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.

MJR73 · Mon. 9:23am

Fascinating thread, thanks to the OP for the detailed information!

As part of my 7 S/EL collection I'm as sure as can be that i have one of the original revision S25-706, took me a while to find one, eventually sourced from Japan like so many.
Had to settle for one with a missing triangle lume dot and more interesting a completely stainless link strap, guess the previous owner didnt like gold or leather much. Never got round to looking for a correct leather strap as to be honest i also prefer the 100% metal bracelet.

Mine has all the hallmarks mentioned, including a polished caseback with no S/N engraved., comparison pictures with my CG1122.
Originally i was a bit suspicious of the lack of S/N, so i opened the case and found it did have some kind of engraving inside, looks like hand engraved numbers.
Just wanted to add this info to this great discussion.

Mspeedster · Mon. 11:08am

MJR73
Fascinating thread, thanks to the OP for the detailed information!

As part of my 7 S/EL collection I'm as sure as can be that i have one of the original revision S25-706, took me a while to find one, eventually sourced from Japan like so many.
Had to settle for one with a missing triangle lume dot and more interesting a completely stainless link strap, guess the previous owner didnt like gold or leather much. Never got round to looking for a correct leather strap as to be honest i also prefer the 100% metal bracelet.

Mine has all the hallmarks mentioned, including a polished caseback with no S/N engraved., comparison pictures with my CG1122.
Originally i was a bit suspicious of the lack of S/N, so i opened the case and found it did have some kind of engraving inside, looks like hand engraved numbers.
Just wanted to add this info to this great discussion.

Very nice pair of Sennas! Thanks for sharing. 👍👍

Regarding the engraving on the inside of the case-back cover, that is common for Japan. A very knowledgeable Japanese collector, @Snowy, informed me that prior to LVMH's purchase of TAG Heuer in 1999, TAG Heuer Japan was run by a local Japanese company. They had their own system for tracking all the watches and would engrave numbers that they could track within their own proprietary system.

As an example, this is the underside from a S/EL ref S99 from Japan.

MJR73 · Tues. 9:09pm

Mspeedster
Very nice pair of Sennas! Thanks for sharing. 👍👍

Regarding the engraving on the inside of the case-back cover, that is common for Japan. A very knowledgeable Japanese collector, @Snowy, informed me that prior to LVMH's purchase of TAG Heuer in 1999, TAG Heuer Japan was run by a local Japanese company. They had their own system for tracking all the watches and would engrave numbers that they could track within their own proprietary system.

As an example, this is the underside from a S/EL ref S99 from Japan.

Thanks for even more good info!
I saw in the thread you have an OG S25.706 as well as a CG1123. I’m still looking around for a really nice one of those to round out my collection.
Over the years I managed to get the other Ana-Digi variants CG1111, CG1113 and CG1124, as well as my CG1110 (1st one i ever bought back in '97) and CG1114. For now my son helped me fill the space on the watch trees. 😅

Mspeedster · Tues. 11:30pm

MJR73
Thanks for even more good info!
I saw in the thread you have an OG S25.706 as well as a CG1123. I’m still looking around for a really nice one of those to round out my collection.
Over the years I managed to get the other Ana-Digi variants CG1111, CG1113 and CG1124, as well as my CG1110 (1st one i ever bought back in '97) and CG1114. For now my son helped me fill the space on the watch trees. 😅

Wow, great collection! (The blue Casio sticks out like a sore thumb though...)

I don't see the blue dial CG1113 or green dial CG1124, do you still have those?

MJR73 · Wed. 1:27am

Mspeedster
Wow, great collection! (The blue Casio sticks out like a sour thumb though...)

I don't see the blue dial CG1113 or green dial CG1124, do you still have those?

Ha, they are both there, its just really hard to see the differences, especially for the CG1113. The light has to be bright, sunshine makes the CG1124 green really pop, but the difference between the CG1113 & CG1122 is really really subtle, its not really a blue that pops like the CG1114, its kind of blue tinted slate grey.
Can only see if lighting is just right, and helps to look at the angled ring outside the red, that's the same grey on both watches, but the face on the CG1113 is just that little bit lighter/bluer than the CG1122. I tried to do some outdoor photos just now to show, not sure if it helps or not...

TL/DR: if you have a CG1122, don't bother buying a CG1113 🤣

MJR73 · Wed. 1:33am

Found a couple of better pic i took of the CG1113 just after buying it with the lighting just right to see the pale blue

Mspeedster · Wed. 2:24am

Thanks for the additional pics @MJR73, I can see the color differences. 👍

It's a little more subtle than I had expected, based on some other pictures that I've seen, such as these:

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

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AyrtonSenna

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MJR73

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