Unconventional Favorite: Ayrton Senna and the TAG Heuer S/EL
- mul.ti.far.i.us
- Oct 23, 2020
- 2 min read
I love the polarizing design of late 80s/early 90s TAG Heuer watches. This is my circa 1995 S/EL Chrono. The S/EL moniker was derived from the words Sports Elegance and the fantastically bold design was penned by Eddie Schopfer whose other work includes the wonderful Breitling Bentley Chronomat. The S/EL was designed with six principles in mind: 200m water resistance, screw in crown, double safety clasp bezel, unidirectional bezel, sapphire crystal, and luminous markings. The marketing boffins at TAG Heuer came up with the fantastic maxim “designed to be worn with a diving suit as well as a dinner jacket.”
The elegantly unconventional band inspired today’s popular Link line, but I personally think it looks better in leather on the S/EL. Part of this inimitable piece’s mystique stems from its presence in the pop culture of the time. A personal idol of mine, racing driver Ayrton Senna was known to favor the model, as was the fictional Jerry Maguire played by actor Tom Cruise.
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This watch is so different and perfectly abstract, that it just works when you behold it, kind of like the Alfa SZ from ‘89. The curved ingots that make up the joining piece from the leather suggest that the entire watch is a single entity with each piece of its design flowing naturally from the other. I love how even the most innocuous and functional pieces of this watch are crafted with immense care and attention to detail. Every piece is made with beauty in mind, and I personally feel that special reverence should be given to things that are beautiful without obligation. Careful eBay hunting could find you your own reasonably priced S/EL as it has yet to become a traditionally distinguished collector's piece. Nevertheless, I love its uniqueness and have yet to spot one in the wild.
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