A brand new chronograph hits TAG Heuer’s Monaco line, this time inspired by historic British racing cars!
TAG Heuer continues its Racing Monaco Story by opening it’s second chapter with the brand new Monaco Chronograph Racing Green. This Monaco timepiece was created as a celebration of racing cars and their iconic liveries, with this model representing and honouring British racing colours.
As we already know, TAG Heuer has a longstanding history in motorsports. It all started in the 1960s, when the brand’s CEO at the time, Jack Heuer, developed a keen eye for racing. This interest led to the creation of some of the most iconic watches in the world of horology today, watches designed for precision and endurance on the track.
The TAG Heuer Monaco was developed shortly after, in 1969. It was a ground-breaking timepiece, not only for its bold square case design but also for being one of the first to feature an automatic chronograph. The Monaco timepiece embodies the spirit of racing and has deep-rooted ties to TAG Heuer’s racing history, with the model named after the legendary Monaco Grand Prix. This relationship has held a special place in the brand’s heart and history and remains a significant aspect of TAG Heuer’s identity.
The Monaco cemented its place in the history books of horology after one of the greater actors of his generation, Steve McQueen, was seen wearing it. In 1970, while filming the movie Le Mans, Steve McQueen wore the same racing suit and watch brand as professional driver and personal trainer, Jo Stiffert. In doing so, McQueen resembled an authentic racing driver, leading the actor to become quite the style icon himself. With the TAG Heuer Monaco on his wrist, the watch quickly rose to superstar fame,
Now, for TAG Heuer’s latest release, the Monaco is going back to its racing roots. The overall design of the Monaco hasn’t changed in terms of case dimensions or materials. The design is the same as last year’s French-dedicated Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue Limited Edition. That timepiece carried the colours of France, with a silver dial and an unmistakable shade of blue. Like the French edition, the Monaco Chronograph Racing Green is also limited to a production of 1000 models.
Related Reading: TAG Heuer Launch Their Latest Monaco – The Chronograph Racing Blue Limited Edition
The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green comes in a 39mm grade-2 titanium sandblasted case, which I personally think lets the dial shine beautifully. The titanium sandblasted case has a more subtle appearance than steel, especially without polished finishing surfaces, so it lets the silver tones of the dial take centre stage, precisely the image that TAG Heuer is trying to portray.
The dial has a silver sunray brushed finish, which features different tones and beautifully plays with light. The elements on the dial are inspired by historical British racing cars and their white and yellow touches on the liveries. Touches of vibrant yellow can be seen on the faceted baton hour marker at 12 o’clock, along with the chronograph’s yellow central hand. The dial’s dual chronograph counters at 3 o’clock (seconds counter) and 9 o’clock (30-minute counter) feature a green opaline finish. I would’ve loved to see these counters finished in the same shade of green as the strap that the watch is provided with, as it is slightly darker in colour and would’ve contrasted beautifully against the silver sunray dial.
The engine behind this latest Monaco is the automatic Calibre 11, a staple movement in the Monaco collection. Much like the racing cars the watch is inspired by, the movement is able to perform at a high level, operating at a frequency of 28,800 VpH (4Hz) while producing a decent power reserve of 40 hours. The movement also allows for a date feature, which, in this case, is slightly angled and can be seen on the dial at the 6 o’clock position. The watch also comes with an open case back, which gives a view of this Calibre 11 movement and its different finishing techniques seen on the movement’s mainplate (perlage) and winding rotor (Côtes de Geneve).
Initial Thoughts:
Racing green is a recognisable shade associated with British motorsports. Whenever we see a sports or supercar released in this beautiful shade of green, it’s incredibly hard not to fall in love with it. The same applies to watches, which in this case is TAG Heuer’s latest Monaco Chronograph Racing Green.
The watch’s design is the same as last year’s French-inspired Monaco, bar the colour changes on the dial and watch strap. Personally, I love the British racing green colour on this timepiece. Even though I previously mentioned that the green of the chronograph counters could’ve been better executed to match the colour of the British racing green with a darker tone, the dial still stands out nicely due to the different colours at play.
One of my favourite things about this timepiece is the green calfskin strap. This racing-inspired strap has been magnificently executed, as the back of the strap is covered in a vibrant yellow colour! This beautiful green colour palette dedicated to Britain’s racing colours on this latest Monaco is one that watches, and racing enthusiasts are sure to love!
Reference: CAW218E.FC6565
Specifications
- Case Size: 39mm
- Case Lug-To-Lug: 47.4mm
- Case Thickness: 14.35mm
- Case Material: Grade-2 titanium sandblasted case
- Dial: Silver sunray brushed dial with chronograph counters in green opalin
- Movement: Calibre 11 automatic movement
- Power Reserve: 40 hours
- Water Resistance: 100m (10 bar)
- Crystal: Beveled, domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Strap/Bracelet: Green calfskin perforated leather strap with matching green lining. Grade-2 titanium folding clasp with double safety push-buttons; HEUER logo.
