To mark the prestigious 2023 Monaco Grand Prix, TAG Heuer adds a new chapter to its personal Monaco history with three avant-garde, innovative and colorful new TAG Heuer Monaco chronograph watches.
Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer is launching the latest addition to its iconic Monaco collection with new and colorful TAG Heuer Monaco chronograph timepieces. These new watches are presented for the 80th Monaco Grand Prix, a partnership that is close to TAG Heuer’s heart, and mark the brand’s first use of a skeleton dial within its Monaco collection. This extension consists of three new timepieces, each with its unique inspiration.
Introduced in 1969, the TAG Heuer Monaco quickly became one of the most iconic watches in history. Its bold, square case design and innovative chronograph functions were unlike anything else on the market then, and quickly became synonymous with the brand, gaining a following among racing enthusiasts and watch lovers alike.
Since its creation, the watch has appeared on the wrists of many racing icons such as Joe Siffert, Jochen Rindt, and a true friend of the brand, Steve McQueen, who famously wore a TAG Heuer Monaco in the 1971 film Le Mans, and whose watch became synonymous with his style.
A RACING HERITAGE
The TAG Heuer Monaco captured the spirit of the high-speed world of motorsports. The Monaco project began when Jack Heuer set out to create a watch that would be visually striking and technologically advanced. The prototype was unveiled in 1969 and featured a square-shaped case, blue dial, and bold chronograph functions. It was paired with a Calibre 11, the first automatic chronograph movement to be offered to the public, and quickly became a favorite of the industry.
From its introduction, the TAG Heuer Monaco would reflect the cutting edge of contemporary design. From the midnight blue and bright white of the late 1960s to the contrasting grey tones used in the early 1970s, the Heuer Monaco reflected popular culture while challenging design limits. It was only natural then, that in the late 1970s, the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph would unveil an entirely different look, including the matte black case and dial of the legendary “Dark Lord”.
The TAG Heuer Monaco’s status was cemented in 1971, when Steve McQueen wore the watch in the movie Le Mans. McQueen’s character, Michael Delaney, showcased the timepiece throughout the film, and the exposure helped to solidify the watch’s status as a cultural icon.
The timepiece has then undergone several further design changes and technological advancements. In 1998, the TAG Heuer Monaco was reissued as part of the brand’s Vintage series, featuring a faithful reproduction of the original design – and it was again updated in 2003 with the Calibre 360 movement, capable of measuring time with accuracy up to 1/100th of a second.
Today, the TAG Heuer Monaco remains one of the brand’s most iconic and recognizable models. It has been released in various limited-edition versions, paying tribute to the watch’s history and connection to motorsports and becoming a timeless and beloved timepiece. With the brand’s ambition to always push innovation and design to new limits, the TAG Heuer Monaco skeleton dial watch is now the perfect next step and testament to such an avant-garde mentality.
THE TAG HEUER MONACO UNVEILS ITS DEEPEST SECRETS
Over 50 years after the birth of the Heuer Monaco, TAG Heuer is releasing three new models, taking a further step towards a unique Monaco design by incorporating a skeleton dial. This marks the first time that the collection unveils the mechanism of the watch.
The modern skeleton watch comes in three different dials, “Original Blue”, “Racing Red”, and “Turquoise”, all uncovering a soon-to-be iconic open work. These timepieces were designed to offer an avant-garde interpretation of the racing universe, featuring a vibrant contemporary style intended to resonate with collectors and the youth alike.
THE COLOURS OF RACING
Each TAG Heuer Monaco skeleton dial piece has a unique history. The “Original Blue” draws inspiration from the first-ever TAG Heuer Monaco blue dial. The blue and red colours are featured on the dial, the blue on the column wheel and the oscillating mass engravings – an overall design paying homage to the TAG Heuer Monaco 1969 and its original success.
The “Racing Red” nods to the racing DNA of the TAG Heuer Monaco, with the colour red often referencing the racing sparks made on the tracks. The black and silver colour touches are especially noticeable on the dial, along with the red column wheel and red engravings being visible on the oscillating mass, which completes the racing-inspired feel.
The “Turquoise” piece is the third watch to round-off the collection, offering a fresh and avant-garde take on TAG Heuer’s Monaco design. The engaging turquoise, a little nod to Monaco’s coastline and the red color can be seen specifically on the dial, with the turquoise also being sported on the column wheel and on the engravings of the oscillating mass – which makes this watch definitely stand out from other iconic timepieces.
The in-house Heuer 02 movement that powers all three timepieces creates a contrast in harmony with the movement of the TAG Heuer Monaco’s original versions in the 1970s. This movement employs a conventional column wheel to activate the chronograph and boasts an 80-hour power reserve, one of the biggest for a chronograph in the watch industry. Moreover, the exquisite finishing of the Heuer 02 is accentuated by an engraved oscillating mass showcased through the sapphire case back.
The new Monaco skeletons are endowed with a technical and rugged appearance thanks to their sandblasted titanium grade 2 case. Being a high- performance material, titanium offers a remarkable blend of strength and lightweight properties while also being corrosion resistant and has become a signature element of the brand.
The Super-LumiNova® treatment on the carved indexes and hands of the watch adds an edgy and futuristic touch to this collection additions. The date window with the same luminous treatment is also a first for the TAG Heuer Monaco, making it easy to read in low-light conditions. The hands are also treated with luminescent elements, which ensures optimum legibility in any conditions, day or night – a detail Jack Heuer always liked to pay attention to.
The newly released TAG Heuer Monaco skeleton dial watches have been meticulously crafted to embody technical excellence with thorough attention to detail. Amongst its notable features is also the innovative bi-material strap, thoughtfully designed with a combination of rubber and leather for optimal comfort and style. These straps come in black or blue respectively, adding to the watches’ overall racing appeal.
The three new TAG Heuer Monaco chronograph pieces are an exciting addition to this iconic collection. They offer a fresh take on the emblematic design with a modern and avant-garde twist. The company’s focus on disruptive legacy, combined with its use of cutting-edge technology, has resulted in simple and complex timepieces, capturing one’s imagination and giving the promise of a statement.
International Recommended Retail Price: 10,500 CHF (Blue & Red) 11,000 CHF (Black/Turquoise)
Availability from May 2023.
tagheuer.com
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