I have strange and conflicting feelings towards the TAG Heuer Monaco. I love its design and heritage, but I don’t actually like the watch on my wrist. At least, I did. That’s why I was a bit apprehensive when approaching this hands-on review. The Monaco’s square shape and rather boxy case have never really captivated me. That being said, I enjoy its design very much as an object. Add in the famous Steve McQueen story and you have a watch worthy of respect from a historical perspective. That’s also why I’m always open to trying new Monacos. Having an open mind can lead to pleasant surprises. And that’s exactly what happened with this green and titanium Monaco.
When Nacho put his new titanium TAG Heuer Monaco on my desk, I had the usual reaction: it’s a great watch, and I love the brand’s use of color. As a design object, I liked it immediately. But I’m not talking about art to hang in your home. That doesn’t mean you can’t do that with a practical object. Lots of people do that, and I have an old typewriter in my house that’s a perfect example. But the day you hang a watch, you have to be tapped on the shoulder and say, “What are you doing?” That’s where the practicality of the watch comes in. And in the case of the Monaco, many people understand that it’s not an easy watch to wear. But I was ready to be proven wrong.
The Modern TAG Heuer Monaco Collection
First off, we couldn’t believe the official case size. The standard case size for the Monaco collection is 39mm. This new model is also a 39mm case in grade 2 titanium, but it looks larger. Rex and I couldn’t believe it was a case that was less than 40mm, so we got out our calipers and confirmed that it was indeed 39 x 39mm square. But once the surprise wore off, it was time to try the watch out for ourselves.
As you might expect, this watch comes with a story all about racing. For this new release, the brand has come up with their own version of the Racing Green Monaco. I didn’t know this when I received the watch, as it arrived before any press information. I love the traditional British Racing Green color scheme, and I wouldn’t have minded not knowing that. I like the color more than the background behind it. In fact, this new version looks absolutely amazing!
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green Specifications
Let’s start with the details. As I mentioned, the watch features a 39mm square grade 2 titanium case that is 47.4mm long from lug to lug and 14.35mm thick. The distinctive case is water resistant to 100 meters and has a sandblasted finish. I like the combination of the finish with the slight yellowish hue of the titanium.
It suits the watch very well, and the sides of the case are also very striking with their sharp corners and box-shaped sapphire crystal, and as I said, it’s a great design that’s a pleasure to look at.
This watch features a silver sunray brushed dial, which suits the look of the watch very well. I like that the designers did not choose a green dial, which would have made this watch look a lot like the traditional dark dial Monaco. So I am glad that they did not choose a green dial. The two green square opaline subdials contrast nicely with the silver dial, and the date window is at the 6 o’clock position. I also like that TAG Heuer chose the Caliber 11 for this release. Unlike the Heuer 02 that is featured on most recent Monaco models, the Caliber 11 does not have an ungainly sub-seconds counter at 6 o’clock.
The dial has very nice detailing
The polished, rhodium-plated applied indexes are on the outside of the minute track. If you look closely, you’ll see that the indexes are arranged horizontally, which is a vibrant and quirky detail that I love. The minute track has a bright green, almost turquoise, luminous dot that adds an extra layer of color. The rhodium-plated hour and minute hands are white-tipped and filled with Super-LumiNova, which glows blue in the dark to match the luminous dot. The center-mounted chronograph hand is a bright yellow, adding a nice vibrancy to the dial. As you can see, the dial features a vintage Heuer logo, the same as the modern version of the iconic blue Monaco sold today. This is a nice detail that harkens back to the early models and the watch’s rich history.
Another detail that ties this watch to its racing past is the green racing-style leather strap with bright yellow lining. The strap is comfortable to wear and has a comfortable brushed titanium folding clasp with a vintage Heuer logo.
Thanks to the clamp system, it’s easy to adjust the strap to the perfect size for your wrist – the tight tolerances mean you have to carefully fit the leather strap into place – overall it’s a good thing, a little care goes a long way, and after that it’s smooth sailing.
TAG Heuer Calibre 11
As mentioned above, TAG Heuer has outfitted the square case with the Caliber 11. This automatic movement is based on the Sellita SW300-1 with the addition of a Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module. The movement runs at 28,800vph and has a power reserve of 40 hours. A sapphire window on the back gives a glimpse into the movement, and as you can see, it’s beautifully finished. Thanks to this modular architecture, the movement achieves the traditional Monaco setup, with the crown on the left side of the case and the two chronograph pushers on the right side.
Setting the time and date with the crown on the left side may feel a little odd at first, but you quickly get used to it. Apart from that, operating the pushers provides a solid, satisfying click, and watching the yellow chronograph hand drift across the silver dial when activated is a joy to watch.
The bright yellow hands contrast beautifully with all the elements on the dial and make it easy to read. This is something that stands out immediately across the dial. The placement of the different elements is logical and the contrast ensures excellent legibility.
Wearing a TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph in Racing Green
When I actually put the watch on, this Racing Green version totally blew me away. As I said before, I love the design of the TAG Heuer Monaco, but I’ve never really liked the square shape on my wrist. First off, let me say that I love the look of this model. It’s my favorite Monaco I’ve seen in years, so that’s a big plus. And it’s a very stylish watch on the wrist. I like that it’s not as flashy as the classic blue Monaco. This Racing Green version looks great, so it’s my favorite for a long time.
I love the details on the dial, especially the horizontal hour markers. This watch is quirky but looks very stylish. Add in the great color and there is a lot to love about this watch. I am still not a huge fan of the square case shape as it feels unnatural. However, after a day or so I have grown quite familiar with the watch. This is mainly due to the combination of the titanium case material and the silver colored dial. It creates a relatively subdued look that doesn’t stand out on the wrist. As a result, this version does not have the overwhelming presence of the classic blue model, which highlights the case shape more.
Final Thoughts on the Titanium TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green
I have to say I am truly impressed with the new TAG Heuer Monaco Racing Green. This watch has erased many of my old preconceptions about the Monaco. I enjoyed every second I had the watch on. The titanium case is lightweight and extremely comfortable to wear. Plus, it has a tasteful take on the British Racing Green and the movement pays tribute to the original Monaco caliber through its name and crown/pusher layout.
Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about this release. This release will be limited to 1,000 pieces. Priced at €9,150 each, it is more expensive than the steel Heuer 02-equipped Monaco models, but less expensive than the other titanium models. What’s important to me is that this new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green will forever remain the Monaco that changed my perception of watches.
It’s rather special that something like this has happened after so many years. This watch has been one of my favorite hands-on experiences this year, and that alone says a lot. I think TAG Heuer has created a release that will sell out quickly. Even if the look and materials don’t, the story of the British Racing Green will definitely captivate people. The last two make the TAG Heuer Monaco Racing Green one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2024 releases for me.
For more information on the Monaco collection, visit the TAG Heuer website, and let us know what you think of this latest collection in the comments section.
