Recently, Tag Heuer has done an incredible job of balancing the release of modern Monaco that tells the great race stories of the past with others. In doing so, the brand is catering to a wide range of audiences. I lean heavily towards the historical aspect of Monaco. Because that’s what you find this classic romance. So I was immediately excited when Tag Heuer unveiled the Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch, inspired by the classic Heuer Stopwatches of the 1960s and ’70s. As you can imagine, when offered the opportunity, I was happy to accept it for the spin. Is that the best TAG Heuer Monaco in our current catalog? That appearance alone makes me say so. Let’s find out more.
When I wrote an introductory article for this new tag Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch, I quickly labelled one of the coolest Monacos of the past few years. And when I first saw it in real life, that didn’t change. This watch is cool. I love the sculptural presence of Monaco square cases and beautifully carved sapphire crystal. For this reason, I always spend time praising it from the wrist as a design object. However, since it is a wristwatch, it should look good and be comfortable to wear. That’s a rather vague point about my relationship with Monaco. Let me explain in detail about that.
Details of the tag Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch
The biggest challenge I’ve always felt in Monaco is to hold onto that square shape. It’s a fundamental part of its appeal, but it’s also one of the things that most viewers struggle with when considering adding it to their collection. That said, I am even more grateful to have worn Monaco thanks to some of my recent releases. I especially enjoyed my time at Monaco Chronograph Racing Green. The lightweight titanium version of the watch not only saw the parts, but it was very easy to wear.
The new Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch shares the materials and dimensions of the Racing Green version, so we were delighted to see if this new model is even better. The watch comes with the same square 39mm case of sandblast grade 2 titanium. However, the latest version features a black DLC coating to mimic the aesthetics of the original stopwatch. To be more precise, this watch has a diameter of 39mm, a lug-to-lug of 47.4mm and a thickness of 15mm. Looking at those numbers, it seems they are not normal. Even a considerable profile can be explained by thick, beautifully carved crystals.
Cool and unique design
The blackened titanium case matches the fantastic dial, a design translation of the iconic Heuer Stopwatches. Now that we’ve covered the introductory articles in detail, if you want to read about them, you can do so here. But I would say the visual impact is fantastic. The combination of the opalin base and a large black circular layout in the middle with red details looks really cool. It has a very clear retro vibe, but it is still crisp and very relevant.
Plus, the detailed dial is pretty appealing. The red tracks of minutes and chronograph seconds are refined, and the applied horizontal black gold index on the outside of that track is equally functional and decorative. As I explained before, I love that it’s horizontally positioned to add characters to Monaco. And the details continue to stand out as you let your eyes roam around the dial. Another example is a square subdial. It features round corners that soften the round corners and make it easier to use in the eyes.
Dive deeper into the details of the Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch
Hand execution is also quite rare. These faceted black gold hour and minute hands include white Super Luminova that glows blue in the darkness. However, as you can see, the white room is painted in the shape of an arrow, and the hands themselves are pencil-shaped. The combination of white and black allows designers to highlight this.
In my opinion, the date window is the most suspicious element. Its arrangement was familiar and not a problem, but I’ve always wondered if a white-printed black disc might have been a better option. The reason is that it wasn’t the outer part, but part of the black inner section of the dial.
As you can see, the Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch has two pushers on the right side of the case and a crown on the left side. The brand uses this traditional Monaco setup as a nod to the Chronomatic Calibre 11, which powered the first model.
To achieve the same layout, brands rely on the latest caliber 11 modular setup. This automatic movement is based on the Sellita SW300-1 with an additional Dubois Dépraz Chronograph module. It operates at 28,800VPH and has a 40-hour power reserve. A neat and complete movement is visible through the sapphire window on the back.
Tag Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch Wear
This watch is located on a perforated Calfskin strap with a black DLC coating grade 2 titanium folding clasp. This strap completes a stylish retro aesthetic, but I would like to replace it with something black nubuck or suede to match the sandblasted look of the case. Once placed on your wrist, this version of Monaco has a huge visual impact. The black case and straps may think the watch is pretty stealthy, but that’s far from it. The combination of black, white and red really makes it pop.
Once you reach your wrist, your weight will quickly become more noticeable. I enjoy the titanium case and I think it’s perfect for Monaco. What remains is a discussion of shapes. I was able to pull out my wrist size of 18.5cm (7.3 inches) as I did with the racing green version. However, if your wrists are small, this watch is not for you. The boxy shape and considerable thickness can make it too uncomfortable. This is the “but” that always comes with Monaco.
New Tags: Final Thoughts on Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch
I completely enjoyed my time with the watch because I think it looks cool. The integration of the vintage stopwatch design works very well. It feels like it’s made for this watch. Interestingly, this version didn’t have the same surprising impact as the racing green one. Perhaps that’s because they already knew that after agreeing to the shape of Monaco last time they wanted a stopwatch model.
But if you ask which one to buy, I have a hard time answering honestly, as I love both for their designs, but their aesthetics are completely different. It’s a luxury issue and is a great proof that Tag Heuer is doing great things with his retro-inspired Monaco model.
This new tag Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch is available in a limited edition of 970 units and is available for 9,650 euros. We would like to know what you think about it, so as always, feel free to share your opinions in the comments below.
