Earlier this year, three sporty Ayrton Senna special edition TAG Heuer replica watches from TAG Heuer were announced to mark 30 years since the champion race car driver won the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time in 1987. More important are the watches themselves, which are cool-looking with a mix of different design touches, in addition to the more explicit Senna logo branding. The TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-01 Ayrton Senna Special Edition leads the pack, displaying an evolving look for the still young Heuer-01, and the quartz Formula 1 Ayrton Senna Special Edition models offer more affordable options in three-hand and chronograph versions.
Ayrton Senna is one of TAG Heuer’s most important ambassadors in the brand’s already strong motorsport connection and was promoting TAG Heuer watches before he died in the early ’90s. Then, back in 2015, TAG brought Ayrton Senna watches back with, again, a Carrera and a couple of Formula 1 models that we covered here.
Let’s talk about the new TAG Heuer fake watches. All three of the new TAG Heuer Carrera Ayrton Senna Special Edition watches share a few elements, like black PVD-coated cases and generous applications of red. While not always the case for co-branded watches, those attracted to the overall look will also need to be pretty ardent Senna fans as his logo (why don’t more individuals have logos?) and/or name appears on the dial, bezel, and caseback of all the watches. Then, there are the Link-style (“S-link”) bracelets – on non-Link-collection watches, of course – that are associated with TAG Heuer watches Senna prominently wore.
Beginning with the TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-01 Ayrton Senna, this shows that the relatively recently introduced Heuer-01 is a growing collection with a fluid style and identity. In fact, there are some fundamental differences that distinguish this Carrera Heuer-01 Ayrton Senna from other Heuer-01 watches and even from other Carrera watches, making clear that more thought and effort went into its production than just, say, some new colors and a logo (or three) slapped on. While there is continuity with past Heuer-01 models in the skeletonized dial and thick ceramic bezel, the angular case and lugs of the TAG have been rounded off significantly.
The long, angular lugs are a defining Carrera feature, at least in my mind, and the change here was likely necessary to accommodate the curvy Link-style bracelet – which is important. It is important because this look is closely associated with Senna, and you’ll find it in some form or another in the various TAG Heuer Ayrton Senna copy watches. Like the case, it is brushed, black PVD-coated steel and this Link bracelet – with more angular edges than the old Link watches had – looks modern and cool. It is interesting how multiple well-known elements from different TAG Heuer watches have come together without feeling like a collage.