenna
Like many of you, I'm a big Ayrton Senna fan. His character on and off the track have always inspired me, and it's been a dream to own one of 'his' watches. Well, that recently became a reality when my partner surprised me with this – my dream watch, the S25.706C. I began doing some research, and inevitably stumbled on this thread, which has so much good information about the watch. But now, I'm conflicted because just like @TH.Senna's watch, mine also does not have a serial number on the case back. All of the other aspects seem to be in-line with what I was expecting to see (e.g., the '5' on the bezel, location of 'swiss made', lack of 'professional' on the dial). I was wondering what others thought about it.

@Mspeedster, what are your thoughts on my piece? I know you've personally confirmed that there may have been some earlier models without serial numbers, but this still gives me pause because outside of this thread, all of my other research indicates that these models should have a serial number. I know the strap is likely not original, and I am okay with that, but want to be sure that everything else is authentic.

Congrats! The details look fine to me, very nice Senna model! 👌

I checked with Nicholas Biebuyck, TAG Heuer Heritage Director, and he graciously looked at the ones in his TH Archive. He concurred with my theory that these S/ELs were initially launched without serial numbers. But then serial numbers were added as a running production model change. So, some S25.706C's are without, others have the serial. The later S25.706 & CG1123 all should have serial numbers.

See this post:

https://tagheuerforums.com/posts/2442454/

Mspeedster · Jan 17, 2025

T TH.Senna
Out of curiosity does the case back of your s25.706c have a serial number engraved on it. I purchased one off eBay a few months back after I saw the dial. However, my case back does not have a serial as far as I can tell.

An update on the serial numbers. I asked Nicholas Biebuyck, TAG Heuer Heritage Director, and he was kind enough to check. At first he thought they should all have serial numbers, but then later found examples of early original S25.706Cs in his TH Archive that did not.

I've since looked at early S/EL 3 hander models, which were introduced prior to the S/EL...

mattp · Feb 16, 2025

AyrtonSenna
Like many of you, I'm a big Ayrton Senna fan. His character on and off the track have always inspired me, and it's been a dream to own one of 'his' watches. Well, that recently became a reality when my partner surprised me with this – my dream watch, the S25.706C. I began doing some research, and inevitably stumbled on this thread, which has so much good information about the watch. But now, I'm conflicted because just like @TH.Senna's watch, mine also does not have a serial number on the case back. All of the other aspects seem to be in-line with what I was expecting to see (e.g., the '5' on the bezel, location of 'swiss made', lack of 'professional' on the dial). I was wondering what others thought about it.

@Mspeedster, what are your thoughts on my piece? I know you've personally confirmed that there may have been some earlier models without serial numbers, but this still gives me pause because outside of this thread, all of my other research indicates that these models should have a serial number. I know the strap is likely not original, and I am okay with that, but want to be sure that everything else is authentic.

Nice gift! Good to see another S/el

mattp · Feb 16, 2025

Mspeedster
That's another difference of the later BC0459 replacement strap, which included end-links and buckle. The underside of the newer replacement is gold plated. The original S25.706C's end-links were not gold plated on the underside. I believe this was also the case for the S25.706/CG1123 if bought new with the strap rather than a bracelet.

Just the leather portion of the strap is available separately too (FC8017). The seller says it has the original strap, but I suspect it might be a newer replacement strap using original end-links. Because it looks newer and has Genuine Leather rather than Cuir Veritable.

Found some nos s-links.

mattp · Feb 16, 2025

Mspeedster
I noticed that newest replacement straps are a darker brown (below), closer to the original straps in color. Whereas the previous BC0459 straps (above), sold for at least the last 10 years, are the lighter shade.

Side by side comparison of my CG1123 (L) with new leather & my S25.706C (R) with original strap.

I came across this lot. Color differences are clearly visible. Didn’t bought them. I like the darker new versions better.
Think they will be offered again 1 by 1 soon. So if anyone is interested, I'll keep an eye on them.

Mspeedster · Feb 16, 2025

mattp
I came across this lot. Color differences are clearly visible. Didn’t bought them. I like the darker new versions better.
Think they will be offered again 1 by 1 soon. So if anyone is interested, I'll keep an eye on them.

It's amazing how different the shades of brown are on the replacement straps. None of them match the original brown exactly, not even the new dark brown one I just got.

That lot of 3 looks more like a tan or honey brown, each one slightly different, with the one on the left looking the lightest in color.