The Swiss luxury watchmaker is pleased to introduce the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue Limited Edition, a fresh take on the iconic square racing chronograph. This new TAG Heuer Monaco watch is a testament to the brand’s dedication to creating iconic timepieces inspired by the motorsport universe.
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More than a timepiece, it is a symbol of excellence and innovation. The new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue celebrates the brand’s rich history connected to competition cars by featuring hues of blue paying tribute to the symbolic French Racing Blue…
Tag Heuer Monaco Chronograph: A Watch Inspired by an Iconic Race
TAG Heuer has always been among the timekeepers most closely associated with racing, and the Monaco collection embodies this ideal. When the brand introduced the model in 1969, it revolutionized the watchmaking industry. Unlike anything else on the market, the timepiece featured the first square-cased water-resistant chronograph, which housed the revolutionary Calibre 11 movement. More than a bold design statement – the Heuer Monaco was named after the legendary principality that hosts one of Formula 1’s most renowned races. This relationship has held a special place in the brand’s heart and history and remains a significant aspect of TAG Heuer’s identity to this day.
For many, the TAG Heuer Monaco will always be associated with one of the greatest actors of his generation, Steve McQueen. In 1970, while filming Le Mans, the Hollywood superstar decided to wear the same racing suit and watch as the professional driver and personal trainer Jo Siffert. By doing so, he aimed to embody the role of an authentic racing driver, and he quickly became a style icon in his own right, proudly sporting a Heuer Monaco timepiece.
Over the years, the TAG Heuer Monaco has continued to evolve, incorporating new materials, technologies, and design elements that make it an actual work of art, quickly becoming a symbol of the brand’s avant-garde spirit. This latest version of the Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue is no exception, as it pays homage to the incredible racing heritage and the indelible mark that TAG Heuer has left on the discipline.
National Racing Colours
In the summer of 2023, TAG Heuer is releasing a new TAG Heuer Monaco, drawing a line through decades of history connecting the brand to the world of motorsport. In the early days of motor racing, cars were distinguished by their national colours rather than manufacturer or sponsor liveries. Each country had specific hues, such as the renowned British racing green, the vibrant Italian red, Germany’s initial use of white before transitioning to silver, and the unmistakable blue associated with the French. That particular shade of blue serves as the inspiration for TAG Heuer’s latest creation, the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue.
The new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue features a tone that evokes the colours sported by esteemed automotive brands like Talbot-Lago, Delage and, last but not least, the famous Bugatti Type 35. The subsidiary dials and strap come in a gamut of azure tones, while the indexes are presented in a lighter shade. The watch features striking lime yellow accents that add a fresh touch to the timepiece, perfectly complementing the model’s colour palette.
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The watch boasts a stunning silvered sunray brushed dial reminiscent of the engine-turned dashboard seen in sports cars in the 1920s and 1930s. The dial is adorned with eight applied, silvered hour markers and 12 blue dot markers, facilitating effortless time reading. Notably, a faceted baton marker at 12 o’clock features a vibrant yellow stripe, directly connecting to the chronograph’s central hand.
The hour and minute hands are enhanced with blue Super-LumiNova® for excellent visibility in all lighting conditions. Complementing this, the lacquered central hand is lime yellow, which adds a pop of colour. Collectively, these design elements harmonize the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue, creating a striking timepiece that captures the spirit of the automotive world.
The Calibre 11 automatic chronograph movement powers the watch, encased within a sandblasted grade 2 titanium casing, giving robustness and lightness, and features a sapphire case-back, allowing a glimpse into the movement inside.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue comes with a blue calfskin strap with perforations, a signature for watches linked to racing. The strap is secured with a titanium folding clasp featuring the engraved Heuer logo.
The Tag Heuer Monaco Chronoghraph Racing Blue case back is engraved with the limited edition “One of 1000”, and the watch is presented in specially designed vibrant blue packaging with lime yellow details.
Available from July 2023, the new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue will be sold in TAG Heuer boutiques, on the brand’s e-commerce websites, and at select retail partners.
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue
Movement
Calibre 11 Automatic
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Dial
Silver sunray brushed dial,2 counters: 3 o’clock: blue opaline permanent second indicator; rhodium-plated hand, 9 o’clock: blue opaline minute chronograph counter; rhodium-plated hand, 6 o’clock angled date, rhodium-plated, polished applied indexes, rhodium-plated hour and minute hands with blue Super-LumiNova®, the lime yellow lacquered central hand, black HEUER printed logo.
MONACO AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH SWISS MADE printed
Case
39 mm diameter, grade 2 titanium sandblasted case, bevelled, domed sapphire crystal, grade 2 titanium crown sapphire case back, water resistance: 100 meters
Bracelet
Blue perforated calfskin strap, grade 2 titanium folding clasp with double safety pushbuttons
Dimensions
Lug-to-lug: 47,4 mm, thickness: 14,35mm
Availability
July 2023
Estimated SRP
9’000 CHF
The Breakdown
