TAG Heuer has paid homage to the late, great, Ayrton Senna with its latest release of two special edition Formula 1 watches.
With the launch of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Senna Special Edition 2020 in two variations – an automatic chronograph and a quartz chronograph – the Swiss luxury watchmaker recognises its ambassador Ayrton Senna and underscores their partnership.
It explained how the partnership was one of the most remarkable alliances in the sporting world.
Over the course of his career, the long-standing TAG Heuer partner redefined the word drive by breaking countless motor-racing records and advancing the meaning of every superlative in the sport: the fastest, the bravest, the greatest.
Hinting at the racing legend’s personal record speed of 340 km/h, the new special editions both feature a ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale that goes up to 400 km/h.
The detail distinguishes the Senna-inspired timepieces from other models in the TAG Heuer Formula 1 collection, which usually go up to 240 km/h and though 400 km/h is a limit that no team in the sport has reached, they are getting closer and closer every season.
Bianca Senna, Ayrton Senna’s niece and CEO of Senna Brands, praised the design of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Senna Special Edition 2020.
She said: “We are very happy to be part of another special launch reflecting our partnership with TAG Heuer. The 2020 collection is inspired by Ayrton’s commitment to overcoming limits. Each year, we dedicate ourselves to introducing innovative new models, and this one uses 400 km/h to represent the ongoing pursuit of speeds that once seemed unattainable.
“It is a part of Ayrton’s legacy, which continues to motivate TAG Heuer in its never-ending quest to create the perfect watch.”
The 44mm TAG Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 16 Chronograph Senna Special Edition 2020 features a sunray-brushed anthracite dial with shimmering black “azurage” minute, hour and permanent second counters.
The white Super-LumiNova coating on the rhodium-plated applied indexes and hands ensure at-a-glance legibility at all speeds and in all lighting conditions.
The stainless-steel folding clasp has a double safety system and a pilot extension while powering this special-edition timepiece is the automatic Calibre 16, protected by a stainless-steel screw-down caseback engraved with the Senna logo.
The 2020 Senna special edition is also available with a quartz movement and serves as a prime example of sporting power and prestige.
The 43mm TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Chronograph Senna Special Edition 2020 has a sunray-brushed anthracite dial with luminous black counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock.
The fixed bezel is fashioned from ultra-resistant black ceramic and, as with its Calibre 16 counterpart, yellow touches on the dial and bezel complete the unmistakable color scheme that links the watch to Senna.
The case and screw-down caseback with a special Senna engraving are made from stainless steel.
In line with previous Senna special-edition timepieces, this watch is presented on a stainless-steel bracelet with the iconic double-S links that provide total comfort for everyday wear and out on the track.
Definitely, one for the Formula One enthusiasts. Remember Senna and McLaren’s fruitful partnership with Tag Heuer in the 1980s and 1990s very well.
Marketing-wise a mistake by TAG=Heuer to cross-pollinate Collections, this diminishes the value of the higher positioned Collection. Taking the LINK, SEL, derived Bracelet and using it with the Formula 1 “Head” is a compromise for the LINK Collection with their own Entry Level Collection! Ayrton Senna wore a SEL Chrono, most often the Brown Belting Leather Strap 1/100 or 1/10th Timepiece, the re-introduction of LINK with a plain Bezel, opens the door for the Uni-Directional or Bi-Directional Bezel as was on these pieces and drove the Brand from 1988-1998, despite the introduction of ‘6000’ and Carrera. Strategically re-introducing the LINK Sport Bezel, could have the Tachymetre as one of 3, or have on the outside of the Minute-Second Track inside the Crystal. Bracelet and Strap’s are Collection identifiers and as such, if the choice were made to introduce this as a Formula 1, it would be best accomplished with it’s own Attachments. I totally understand the Price Plateau of of introducing at a lower range and the short term volume that can be derived, but long term, if the TAG-Heuer were to re-birth the LINK Chrono w/Sport Uni-or-Bi-Directional Bezel this compromises what would today be in a $6,000+ range in Automatic.