A GREAT WATCH FOR A GREAT CAR RACER
Thirty years ago, Ayrton Senna won the legendary Monaco Grand Prix for the very first time. To celebrate this key date, TAG Heuer was honoured to welcome Bianca Senna to the inauguration of its new boutique in Monaco, for the exclusive preview of the new Senna collection of limited edition pieces.
France, Monaco, 26th May 2017: The talent and panache of Ayrton Senna ensured he left a lasting mark on Formula 1, more so than any driver before or since. “Magic Senna” is considered by his peers to be one of the greatest drivers the world has ever seen: three world championship titles (1988, 1990 and 1991), 65 pole positions, and 41 Grand Prix victories. The latter include the Monaco Grand Prix, which he won for the first time in 1987.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of this victory, TAG Heuer is releasing three new limited edition watches in tribute to the driver. These were unveiled at an exclusive preview during the inauguration of the new boutique in Monaco, attended by a very special guest, Bianca Senna, the champion’s niece.
For the first time, TAG Heuer’s famous Heuer-01 proprietary movement is paired with the Senna design codes. With an imposing 45 mm case, the Carrera Heuer-01 chronograph in black brushed steel with touches of red houses the skeleton dial and sapphire case back, allowing the precision engineering of the Manufacture movement to be admired.
The other pieces in the series are two Formula 1 models, one of which is the chronograph version, TAG Heuer’s archetypal “motor racing” model. Both watches are 43 mm in diameter and black, highlighted with touches of red, a combination which is a clear nod to the spirit of high speed racing. The dial features three red lines, hinting at the tracks left by a speeding race car. The chronograph version features a quartz movement accurate to a tenth of a second – an indispensable feature in a motor racing watch – powering the small counter at 6 o’clock, with the minute counter at 9 o’clock and the running seconds counter at 3 o’clock
The three watches in this limited edition all proudly display the famous stylised red lacquer “S”, the exclusive Senna symbol, on the dial and bezel. The bezel also has a minute track, lending the pieces a racing feel and evoking the exceptional skill of Senna. Of course, they are all available with the iconic bracelet with S-shaped links, as adopted by Ayrton at the height of his achievements. It is both an iconic design and a standard bearer in terms of ergonomics and wearer comfort. On the Carrera Heuer-01 model, each link is rounded on the top, bottom and sides for an exceptionally smooth feel on the wrist.
Three sporty and classy watches, reflecting the spirit of the man who featured in the original #DontCrackUnderPressure campaign in 1991.
Technical details – Carrera Heuer-01 References CAR2A1L.BA0688
Movement: Calibre Heuer-01 Automatic Manufacture Chronograph
Case: Diameter 45 mm, in brushed steel with black PVD coating Black ceramic bezel with tachymeter scale Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective, scratch-resistant coating on both sides Steel and black rubber crown at 3 o’clock Steel chronograph push-buttons covered with black PVD at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock Steel screw-on sapphire case back with PVD coating
Dial: Opaline black skeleton dial Black flange with 60-second scale Three counters: – Chronograph minute counter at 12 o’clock with red and black gold plated snailed ring and red lacquered hand – Chronograph hour counter at 6 o’clock with red and black gold plated snailed ring and red lacquered hand – Small seconds counter at 9 o’clock, black gold plated with SENNA logo and polished, rhodiumplated hand Rhodium-plated numerals Rhodium-plated hour and minute hands and indexes with white SuperLuminova® Red lacquered small seconds hand Polished rhodium-plated “TAG Heuer” logo at 3 o’clock Date window at 3.30 and inscription reading “CARRERA HEUER 01 CHRONOGRAPH AUTOMATIC”
Water-resistance: 100 metres Bracelet S-shaped links, in black PVD coated steel Grade 2 titanium deployant buckle with double safety push-buttons and TAG Heuer logo
Technical details – Formula 1 References CAZ1019.FT8027 – chronograph version WAZ1014.FT8027
Movement: Quartz
Case: Diameter 43 mm, in brushed steel with black PVD coating Brushed steel bezel with tachymeter scale and SENNA logo Sapphire crystal Steel crown and guards with black PVD coating at 3 o’clock On the chrono version, brushed steel push-buttons with black PVD coating at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock Steel screw-on case-back
Dial: Opaline black dial Black flange with 60-second scale On the chrono version, 3 counters: – Chronograph minute counter at 9 o’clock with black snailed ring and red lacquered hand – Chronograph hour counter with 1/10 seconds at 6 o’clock with black snailed ring and red lacquered hand – Black small seconds counter at 3 o’clock with red lacquered hand Polished black indexes with white SuperLuminova® Faceted, red lacquered hour and minute hands with white SuperLuminova® Red lacquered small seconds hand “TAG Heuer” logo at 12 o’clock Date window at 3 o’clock and “TAG HEUER FORMULA 1” inscription at 6 o’clock
Water-resistance: 200 metres Bracelet Black and red S-shaped rubber links Brushed steel buckle
©TAGHeuer