Did you make it to the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday? While attention was rightfully focused on the F1 drivers battling it out on the track, Sergio Pérez’s first place wasn’t the weekend’s only noteworthy story. To mark the occasion, TAG Heuer has released a new Monaco Grand Prix, a special edition of its longstanding watch series inspired by the famous Formula 1 street circuit. The new TAG Heuer Monaco watch is a new take on the square watch, with a new titanium case and details that recall its 1970s forebears.
From the very beginning, the TAG Heuer Monaco has been a watch that breaks stereotypes. It was introduced in 1969 and deviated from several watch standards. The first and most obvious was the square case: this was a rare feature of chronograph watches, and today it continues to be the hallmark of Monaco watches. The ’69 original was also water-resistant, had an automatic movement (which was also rare for chronographs of the time) and stood out with its blue dial with contrasting white and red accents.
Later editions of the Monaco will come in a range of new colors. In the 1970s, TAG Heuer introduced a version with contrasting gray tones, and later in the decade the company created Monaco’s famous “Dark Lord”. The watch takes its name from its matte black case, which is paired with orange and red accents for better legibility, a nod to its roots as racing tool watches.
Aesthetically, the new TAG Heuer Monaco is a nod to the Dark Lord, but it includes many improvements. The case is made from DLC-coated titanium for exceptional strength and durability at minimal weight. Only one previous version of the 2021 limited edition Monaco was made from titanium, and Max Verstappen wore it during his dominant 2021 F1 season.
The new Monacos continue the familiar circle-in-square layout of previous iterations, but offer new textures. The main circle of the dial has a satin finish that contrasts with the rough sandblasting on the square part of the dial. According to TAG, this trim is inspired by F1 track surfaces and F1 car tires.
Against this rich black background, the bright red chronograph hands really stand out, as do the rose gold main hands and indexes. To make them even more legible, the hands are coated with Super-LumiNova for better visibility in the dark. Flip them over and more rose gold accents can be seen on the transparent case back. To top it off, this blackout watch is paired with a black alligator leather strap and black titanium buckle. How do you like the new Dark Lord?
TAG did not save on mechanics either. The watch is equipped with an automatic movement Heuer 02 of its own production. It offers a solid 80-hour power reserve, so you won’t have to worry about this watch stopping if you take it off for a few days. As a Formula 1 driver, they are ready to go all out.
Prices start at $6,400 at tagheuer.com.
